An Illustrated Guide to Minton Printed Pottery 1796-1836 (Hardcover)

Chapter One. Thomas Minton: Engraver, Manufacturer and Gentleman The book starts by examining the early life of Thomas Minton and the establishment of the factory. Previously unpublished contemporary accounts by factory workers help to illustrate how Thomas Minton and his immediate family were intimately involved in all aspects of the business, with Thomas remaining a leading and well respected figure throughout his life.

Chapter Two. Early Minton Earthenwares: the Archive Evidence. This clearly sets out the available archive evidence, as used in the first instance to determine a number of key Minton patterns, from which the further designs could be attributed. Evidence examined includes early sales accounts, factory inventories, insurance policies, copper plate lists and surviving early engravings, printed pattern books and original source prints.

Chapter Three. Pattern Reference Guide. Twenty four pages with 93 colour illustrations of the main patterns considered in the book.

Chapter Four to Chapter Eight. Catalogue of Patterns. Two hundred pages detailing the attribution of each pattern, including illustrations of engravings, source prints, pattern books and similar designs produced by other factories. The earliest patterns are seen to be typical Chinoiserie landscape and floral designs, based directly on patterns found hand painted on imported Chinese porcelain. These are followed by patterns with a more European influence, including rural views, animals and flowers. Finally, by the 1830s, the designs are seen to exhibit a more romanticised treatment. Although this evolution of design was typical for the period, it is seen that Minton was at the forefront of these changes, with many of his most popular designs being copied by other potters. The majority of the patterns presented in the book were previously unattributed to Minton, especially those produced during the first thirty years up to c.1825.

Chapter Nine. Catalogue of Printed Wares. Following a further eight pages of colour illustrations, this 74 page chapter is a first attempt to catalogue the various shapes used for the early printed wares. Examples of wares decorated with known Minton patterns are presented in sections for dinner, toilet and tea wares and linked to details of the type and shape of wares listed in early inventories and shape books.

Chapter Ten. Early Minton Factory Marks. Details are given of characteristic early printers marks as well as the more formal printed marks used up to 1836. Some related marks by other factories are also shown.

Chapter Eleven. Black Printed Wares and Bat Prints. In addition to the wares printed under-glaze in blue, some consideration is also given to black and on-glaze bat printed wares. This preliminary treatment will hopefully enable further wares in this category to be identified, especially given the inclusion of illustrations of 59 early prints reproduced from a surviving factory Bat Print book.

Appendix: Early Dinnerware shapes from the shape book of c.1830.