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Antique Lamps - Outstandingly Rare Minton Lamps

In 1793, Thomas Minton, now a master potter having just finished his apprenticeship with Josiah Spode as a copper plate engraver, opened his small Staffordshire pottery at Stoke-on Trent, the very heart of the English ceramic industry.  This small beginning was to grow into a major ceramic manufacturing company with an international reputation.

 

Everyone knows of the famous “Willow†pattern, but did you know that Thomas Minton is regarded as the one who first engraved this well known print!  Minton is said to have been inspired on hearing the old Chinese legend of the rich Mandarin’s young daughter eloping with his secretary.  As the pattern shows, the young lovers are pursued by the enraged father, however, the goddess of mercy, seeing the drama, turns the fleeing couple into swallows who fly away together.

 

Thomas Minton’s son, Herbert, (1793–1858), succeeded his father as head of the firm and to him was due its development and reputation as a leader of porcelain production.

In the 1820’s he started production of bone china.  This early Minton is regarded as comparable to French Sèvres, by which it was greatly influenced. 

 

Our Minton lamps shown were made in 1863 and are typical of the very high standards reached by this time.

 

An extremely rare pair of 19th century, English Minton vases as table

lamps. The lamps imitating the design of oriental water jars.

The lamps glazed in an even pale celadon with moulded and applied White Porcelain “ropeâ€. The necks of the lamps with a continuous band of open cut-work in the style of traditional Chinese window screens,

the lamp necks designed to allow the celadon glazed porcelain

to be viewed through the screens!

The lamps skilfully modelled to appear as if tied in white knotted rope.

The bases of the lamps with a continuous band of scrolling cut-work,

with evenly spaced round headed pegs as ties for the rope.

The lamps with gilded, turned, solid bronze bases and caps.

 

This stunning pair of lamps, the quality of which is self evident,

are in remarkable condition considering the complexity of the design.

 

In private correspondence with the UK Wedgwood/Minton museum, this

pair of lamps were described as “highly importantâ€.

 

The shape was exhibited by Minton at the 1862 London International Exhibition where they were described as “a pair of vases, glazed celadon ground, rope festoons in white, perforated neck and perforated footâ€.

The vase shape was registered in 1863 as “in the Chinese styleâ€.

Overall height (including shades)   25"/63cm

 

 

The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co specialise in antique table lamp lighting with an on-line range of over 100 unique, antique and vintage lamps on view.

Lamps are shipped ready wired for the U.S, the U.K and Australia.

You are invited to visit their web site at www.antiquelampshop.com

 

© The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co 2009

 

 

 

About the Author

Maurice Robertson, principal of The Antique and Vintage Table Lamp Co , has had a lifetime’s association with antique porcelain and pottery,with his commercial experience spaning a period of 40 years,including as a valuer to the Australian Government’s Incentive to the Arts Scheme. His long experience with antique ceramics and glass also includes dealing with leading museums and numerous international private collections. He has extended his ceramics expertise into the quality table lamps seen on the company’s site, he is well known to local and international interior designers who have included many of his table lamps in their projects and has also supplied items of national interest to the official Sydney residence of the Australian Prime Minister.