A forgotten national treasure, the Minton Archive is one of the greatest industrial archives in Britain. A vast collection of papers and drawings, the archive documents two centuries (1793-1968) of innovative design, manufacture and production by the pottery company, Minton. Minton was merged with Royal Doulton in 1968. Royal Doulton was acquired by Waterford Wedgwood UK PLC in 2005.
The Minton Archive contains exquisite drawings by artists such as Augustus Pugin, Christopher Dresser and Louis Solon, original pattern books, business ledgers and other paperwork relating to the firm and similar records from Royal Doulton and other smaller potteries. The archive has great artistic, heritage and social value to the nation.
Waterford Wedgwood, the owners of the Minton Archive, went into administration on 5th January. Much of Waterford Wedgwood, including the Minton Archive, has since been bought by KPS Capital Partners, a New York based private equity firm. The archive’s future is unclear. The Art Fund, the UK’s leading independent art charity which exists to make sure that everyone has the chance to enjoy great art, believes that the archive should remain intact and in the public domain. We are in ongoing discussions with the new owners and are making the case for this significant archive to be secured for public interest and enjoyment.
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