Minton of Stoke – Relief-Moulded Wares Design Numbers

Dick Henrywood

The famous Minton firm of Stoke produced a wide range of sprigged and relief-moulded jugs and other wares from 1830 through to at least 1879. Forty-three different designs are recorded below and the firm used a numbering system which covered most of them. Originally the numbers appeared on a moulded scrollmark along with the cursive inital M, but this was eventually discontinued in favour of a simple impressed number. They indicate not only the main design but also variations in colouring. The firm did not normally title these wares, the only exceptions being "The Two Drivers" and "Waverley" (and the two "Society of Arts" designs), so titles have been adopted, where appropriate preferring names already in circulation. This is very much a work in progress and changes will be incorporated as new information becomes available. It is also intended to add images although that will take time. Contributions of new or amended information and (particularly) good images would be very welcome. Numbers recorded to date include:

An asterisk (*) indicates information that has not been confirmed.

Designs by name:

Bacchanalian Cherubs Registered 20 March 1845 Numbers: 228, 229, 251 Illustrations: Henrywood BJ/377; Hughes 1/52; Rumsey 22
Band of Flowers Numbers: 72 Illustraions: none
Band of Rings Numbers: 202 Illustrations: none
Barrel with Grapevine A very similar jug without the sprigging and with a different handle was made by William Ridgway, Son & Co. Numbers: 159 Illustrations: none
Bird and Butterfly Hughes states known with vivid pink ground. Numbers: 14 Illustrations: Hughes 2/13
Bird and Ivy Registered 17 November 1849 Hughes states known with vivid pink ground. Numbers: 376, 379 Illustrations: Hughes 2/62; Hughes 2/p.97 (Design Registry engraving)
Bulbous Flutes Numbers: 71 Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/75
Buttercup Registered 14 May 1855 Hughes calls it Twining Flowers. Numbers: 513, 519 Illustrations: Hughes 2/59; Rumsey 72
Cherubs Registered 8 May 1845 Also made at Bennington. Numbers: 329, 364 Illustrations: Henrywood BJ/378; Hughes 2/184; Rumsey 39
Cherubs with Goats Numbers: 282 Illustrations: none
Climbing Ivy Registered 22 November 1845 Numbers: 259, 260, 312 Illustrations: Henrywood BJ/379; Henrywood RMJ/78; Hughes 2/p.97 (Design Registry engraving); Rumsey 43
Dunmow Flitch Hughes calls it The Wedding Numbers: 120, 130, 132, 134 Illustrations: Henrywood BJ/375; Hughes 1/35
Flowers on Basketweave Numbers: 178 Illustrations: none
Flutes with Grapevine Numbers: 1 Illustrations: none
Foliage Sprigged       Numbers: 41, 42, 48 Illustrations: none
Foxes Numbers: 17 Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/74; Hughes 1/64; Rumsey 123-24
Foxhunt Numbers: 103, 107 Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/70 and 77; Hughes 1/16
Grapevine Sprigged. Numbers: 3, 7, 8, 10 Illustrations: none
Harvest Wreath “Society of Arts” Registered 26 May 1846 Known with a ceramic cover. The enamelled version has pattern number 9998. Hughes calls it Fruits and Wheat. Numbers: 268, 277, 300, 316 Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/81; Hughes 1/69; Rumsey 44
Holly and Mistletoe Registered 16 January 1863 Numbers: 575 Illustrations: Hughes 2/p.104 (Design Registry engraving)
Hop Jug Registered 14 May 1847 Designed by Henry Townsend. Numbers: 320, 321 Illustrations: Henrywood BJ/374 (white parian blue ground jug 19.9cm) Henrywood RMJ/82; Hughes 75 (Design Registry image); Rumsey 152; Wakefield Plate 20
Hops Registered 21 November 1848 Numbers: 323, 324, 328 Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/85 and Colour Plate VI; Hughes 1/204a (Design Registry engraving) Rumsey 52; Wakefield Figure 6 (Design Registry engraving)
Ivy Registered 3 September 1852 Numbers: 434, 475 Illustrations: Hughes 2/96; Rumsey 63-64
Lotus Numbers: 332 Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/86 (engraving); Rumsey 250
Octagonal, Mask Spout Registered 2 March 1846 (incorrectly marked 1845) Numbers: 263 Illustrations: Hughes 2/p.97 (Design Registry engraving)
Pineapple Registered 5 October 1858 Numbers: 504, 538 Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/88-89; Hughes 1/184
Prunus Moulded       Numbers: 239 Illustrations: Henrywood BJ/382; Henrywood RMJ/87
Prunus Sprigged       Numbers: 54, 59 Illustrations: none
Pumpkin Numbers: 93 Illustrations: none
Quatrefoil Ewer The ewers shown here bear impressed date codes for 1868 and 1873. Numbers: 596, 604 Illustrations: none
Ribbed Registered 5 June 1852 Numbers: 464 Illustrations: Hughes 2/94; Rumsey 100
Roses Numbers: 261 Illustrations: Hughes 2/117
Running Plants over Flutes Registered 9 February 1857 Numbers: 530 Illustrations: Henrywood BJ/381; Hughes 2/114
Silenus Also made by Minton & Boyle in “English Porcelain” (see Henrywood BJ for details) Numbers: 16, 18, 19, 235, 245, 264 Illustrations: Henrywood BJ/373; Henrywood RMJ/73 and Colour Plate IV; Hughes 1/37 and 37a; Rumsey 4; Wakefield Plate 19
“Society of Arts” Registered 26 May 1846 Hughes calls it “Vintage“. Numbers: 269, 274, 301, 302, 306  Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/79-80 and Colour Plate VI; Hughes 1/70
Spirals with Ferns Registered 23 July 1852 Numbers: 436 or 486, 473, 510 Probably one number misread? Illustrations: Rumsey 101
Sporting Scenes Numbers: 222, 224, 225 Illustrations: Henrywood BJ/376; Hughes 1/66 One of the scenes is copied in mirror image from a painting by James Northcote RA, "Grouse Shooters in the Forest of Bowland"
Squirrels and Butterflies Numbers: 293, 296, 363 Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/90; Rumsey 61
Stiff Leaves Numbers: 94 Illustrations: none
Stylised Grapes and Scrolls Numbers: 479, 480 Illustrations: Hughes 2/75
Ten Panels Numbers: 452 * Illustrations: none
“The Two Drivers” Numbers: 334, 335, 336, 337 Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/83-84; Hughes 1/94; Wakefield Plate 21
Twining Handle Registered 25 October 1859 Numbers: 549, 550, 551 Illustrations: none
Vertical Leaves         Registered 23 January 1856 Numbers: 526 Illustrations: Henrywood BJ/380; Hughes 2/p.100 (Design Registry engraving)
Water Lily Covered bowl and stand (not a jug) Numbers: 288 Illustrations: none
“Waverley” Numbers: 91, 95 Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/76 and Colour Plate V; Hughes 1/65; Rumsey 163
William and Adelaide Numbers: 13 Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/72

Index of Registration dates

Other dates not yet fully identified:

29 October 1860
6 January 1865 (leaves with bulbous fluted neck)
7 April 1875 (acorn shape)
21 November 1879
16 September 1852 (majolica)
23 July 1852 (majolica)

With thanks to everyone who has contributed information, and particularly for images included above:

Neville Barker; Lyn Breen (myoldchinavintage); Jean Louise Brogden; James Butler (La Vintique Maison); Ken Carter; Joan Cowan; Howard Crane; Jessica Davies; Pamela Fields; the collection of Robert Griesbach; Helen Hallesey; Dick Henrywood; Irene Keim; Leslie LeFevre-Stratton; Guy Loveday; Jim McAuliffe; Philip Mernick; Paul Miller; Paul Mooney; Nathalie O'Neill; Paul Rosenberg (Moorabool Antique Galleries); Patrick Rowe; Steve White (Penllyn Collectables); Sheila Wylie; Dreweatt-Neate, Newbury.

Page created 12 August 2020. Last updated 16 September 2024.

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