Founded by Thomas Minton in 1793, the Minton pottery factory attracted the leading British and Continental designers - including A.W.N. Pugin, Sir Henry Cole and Christopher Dresser - and built a pre-eminent position for both design and technique. Many of Minton's designs are published for the first time alongside documentary information from the Minton archives detailing its diverse and exuberant production over a 200-year period. Included are: early tablewares, tablewares and ornamental wares of the Victorian era; bisque and parian figures; majolica, tiles, pate sur pate; the Art Pottery Studio; Art Nouveau; Art Deco and commemorative ware.