This is a beautiful dessert service made by Minton in 1871, consisting of two high comports, four low comports, and ten plates. All items have a white ground with a bright turquoise and tooled gilt border, and each item is painted with a unique equestrian horse scene based on the famous engravings by Sir Edwin Landseer.
 
Minton was one of the pioneers of English china production alongside other great potters such as Spode, Davenport, Ridgway, Coalport and others. They were located in Staffordshire and were known specifically for their wonderfully fine white bone china and bright colours; there is a colour called "Minton Blue" which is a fresh azure blue that was very fashionable during the Victorian era. Throughout the different phases of its existence, the factory made top quality creamware, porcelain, majolica and ultimately the finest parian porcelain. Minton excelled in their decorations and gilt work; these were often executed by artists who came from the Sèvres factory in France and brought their skills with them.
 
This set would make a fantastic display for horse lovers, and is excellent for use. Each equestrian image is unique, some shown with their groom and one with a female rider. The gilt rims are a beautiful example of Minton's new discovery of "acid gilding", which allowed them to create these very finely "tooled" borders on a great scale. 
 
The horse paintings are attributed to Henry Mitchell, who painted several of these services. One of them is pictured on page 69 in Joan Jones' "Minton - The First two undred Years of Design & Production". Queen Victoria reported commissioned a further two services for use at Balmoral Castle and Sandringham.
 
The images are based on the famous prints of Sir Edwin Landseer (1802-1873), who became well known for his animal paintings and prints, and is most widely known for the bronze lions at the foot of Nelson's Column at Trafalgar Square in London.
 
The plates are marked with the imprinted MINTON mark, as well as a year cypher for the year 1871. The pattern number G736 is painted onto most items.
 
CONDITION REPORT The set is in perfect antique condition except two small chips so the underside of one of the low comports, and a few very minor scratches to some of the images; most of the items seem to have never been used.
 
Antique British porcelain is never perfect. Kilns were fired on coal in the 1800s, and this meant that china from that period can have some firing specks from flying particles. British makers were also known for their experimentation, and sometimes this resulted in technically imperfect results. Due to the shrinkage in the kiln, items can have small firing lines or develop crazing over time, which should not be seen as damage but as an imperfection of the maker's recipes, probably unknown at the time of making. Items have often been used for many years and can have normal signs of wear, and gilt can have signs of slight disintegration even if never handled. I will reflect any damage, repairs, obvious stress marks, crazing or heavy wear in the item description but some minor scratches, nicks, stains and gilt disintegration can be normal for vintage items and need to be taken into account.
 
There is widespread confusion on the internet about the difference between chips and nicks, or hairlines and cracks. I will reflect any damage as truthfully as I can, i.e. a nick is a tiny bit of damage smaller than 1mm and a chip is something you can easily see with the eye; a glazing line is a break in the glazing only; hairline is extremely tight and/or superficial and not picked up by the finger; and a crack is obvious both to the eye and the finger. Etcetera - I try to be as accurate as I can and please feel free to ask questions or request more detailed pictures.
 
DIMENSIONS plates 23.5cm (9.25") diameter; high comports 24cm (9.5") diameter and 13.5cm (5.25") tall; low comports 24cm (9.5") diameter and 6.2cm (2.5") tall.