Collectable Tiles

Rare Mintons Birds Majolica Tile

Style/technique: Pictorial majolica

Manufacturer: Mintons China Works

Pattern no: 1858

Dimensions: 7.5" x 7.5"

Date: circa 1885

Colours: 7

A super scene of a pair of birds sitting on a blossom branch contemplating a butterfly passing nearby, handpainted in good majolica colours on a durable buff clay body. Very rich translucent cobalt blue to the background which almost appears black due to the buff clay beneath.

This is one of a series of birds, the pattern number suggests a creation date of 1881/2 and we believe it may be an early example. The pattern was produced for several years and appears on a Minton advertising sheet from 1892/3 included in the reprint of the 1885 catalogue. Other examples we have seen are always on a white dust pressed clay body with the usual Minton back mark. This tile has an impression of the pattern in reverse on the back, the embossed pattern number and a decorators mark, it is fully glazed. It is of unusual dimensions at precisely seven and a half inches, no doubt intended as using plastic clay in a mould for dust pressing would of course result in more shrinkage.

The impressed back is done for durability, the clay body is of a constant thickness so stresses in the firing are reduced. The glazed back is to protect the tile from damp, and help prevent the glaze from crazing almost essential with such a deep coloured glaze as shiny dark surfaces show marks worse than lighter surfaces - this is the virtually the opposite of matt surfaces and is why owners of black cars have to wash them often and builders vans are white. It has been fitted in to some kind of furniture as there is evidence of nail (or screw) fixing on the back, two chips and two rust stains on the side edges. The extent gone to to ensure manufacturing quality suggests a high specification piece of furniture as does the special glaze.

Condition: Fine

Price: £325 (approx $650)

Ref: 02107

The tile has ten very small/tiny chips to the edges and some rubbing near the corners and edges and there's a little very slight dulling of the glaze on the high points of the birds. A one inch hairline in the clay from the bottom left corner is only visible from the back and has no impression on the glaze.

UK Special Delivery £334

US and World Airsure £345

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The image is full size at 72 dpi (about 560 pixels wide) in maximum quality JPEG format. A larger 120 dpi image also in maximum quality JPEG format can be forwarded by email if required.

The image is a little oversize rather than cropped close to the edges so that the edges can easily be seen and any chips etc can be quickly spotted. Surface marks described are usually not visible at all when the tile is viewed straight as one normally sees it and can only be seen with a critical eye when the tile is tilted to catch imperfections in reflected light. For more details of how we describe marks see Condition.

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