Sometimes the words “FELSPAR CHINA,” “NEW STONE” or “SEMI CHINA” occur.
Other marks used by Messrs. Minton are shown on Figs. [266 to 270].
Hollins.—The history of the famous works of Messrs. Minton, Hollins, & Co., and of the rise and development of their manufacture of encaustic, enamelled, majolica, and other tiles, has already been given on pages 195 to 206, and therefore need not be repeated. In 1868, as there stated, the partnership ceased, and from that time the manufacture of tiles passed into the hands of, and has been continued solely by, Mr. Michael Daintry Hollins, under the old style of “Minton, Hollins, & Co.” The productions of the works, as of old, consist of unglazed encaustic, and tesselated, or rather, geometrical, tiles for pavements; glazed encaustic tiles for fire hearths; majolica and enamelled tiles for grate cheeks, flower-boxes, wall-linings, &c.; and plain and painted tiles for various species of decoration. These are all made from the same moulds, and of precisely the same excellent quality both in body and decoration as under the old firm; the business is, indeed, in every respect the same as before the dissolution.
The engravings, Figs. [271 to 282], show some of the designs of Minton, Hollins, & Co., and are of the highest style of art. The unglazed and the glazed encaustic tiles for pavements are made of the hardest and most durable materials that have yet been discovered—far beyond those of many other makers—and the workmanship as well as the designs are of a superior order. They are made in the simple red and buff patterns of mediæval times, as well as in various combinations of colours; among these are black, white, buff, chocolate, salmon, green, blue, red, grey, yellow, &c., and these are varied in their combinations to an almost endless variety.
In majolica tiles, for flower-boxes, many effective and appropriate designs are made; these are of bold relief and richly coloured. Among the patterns are tulips and other flowers in high relief, painted true to nature, and of remarkable richness. Earthenware tiles, printed or painted, not in relief, are also largely produced for the same purpose.
For wall decoration, fire-place cheeks and linings, and other purposes, the variety of tiles produced by the firm is very extensive, and embraces almost every class of design. In these are some with the patterns (notably the lily) all in very high relief, and the colouring of the richest and most effective character.
Figs. 271 to 276.—Minton, Hollins & Co.’s Tiles.
