Minton Factory

British

BiographyEnglish ceramics factory in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs. Thomas Minton (1766–1836), who had worked at the Caughley porcelain factory and was the reputed originator of the ‘Willow’ pattern, established his own company in 1796 with partners William Pownall and Joseph Poulson in Stoke-on-Trent. Production started with blue-printed earthenwares. By 1798 cream-coloured earthenware and bone china were produced, and by 1810 the range included stoneware, painted earthenwares and bone china. Production, dominated by tableware, included ornaments, figures and such unusual items as asparagus trays. Decoration was printed, enamelled and gilded, and designs included landscapes, Imari palettes, chinoiseries and floral patterns. In 1817 Minton’s sons Thomas Webb Minton (1791–1870) and Herbert Minton (1793–1858) joined the firm, and in 1823 Herbert Minton became joint partner. Hard-paste porcelain was introduced in 1821, and figure production was expanded; the porcelain factories of Derby, Meissen and Sèvres provided the main sources of inspiration. Artists who moved from Derby to Minton included Joseph Bancroft (1796–1860), George Cocker (1794–1868) and the painter Samuel Bourne (c. 1789–1865), who was the chief designer (c. 1828–63). After Thomas Minton’s death, Herbert Minton took John Boyle (d 1845) into partnership (1836–42) and then in 1845 Michael Daintry Hollins and his nephew Colin Minton Campbell. Herbert Minton introduced new ranges including encaustic and printed tiles and parian porcelain during the 1840s.

Léon Arnoux (1816–1902) was art director from 1849, and he encouraged such French artists as the designer and sculptor Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse and Pierre-Emile Jeannest (1813–57) to come to Stoke-on-Trent. Arnoux led the revival of Renaissance styles and in 1849 developed the use of earthenware with thick coloured glazes, which he called ‘majolica’ and which he introduced at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London. Colin Minton Campbell took control of the factory in 1858 following Herbert Minton’s death. The acid-gold process was developed at Minton in 1863. In 1870 Marc-Louis-Emanuel Solon (1835–1913) introduced the pâte-sur-pâte decorative technique from Sèvres to the factory (see fig.). Wares were often decorated at the South Kensington Art Pottery Studio, which was set up in London by Minton in 1871. The International Exhibitions strengthened Minton’s reputation, and this was consolidated by Queen Victoria’s patronage, especially of their parian porcelain. In the 20th century Secessionist ware and Art Deco styles were produced. Later output was dominated by richly decorated bone-china tableware and commemorative items. In 1968 Minton became a member of the Royal Doulton Tableware Group.

K. Somervell. "Minton Ceramic Factory." In Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online, http://www.oxfordartonline.com.proxy.lib.fsu.edu/subscriber/article/grove/art/T058525 (accessed May 1, 2012).

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