Who founded Minton, and when did it start?

The firm traces back to Thomas Minton, who set up his business in 1793. He had worked in the ceramics trade before founding his own operation, then built Minton into a respected Staffordshire name. The company expanded strongly in the 1800s, tied to rising demand for fashionable dining sets and new ceramic techniques. Under later leadership, Minton developed upmarket porcelain and bone china, as also decorative art pottery that appealed to Victorian taste. If you’re researching a piece, it helps to know that “Minton” covers a long span of production, with styles ranging from Georgian-era wares to late Victorian showpieces and later 1900s tableware.