In china, besides all the usual services--dinner, tea, breakfast, dessert, _déjeuner_, toilet, trinket, etc.--an endless variety of fancy and ornamental goods are produced. Notably among these are vases, ewers, tazzæ, and other articles of extreme beauty, and of every style of decoration. A marked feature in these is the embossed gilding of borders, &c. by a process patented by the firm. In Parian, the statuary, busts, groups, vases, ewers, and other articles, equal those of almost any manufactory; while in majolica, della Robia, and other goods, the productions of this firm stand pre-eminent. The engravings, Figs. 205 to 264, give a fair idea of the marvellous beauty and variety of Minton’s goods. Whatever emanates from their factory, indeed, may safely be pronounced to be perfect and unsurpassed, both in design, in manipulation, in body, in glaze, and in colouring. Messrs. Minton rank among the foremost houses throughout the world in those specialities of manufacture to which they have devoted their unbroken attention. The richness and elaborate character of some of the designs, and the faultlessly artistic treatment of others, are shown on the examples I have selected for illustration. [Illustration: Figs. 252 to 254.] [Illustration: Figs. 255 to 258.] [Illustration: Fig. 259.--Minton’s Productions.] [Illustration: Figs. 260 to 264.--Minton’s Productions.] The marks used by Messrs. Minton from time to time are the name “MINTON” impressed on the body of the ware; the names “MINTON,” “MINTON & BOYLE,” “MINTON & CO.,” etc., printed on the surface; and an imitation of the Sèvres double _L_, with the initial M added. This latter mark, of which two examples are given on Figs. 255 and 256, is pencilled in blue on the ware; it occurs on fine porcelain tea services, richly painted and gilt, and of remarkably good, and sometimes very elaborate, design. Sometimes also the letter M alone (Fig. 221) occurs. Of late years, too, an ermine spot (Fig. 222) in gold or colours has occasionally been used. [Illustration: Fig. 265.] The name MINTON impressed, or “stamped,” in the body of the ware, was not used until 1861, so that this will be a guide to possessors in appropriating examples. [Illustration: Figs. 266 to 270.] Sometimes the words “FELSPAR CHINA,” “NEW STONE” or “SEMI CHINA” occur. Other marks used by Messrs. Minton are shown on Figs. 266 to 270. * * * * *