The short guide how to date antique Minton pottery

Thomas Minton founded his factory in around 1796 in Stoke-upon-Trent.

Minton from 1796 and during its nearly two hundred year history is a very important Stoke firm that has traded under various styles.
Herbert Minton, succeeded his father as head of the firm, and it was due to him that he was able to develop the firm and gain it's reputation. He also enlisted the services of many skilled artists.
After Herbert Mintons death in 1858 the Minton name continued as the Company name but no Minton family member has been connected with the firm since.
The first products of the Minton factory were blue transfer-printed wares. In 1798 bone china (porcelain containing bone ash) was introduced, with much success. In 1836, when Thomas Minton died and his son Herbert took over the business, the factory's main products consisted of practical and unpretentious tablewares in painted or printed earthenware or bone china, following the typical shapes and decorative patterns of the period; figures and ornamental porcelains were made increasingly from the 1820s.

In the 1820s he started production of bone china; this early Minton is regarded as comparable to French Sèvres, by which it was greatly influenced.
Minton's was the only English china factory of the 19th century to employ a Sèvres process called pâte-sur-pâte (ie: painted decoration in white clay slip instead of enamel before glazing).

Minton Styles used over the company's 200 year history

c1796: Thomas Minton
c1800: Minton, Poulson and Pounall
c1801-02: Minton Poulson and Co
c1802-08: Minton and Poulson
c1809-17: Thomas Minton
c1817-27: Thomas Minton and Sons
c1824: Thomas Minton and Son
c1824-36: Thomas Minton
c1836-41: Minton and Boyle
c1841-45: Herbert Minton and Co
c1845: Minton and Hollins
c1847-73: Herbert Minton and Co
c1873-84: Mintons
c1884: Mintons
Antique Minton Marks on Pottery and Porcelain :


c1805 to 1806 - Mark in overglaze blue enamel only used with gilded pieces. Before 1805 pattern number is preceded by No., after 1805 pattern number is on its own.


c1820's - Rare pseudo Dresden crossed swords mark in underglaze blue on floral encrusted porcelain, which is sometimes confused with Coalport porcelain.


c1820 to 1830's - Several variations of Minton Marks incorporate the initial M.


c1836 to 1841 - Minton and Boyle Period mark. Many printed marks of this period incorporate the initials 'M & B'


c1841 to 1873 - Example of one style of mark, where several variations were used, many of which include the initials 'M & Co.'


c1845 to 1868 - Minton and Hollins Period. Many printed marks of this period bear the initials 'M & H'


c1845 to 1850 - Incised or impressed mark on early Parian figures. Sometimes with year cypher.


c1850 to 1870 - Painted Mark 'Ermine' indicating a special soft glaze. Earliest recorded use May 1850 on the Godden Collection.


c1862 onwards - Impressed marks - MINTON used from 1862 then MINTONS from 1871 onwards. Both marks used with impressed year cyphers - see table below. This example December 1877.


c1862 onwards - Example Minton impressed marks showing full set of three marks - month letter O for October, illegible potters mark and year cypher for 1875. Found on piece signed 1876.


c1863 to 1872 - Standard print mark of a globe with Minton in central band.


c1873 to 1912 - MINTONS Standard print mark with crown added. England added from 1891. Made in England appears from c1902.


c1912 to 1950 - New version of standard Minton print mark with different crown and the globe now within laurel leaves. Earlier versions with ENGLAND below.


c1951 onwards Modern Minton mark intoduced in 1951. This example showing various pattern details and including the designers signature.

From c1842 Minton introduced a year cypher.


1842      1843       1844     1845     1846      1847      1848      1849

1850      1851       1852      1853     1854     1855       1856     1857      1858     1859

1860        1861     1862     1863      1864      1865     1866     1867      1868      1869

1870        1871      1872      1873     1874    1875     1876      1877      1878       1879

1880        1881      1882    1883       1884      1885    1886      1887     1888      1889

1890       1891      1892      1893     1894     1895     1886      1887     1888      1899

1900        1901     1902      1903     1904      1905     1906     1907      1908      1909

1910        1911     1912       1913    1914      1915      1916     1917     1918      1919

1920      1921       1922      1923     1924     1925      1926     1927      1928      1929

1930       1931      1932     1933      1934     1935      1936     1937     1938      1939

1940       1941      1942