• Style/technique: Victorian Majolica
• Manufacturer: Mintons China Works
• Pattern number: E2723B
• Dimensions: 6" x 3"
• Date: Circa 1895
• Colours: 7

 

This is a great tile in seven super colours, butterflies are not often depicted on tiles and rarely in coloured majolica. Just pre-dating art nouveau when Mintons China Works finally really discovered colours and majolica, for two decades they had focussed on mechanical decoration, Reynold's Patent printing, and in a limited range of colours.

The pattern number suggests a creation date of 1894 and the style is interesting given the date. It could easily be called Art Nouveau but predates the Art Nouveau period, or maybe one could call it an extremely early example of the style, before the style had a name as Bing didn't open La Maison d'Art Nouveau until December 1895. I contend that it is really a Queen Anne or Classical style with it's rows of beads, and that the flowerheads are simply slightly larger versions of the miniature buds that adorn such designs simplified for the majolica technique.

Style matters little because it is a beautiful object, I find it difficult to think that anyone could not like this tile. Apart from the beauty of the butterfly the colours are very pleasing, soft but not weak. It is quite surprising that butterflies are not well represented on decorative tiles, they are one of the most beautiful examples of the work of mother nature.

Verso very clean but a few grains of mortar residue, embossed name etc and pattern number, colour suffix hand written.

Condition: Near perfect
Price: £55 (approx $108)
Ref: 02906

Very tiny chip bottom edge, a few tiny surface marks near the side edges from the fireplace frame but no other scratches, rubbing or wear to the surface at all. Really brilliant and colourful.

The image is full size at 72 dpi (about 430 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. Other 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.