Porcelain Plate, Minton, Sea Shells by W. Mussill, Victorian, 1891

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Porcelain Plate, Minton, Sea Shells by W. Mussill, Victorian, 1891

Name: Porcelain Plate, Minton, Sea Shells by W. Mussill, Victorian, 1891
Brand: Minton
Rating: 5 (44 reviews)

About the Item

This is a rare and beautiful plate made by Minton in 1891 and painted by the famous porcelain artist Wenceslas (William) Mussill. The plate has an aquatic scene with sea shells in the centre and would have belonged to a large dessert service. 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 colors; there is a color 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 Wenceslas (William) Mussill (1826-1906). Mussill was born in Carlsbad, Austria and studied in Paris, where he became a frequent exhibitor at the famous Salon. He specialised in exotic plants, fish and birds. When Minton attracted scores of French artists in the 1870s, Mussill was among them and became one of the most revered painters at the factory specialising in aquatic scenes, while in his spare time still producing highly prized watercolors and oil paintings. Mussill was influenced by James Bateman, the horticulturalist who introduced orchids to Britain, and painted the first studies of them. Mussill developed a ground-breaking technique of using underglaze coloring in his decorations, which gives them an extraordinary subtlety of color and texture. Mussill later worked for Brown-Westhead, Moore & Co, exhibiting pieces in the 1889 Paris exhibition. In his spare time, Mussill could often be found on the Duke of Sutherland's estate at Trentham Gardens or at James Bateman's estate Biddulph Grange, and his highly valued paintings can still be found at auctions today. This plate has a beautiful aquatic scene with sea shells in the centre. It is marked on the back with the puce Minton globe mark and the impressed cipher for the year 1891. 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: 24 cm (9.5") diameter.

Creator:
Minton (Maker)
Dimensions:
Height: 0.5 in (1.27 cm)Diameter: 9.5 in (24.13 cm)
Style:
Victorian (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Porcelain,Hand-Painted
Place of Origin:
England
Period:
1890-1899
Date of Manufacture:
1891
Condition:
In perfect antique condition without damage, crazing, repairs or significant wear.
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: LT-MIN06b1stDibs: LU4805121707112

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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.

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