Minton Porcelain Plate, Putti and Rabbit Scene by A. Boullemier, circa 1885

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Minton Porcelain Plate, Putti and Rabbit Scene by A. Boullemier, circa 1885

$1,460List Price

About the Item

This is a very charming plate made by Minton in circa 1885 and painted by the famous porcelain artist Antonin Boullemier. The plate has an image of three putti who are shooting birds, while a rabbit runs across the field in the foreground. Minton was one of the pioneers of English china production alongside other great potters such as Spode, Davenport, Ridgway, Coalport and others. They were located in Staffordshire and were known specifically for their wonderfully fine white bone china and bright colours; there is a colour called "Minton Blue" which is a fresh azure blue that was very fashionable during the Victorian era. Throughout the different phases of its existence, the factory made top quality creamware, porcelain, majolica and ultimately the finest parian porcelain. Minton excelled in their decorations and gilt work; these were often executed by artists who came from the Sèvres factory in France and brought their skills with them. This plate was decorated by the famous porcelain artist Antonin Boullemier, who was the son of a Sèvres porcelain decorator and was apprenticed and employed by Sèvres before moving the England in 1881, where he was employed by Minton. For many years he worked exclusively for Minton as one of their most celebrated artists; later on his career he started working freelance from his own studio at home for various factories. Boullemier is known for beautiful portraits, cupids and mythological subjects and both 18th century and contemporary styles. This plate is decorated with a very charming nearly monochrome scene of three putti shooting birds with a bow and arrow; one of the putti is telling the second how to hold the bow correctly, while the third watches in a somewhat comically critical posture. In the foreground a rabbit runs across the field, unnoticed by the putti who are focused on their hunting endeavour. To the right of the image is a beautiful formation of blackberries, a hunting rifle and a horn. This plate is in a beautifully muted style that is close to the Aesthetic Movement, which is unusual for Boullemier; many of his pieces were more colourful and set in rich Victorian floral details and/or gilt. The plate is marked with the puce Minton globe mark and the image is signed by the artist. Condition report The plate is in perfect antique condition without any damage, repairs, crazing or wear other than the odd scratch that can be expected from an antique item. Antique British porcelain is never perfect. Kilns were fired on coal in the 1800s, and this meant that china from that period can have some firing specks from flying particles. British makers were also known for their experimentation, and sometimes this resulted in technically imperfect results. Due to the shrinkage in the kiln, items can have small firing lines or develop crazing over time, which should not be seen as damage but as an imperfection of the maker's recipes, probably unknown at the time of making. Items have often been used for many years and can have normal signs of wear, and gilt can have signs of slight disintegration even if never handled. I will reflect any damage, repairs, obvious stress marks, crazing or heavy wear in the item description but some minor scratches, nicks, stains and gilt disintegration can be normal for vintage items and need to be taken into account. There is widespread confusion on the internet about the difference between chips and nicks, or hairlines and cracks. I will reflect any damage as truthfully as I can, i.e. a nick is a tiny bit of damage smaller than 1mm and a chip is something you can easily see with the eye; a glazing line is a break in the glazing only; hairline is extremely tight and/or superficial and not picked up by the finger; and a crack is obvious both to the eye and the finger. Dimensions 25cm (9.85") diameter.

Creator:
Minton (Maker),Antonin Boullemier (Artist)
Dimensions:
Height: 0.5 in (1.27 cm)Diameter: 9.85 in (25.02 cm)
Style:
Aesthetic Movement (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Porcelain,Hand-Painted
Place of Origin:
England
Period:
1880-1889
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1885
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. In perfect antique condition without damage, crazing, repairs or significant wear.
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: LT-MIN181stDibs: LU4805121558252

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Minton

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.