Tortoise Majolica Teapot by Minton

Tortoise Majolica Teapot, with its head protruding from the shell to form the spout, the tail making a handle, the cover with an orange shell knop resting on seaweed. 

Reedition of a famous Minton majolica production circa 1870. Limited and numbered edition, signed and numbered 111/2500, sold with its certificate of authenticity.

Minton was one of the most important English manufactories of majolica and porcelain, created in 1793 by Thomas Minton in the Staffordshire.
Minton supplied many famous institutions during the 19th century for both art porcelain pieces and also encaustics tiles. Minton exhibited pieces at the Great Exhibition of 1851, received a gold medal in 1855 for the Exposition Universelle in Paris, and had prestigious clients like Queen Victoria. The manufactory was internationally renowned and was knew for several specialties: china bone, majolica, Parian ware, and Japonism ware and Secessionist ware. Circa 1970 the company merged with others like Royal Doulton then eventually disappeared in 2005.