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• Style/technique: Pictorial handpainted
• Manufacturer: Minton & Co
• Dimensions: 7" x 7"
• Date: circa 1845
• Condition: Fine
• Price: £650 (approx $1300)
• Ref: 03000
Very small chip bottom edge, a few very
tiny/minute edge chips, one very short scratch and
other very slight surface marks. Perfectly clean
and bright.
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An excellently painted view of a river scene with
boats under sail and ashore being worked on and a
city in the distance. Painted in an economical yet
clear and detailed manner and with a good range of
colours.
What is perhaps most interesting however is the
tile itself. Michael Hollins took over management
of the Minton & Co tile business in 1845 and
from thenceforth the business was known as Minton,
Hollins & Co. Prior to this the majority of
production was in floor tiles and the then name
Minton & Co continued for floor tiles and
perhaps majolica tiles in red, buff and other
coloured clays using the floor tile dies. The wall
tile business was essentially all down to Hollins
and they were branded Minton, Hollins & Co,
wall tiles marked with Minton & Co are
incredibly rare.
The size is rare too, certainly Mintons China
Works continued with some seven inch tiles in to
the 1880s but they too are very rarely found,
Minton Hollins branded similarly so. It is rather
an odd size too given the number of inches in a
foot, I have never seen an installation of them nor
a purpose designed fitting eg fireplace. One clue
perhaps may be in Prosser's Patent issued in 1840
which was for articles of surface area up to fifty
square inches, or a fraction over seven inches
square. Perhaps there was a technical limitation
preventing larger tiles and hence the advent of
this odd size.
I hesitate to state with certainty the date is
circa 1845 because of the brilliant whiteness of
the clay, that is not to say that it was technical
impossible at the date but surely it was difficult.
It may have just been a good batch, or perhaps
purposely formulated for resale to artists and the
most demanding (and affluent) customers. The issue
may never be absolutely resolved however it is
beyond date a very rare tile and certainly early, a
real conversation piece for tile buffs and of
museum standard importance.
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