Minton
Thomas Minton was born in Shrewsbury in 1765. He became an apprentice copperplate engraver and soon after completing his apprenticeship he moved to London to establish himself as a master engraver.
In 1789 he moved to Stoke to be nearer to his customers, Josiah Spode, Josiah Wedgwood and to expand his engraving business. He soon established himself in the Pottery Industry and was in great demand which prompted him to consider producing pottery himself. In 1793 he purchased land in Stoke and the Minton factory was born.
He also in 1798 purchased land in Cornwall where there was an abundance of china clay an important ingredient in the manufacture of pottery which insured a continuous supply of raw material to his factory.
Early Minton production concentrated on underglaze blue-printed earthenware such as the ‘Broseley’ and ‘Willow pattern’. In and around 1798 they began to produce cream coloured bone china but is thought to have ceased by 1816 due to the slump in the economy. It did not improve until 1822 when Minton resumed bone china production. In 1817 Thomas Minton took his two sons into partnership and the company title changed to ‘Thomas Minton and Sons’, this proved to be unsuccessful and was dissolved in 1823 and so the name reverted to ‘Thomas Minton’
The main stay of their ware was Tableware but they also produced fine figures and Ornamental ware. From 1823 to the time of Thomas Minton’s death in 1836 sales of Minton ware had doubled. It was left to Herbert Minton to carry on the business who proved to be a great innovator and leader.
Minton Wares
Figures
This diverse collection of figures shows the range of clay bodies in use at Minton, from bone china to terracotta. Figures range from the early 19th century to the 1950s.
Plaques
These represent some of the decorative techniques in use such as pate-sur-pate, majolica, and underglaze painting.
Vases
The collection contains fine bone china vases based on the productions of continental factories such as Sèvres and were often designed and decorated by French potters and artists who had been brought to this country by Mintons. Earthenware vases include examples from the Minton Art Pottery Studio, Kensington Gore, London, as well as from their Stoke-on-Trent factory.
Minton Majolica
From the 1850s onwards the Minton factory produced a huge range of useful and ornamental wares decorated with coloured lead glazes. Many of the larger items were elaborately moulded with naturalistic or classical motifs and were intended to be used in conservatories or entrance halls. Some early examples had painted decoration in imitation of the Italian Renaissance pottery known as maiolica, but the majority relied on the bright glazes and the fanciful shapes for their effect. Minton launched its new range of wares at the Great Exhibition in 1851 where it was widely admired. Majolica remained popular for the rest of the century.
The Lord Milton Dessert Service
This service commemorates an expedition through British territory in Canada in 1862-1863. The key expedition members were Lord Milton, son of Earl Fitzwilliam & his doctor, William Butler Cheadle. Scenes on the plates are based on drawings & photographs made en route by Dr. Cheadle. Two dessert services were produced - one for each gentleman. These plates bear the monogram of Lord Milton.
