Featured Pre-Raphaelite Minton Tile 1875 Monogrammed?

Hi again,

I've seen this tile but am struglling with the monogram. Can anybody tell what it says? Or indeed whose it is?

The back of the tile doesnt hold any clues unfortunately.

Looks like an A but unsure after that. Could Be AG but nothing shows up in searches still

 

Hi, I actually don't see it as an A at all, but as ST....and am not sure on the little squiggle......could be a small 'e' or '8'.....just can't tell.....and the date speaks for itself...1875......but that's MY take on it.....

 

Decorated blank IMO

 

@Bronwen
Could this be Psyche? I know there’s some connection to butterflies.

 

Yes, there's a good chance that's who artist had in mind. As you say, she is typically indicated by butterfly wing(s) on her person or whole butterflies near her. 'Psyche' means soul, life force, & this property is represented allegorically as a butterfly.

Before she is allowed to marry Cupid, Psyche has to perform labors set for her by Venus, each meant to be fatal. The last is to go down to Hades & get from Proserpina a dab of her beauty, to replace what Venus has lost in her distress at the prospect of having a mortal daughter-in-law. Psyche succeeds, with strict instructions not to look into the jar/box. Of course, she can't resist, thinking to take just a little to make herself more beautiful for Cupid, & is struck down insensible.

So both the butterflies & the little Grecian unguent jar are attributes of Psyche.

 

On the theme of not looking when you're on your way out of Hades, Orpheus leading Eurydice:

https://picclick.com/MINTON-HOLLINSCO-Very-Rare-Vintage-PRE-RAPHAELITE-Style-Large-253825858579.html

 

That is a beautifully put comment @Bronwen.

You and @i need help are spot on by the looks of it! Amazing! I'm really interested in it now. It is a really beautiful thing and with the classical story its irresistible!

I bet your right too @blooey, we might have wrapped up the case. Learning alot in the post, thank you guys

 

Thank you.

 

Y'know, on looking back up at @Nathan Lindop's 2 image down (the enlargement) HIS looks more clearly than MINE to look like script "fta" at this point......

 

I don't think it's a painted blank. The image is very Minton and that looks underglaze.

 

Everything depends on the BACK of this tile, which Minton company created it? Minton, Hollins & Co., or Mintons? Does the back (verso) have an address?

After the company name, the factory, which made the tile is usually embossed, such as "China Works," or "Patent Tile Works."

This tile looks like a tile from Colin Minton Campbell's factory known as, "Minton Art Pottery Studio" of Kensington Gore, London. This would make it a "Mintons" tile.

Naturally, the tile has been signed by the artist and dated. Thus, this artwork is not the product of a common decorator at Mintons, but a known artist hired by Mintons, making their identification a matter of record. The year 1875 was the LAST year any art tiles were created at the Minton Art Pottery Studio, as it burned to the ground that year.

If the tile is a Mintons, it was certainly one of the last works from this studio.

Minton, Hollins & Co. also created such tiles...so, everything rests on the design of this tiles "grip" pattern.

I am certain this tile is from a famous artist of the time and the style of the work is very familiar to me.

A short study should reveal all, once the factory is known. This could be by Rebecca Coleman (RC), who worked at the studio with William Stephen Coleman, its first Director.

 

I see "sta" in order which would likely be the monogrm "sat."

Debora

 

do you have the information about the dimensions?
Edit: if i'm not mistaken minton tiles would be 8 × 8 inch. (20.3 × 20.3 cm)

 

this one is from 1898. Large format 45.5cm x 30.2cm with impressed 'Mintons' mark with date code. very different quality
https://m.bonhams.com/auctions/20203/lot/75/

 

Minton tiles came in various sizes, the most common being 15x15cm (6x6) and the more rare 8x8, plus other sizes and shapes. 4 1/2" 3x6" 6x12" 8'12" and such. The most common tile size of the era was 6x6."

 

Solon could be the artist of your tile, too. He is considered to be the greatest director of Mintons art. The sample tile is an extremely rare tile! The tile uses various tile making techniques, it is a majolica tile with hand painted details. Very expensive in the day. Expensive then, expensive now.

Mintons, Ltd. was a competitor to Minton, Hollins & Co.. It was the company, which owned and ran the Minton Art Pottery Studio and fits as the maker of your tile.


The artistic style fits both R.Coleman, and the woman she worked for, whose first name was Ellen, I believe. The way the face is drawn is very like their works.