Pottery is one of the oldest decorative art forms, and Minton is one of its historical masters. For more than 250 years, the English company was a premier producer of porcelain and ceramic wares. Its factory was known for detailed and brightly colored Victorian tableware, including dinner plates and serving pieces.
Thomas Minton founded the Minton factory in 1793 in Stoke-upon-Trent, England. It initially made earthenware but introduced bone china in 1798. When Minton died in 1836, the company passed to his son, Herbert Minton. The younger Minton was a savvy businessman with an eye for design. He introduced glossy majolica earthenware to the factory’s repertoire and hired skilled artists and designers like Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin and Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse, boosting the company’s reputation.
In 1851, Minton debuted its majolica at the Great Exhibition in London. It became a royal family favorite and was even used to tile the Royal Dairy at Windsor Home Park. Minton majolica was also displayed on the monumental Saint George and the dragon fountain at the 1862 London International Exhibition.
Colin Minton Campbell, a nephew of Herbert Minton, took over the family business in 1858. He led the company to the head of the 1870s English art pottery movement. In the 1890s, French porcelain artist Marc-Louis Solon helped modernize Minton with his Art Nouveau designs.
Minton ceased operating as an independent company when it merged with Royal Doulton Tableware Ltd. in 1968. It was the end of an era, but not the end of widespread appreciation for Minton ceramics.
In 1982, the ”English Majolica” exhibition at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum featured 75 Minton pieces. When the Metropolitan Museum of Art reopened its British Galleries in 2020, it included a display of three colorful Minton majolica bird sculptures. Minton pottery was also on display from September 2021 to January 2022, along with other English pottery, at the Bard Graduate Center’s ”Majolica Mania” exhibition.
On 1stDibs, find exquisite Minton serveware, decorative objects, wall decorations and more.
English Antique Minton Tile Roman Style Mosaic Wall Panel
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A framed collection of antique English Minton tiles creating a decorative roman style mosaic wall panel. Dating from the late 19th century, this tile...
Ceramic, Wood
Minton Hollins Antique Renaissance Style Tiled Frieze Panel
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A set of 4 antique dust-pressed ceramic tiles by Minton Hollins (stamped) creating a decorative blue and white glazed frieze panel depicting a renaissance style winged cherub playing...
Ceramic
$455Sale Price|20% Off
H 6.11 in W 12.01 in D 1.19 in
Decorative Carved Wood Panel, Renaissance Style, France, 19th Century
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Decorative Carved Panel France, 19th Century 15,5 x L 30,5 x 3 cm Carved in richly grained wood, this 19th-century decorative panel draws direct inspiration from Renaissance ornamen...
Wood
$2,650
H 29 in W 28 in D 0.75 in
Antique Persian Iznik Qajar Style Ceramic Pottery Tile Mosaic Hunt Scene C7
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Persian Iznik Qajar style ceramic pottery tile mosaic hunt scene C7 - 6 Pc set. Item features an origina...
Ceramic
$1,800 / item
H 33.86 in W 54.34 in D 0.79 in
'Teia' Art Deco Style Decorative Wall Panel by Knót Artesanal
By Knót Artesanal
Located in Paraty, Rio de Janeiro
Made up of a cross section of Brazilian timbers, Teia Wall Panel is a subtle juxtaposition of colour and shape comprised of an Art Deco inspired form combined with varied and natural tones of wood. Installation is via two screw slots on the rear. Handmade using Brazilian hardwoods Freijó, Sucupira, Muirapiranga and Caxeta. Knót Artesanal...
Wood
$2,048
H 18.71 in W 18.71 in D 1.58 in
Brutalist Abstract Ceramic Tile Wall Panel / Wall Decoration, 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Rare Ceramic Tiles Abstract Wall Mounted Sculpture / Wall Decoration Spain, 1950s. Eye-catching series of decorative tiles mounted on black base as a wall sculpture. Made of four squ...
Ceramic, Earthenware
Important Art Deco Tile Panel with Nude on Horseback
By Majolica Manufactory of Karlsruhe
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This rare majolica tile panel, produced by the important Karlsruhe manufactory in southwest Germany, depicts a male nude on horseback, accompanied b...
Antique Italian Limestone Wall Panel, Roman Relief, 52 x 19 Inches
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A single, antique Italian wall panel made of hand carved limestone, in good condition. The rectangular architectural relief is depicting Roman warriors and kids embracing a cattle. A...
Limestone
Italian Rococo Terracotta Frieze
Located in Chireno, TX
Italian Rococo terracotta frieze in superb condition from the mid-18th century.
Terracotta
$65,498 / set
H 55 in W 92 in D 4 in
Antique Statuary Carrara marble mantelpiece tablets/panels, English and Irish.
Located in Tyrone, Northern Ireland
A collection of antique Statuary Carrara marble chimneypiece/mantelpiece tablets from the 18th and 19th century’s. The collection consists of 41 carved elements, including centre ta...
Statuary Marble
$1,850Sale Price|56% Off
H 29.75 in W 59.25 in D 1.13 in
Mexican Modern Mosaic Tile Wall Sculpture Signed Genaro Alvarez
By Genaro Alvarez
Located in Houston, TX
Large Mexican Modern Mosaic Tile Wall Sculpture Signed Genaro Alvarez. Our mid century modern wall sculpture is made up of an abstract ceramic tile design mounted on wood with a bra...
Brass
$1,650 / set
H 20 in W 30.25 in D 0.75 in
Antique Persian Iznik Qajar Style Ceramic Pottery Tile Mosaic Polo Players C7
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Persian Iznik Qajar Style ceramic pottery tile Mosaic Polo Players C7, 3 Horse Riding Athletes - 4 Pc Set. Item features original crackle glazed finis...
Ceramic
Three German Antique Iron Plaques Cast in the Renaissance Style
Located in London, GB
This charming set of three antique German plaques are each cast from high quality 19th century iron, meaning that the detailing on them is of a very hig...
Iron
Set of Six Raku Tile Wall Panels
Located in Palm Springs, CA
An amazing set of six Raku pottery wall panels. Depicting a stream flowing between golden hills, each panel is comprised of individual tiles. Those on the top and bottom edges of eac...
Pottery, Wood
$250
H 9.25 in W 9.25 in D 5 in
Antique Persian Iznik Qajar Style Ceramic Pottery Square Tile Hunter & Horse C4
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Persian Iznik Qajar style ceramic pottery square tile horse riding hunter C4. Item feature original crackle glazed finish, heavy ceramic pottery construction, very impressive...
Ceramic
$4,250
H 33.25 in W 25 in D 3 in
"Samson and the Lion, " Large, Rare Art Deco Sculptural Panel with Tile Mosaic
By Valentin Shabaeff
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A tour de force example of Art Deco wall sculpture, this depiction of Samson slaying the lion was made by Valentin Shabaeff, a Russian-Canadian artist who settled in Montreal. Shabae...
Ceramic
Jane Dart Ceramic Tile Wall Sculpture
Located in Fulton, CA
Exceptional ceramic tile wall plaque / sculpture with various geometric pattern and multi-color, crystalline crackle glaze tiles. Tiles mounted to original wood back. Identified on v...
Ceramic, Wood
Sold
H 16.5 in W 8 in D 6.5 in
Minton Majolica Hanging Planter Basket, Bird's Nest, Cherries, Dated 1872
By Minton
Located in Banner Elk, NC
Minton Majolica Hanging Planter/Basket, the planter molded as a birds nest with red glazed cherries and green leaves, the interior glazed in turquoise, t...
Majolica