Minton Plate

Q: How old is this plate? The border is decorated with winged griffins and urns. The back has a diamond-shaped mark and “Florentine” and “M & CO.” I’ve been trying to get an answer to this question for some time, but keep hitting brick walls.

A: This mark was used by Minton & Co., a company that started in Staffordshire, England, in 1793. The first pottery was made in 1796. The Florentine pattern was made with different color borders and sometimes with a center design. The diamond-shaped mark is the English registry mark, which indicates the design was registered on September 22, 1862. Minton became part of the Royal Doulton Tableware Group in 1968. That company became part of WWRD Holdings in 2009 and the Minton line was later discontinued. Value of your plate, about $25.