- Style/technique: Pictorial print
- Manufacturer: Mintons
- Dimensions: 6" x 6"
- Pattern number: 2029K
- Date: circa 1890
One of a series of twelve British and European
landscapes engraved by L T Swetman for Mintons around
1884. Quite a popular series in it's day, certainly
manufactured in to the1890s when the popularity landscape
tiles was declining. This is a picture of Cardinal
Beaton's house in Edinburgh which was on the corner of
Cowgate and a passage called Black-Friar's Wynd. The
rather strange turret enabled views up both streets,
another scene from Cowgate (the corner with St Mary's
Street) also appears in the series. Unsigned and
unnamed.
All tiles in the series feature buildings in
landscapes but otherwise they are quite a unique mix.
There are scenes from England (3), Scotland (2) and Wales
(2), France (2), and one each from Germany, Switzerland
and Belgium. All the views have historical significance
making them one of the most interesting series to collect
and a great talking point.
Examples are found signed with monogram or initials
and unsigned, also some are named and other times
unnamed. It appears the earlier examples are signed and
later examples are named. They are also found on pot
stands the tiles having feet attached at the corners,
later pot stand examples had the corners and edges
fettled down to make them less prone to chipping when in
use. Most are in brown, sepia and 'deep brown', some are
found in Indian Blue. A few are found in brown nicely
coloured in, most are found in the six inch version
(pattern number 2024) without the bead border.
Both Lockett and Austwick note the confusion about
this series suggesting some were done by L T Swetman and
others by William Wise. Our research has identified all
twelve of the scenes in this series which are by Swetman
however there are several quite similar landscape and
architectural series hence the confusion. These Swetman
scenes could each be fitted in to different series and
Mintons themselves recycled patterns and renamed some
views. There are series of historic buildings,
cathedrals, ruined abbeys and of countryside views of
rivers often including man made structures like bridges.
These other series are to my knowledge still not
completely and fully identified either in scope or by
artist although it is assumed some are by Wise and others
by Swetman. It may be that Wise was preferred for
figurative work and Swetman for architectural subjects
and Wise passed away in 1889 after a period of
illness.
The full list of the scenes is:
- Boppart on the Rhine
- Cardinal Beaton's House, Edinburgh
- Conway Castle
- Westgate, Warwick
- Old Houses, Rouen
- Village of Splugen, The Alps
- Rodez Cathedral
- Dittisham on the Dart
- The Old Gateway Winchelsea
- Criccieth Castle
- Ruins of Hougomont, Belgium
- Cow Gate Foot, Edinburgh
