The Campbell Tile Co. - Circa 1945
"Mallard Ducks In Flight"
-- Vintage * Hand-Enameled -- Presenting a matched pair of hand-painted, pictorial, tiles, featuring two, beautifully rendered images of male Mallard ducks taking wing, which were factory created at the Campbell Tile Company, of England, whose original founder was the famous, Mr. Colin Minton Campbell (See the above vintage photograph of Mr. Campbell and his family)
--A Bit Of Tile History--
Colin Minton Campbell became a partner of Minton & Co. in 1849, and worked under the direction of Herbert Minton in the company's china manufacturing business, and had little to do with the tile making part of the business. But, when Herbert Minton died in 1858, Michael Hollins became the company's senior partner and Colin Campbell a junior partner, and became responsible for product marketing.
When this partnership was dissolved in 1868, Minton & Co. split into "Minton, Hollins & Co."-- the famous tile company, with the china and pottery operations continuing to trade its products as, "Minton & Co.," until 1873, when the name changed to just, "Mintons."
However, Colin Minton Campbell, started manufacturing tiles at the old "Minton China Works" against the spirit of his agreement with, Micheal Hollins, and started selling them to markets around the world, under the name, "Minton & Co." -- something Hollins had been doing, since 1840.
Naturally, Michael Hollins sued his cousin, and the court found in his favor. However, the court decided each company, "Minton, Hollins, & Co." and, "Minton & Co.," had the right to use the name, "Minton & Co.," but ONLY for their specialty products. This meant only tiles could be labeled "Minton & Co." by the "Minton, Hollins & Co.," and only china and pottery so labeled by "Minton & Co., (which later became simply 'Mintons' and then Mintons Limited).
Colin Minton Campbell was specifically prohibited from using the words "Minton" and "Tiles" in conjunction.
Note: For all intents and purposes Minton & Co. on tiles means Minton, Hollins & Co. the exceptions being limited to the relatively few tiles produced before 1840 and a few made by Campbell prior to the court judgement.
Mintons China Works as it is widely known (actually Mintons or Mintons Limited) is not Minton & Co. on tiles, although this connection is commonly made not least in the literature (mostly written by pottery people) and by museums it is wrong.
Condition: Excellent
These tiles presents well and its hand painted, enameled, designs are like new.
The versa display mortar stains, which make us believe these tiles were once fixed to a long vanished piece of English furniture. The tile backs are properly marked by Campbell.
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