THIS IS A RARE FIND!6" square tile with cows in front of the State House, a chip to the bottom right corner - other wise very good condition, marked "State House Boston 1818" on the front," Published by Macullar Parker & Company Monton China Works Stoke on Trent Made in England" on the backa blue and white decorative tile from Minton, features a charming pastoral depiction of the Boston State House as it looked in 1818. While most tiles are meant to be used as floor coverings or decorative accents for walls, fireplaces, and furniture, this particular tile was produced by Minton to be sold as a souvenir for Boston visitors.Produced around 1895, the tile was one of a pair of tiles made exclusively for Macullar, Parker & Company, a large clothing manufacturer in Boston at the time. An advertisement for the tiles states, "Six-inch Tiles, made by Minton, bear beautiful representations of The Old John Hancock House in 1863, just prior to its demolition, and The Boston State House in 1818, as it appeared, when cows were pastured on the Common.... these are indestructible souvenirs of Boston, and commemorate two of the most historical structures of this country. They were made by the famous Mintons, of England, exclusively for Macullar, Parker & Company and obtainable nowhere else." Although the history of the tile's production is certainly interesting, the subject of the tile, the Boston State House, has an interesting history of its own.Built in 1798, the Boston State House sits on Boston's Beacon Hill overlooking Boston Common. Prior to the State House's construction, the land was a cow pasture owned by Revolutionary patriot John Hancock. The building was designed by Charles Bulfinch, the architect who also planned the U.S. Capitol's central section. The original wooden dome of the State House was initially covered in copper provided by Paul Revere's company, but is now gilded in 23 karat gold. Today, the Boston State House continues to operate as the government seat for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.Decorative tiles, such as the one featured, date to the 4th century BC in Asia. The spread of the Roman Empire helped propagate the use of decorative tiles throughout Europe, but the practice waned and eventually died out during the Dark Ages. Decorative tile-making was revived in the twelfth century, when Cistercian monks began making and using ceramic tiles for church and cathedral decorations and flooring. By the sixteenth century, tile production had again disappeared in Europe for the most part, but tiles continued to be made and used in Turkey and parts of the Middle East. Beginning in the seventeenth century, Delft began producing a large number of Delftware tiles in Holland. However, ceramic floor tile production was not widespread in Europe until the mid-nineteenth century, when a renewed interest in medieval culture and decoration (including decorative tile) led to a growing demand. It was around this time that Herbert Minton became interested in tile manufacturing.Minton China was founded in 1793 when Thomas Minton decided to open a small porcelain factory in Stoke-on-Trent, England, after years of apprenticeships with Josiah Spode, Josiah Wedgwood, and John Adams, and a stint working throughout England as an engraver. Originally, Minton China decorated earthenware blanks with blue transfer designs. These designs were popular at the time, and were sold in mass quantities to London retailers. In 1798, Thomas Minton began traveling throughout England in search of clay suitable for the production of fine porcelain. Once he found suitable clay, Minton began producing creamware, transferware, stoneware, and hand-painted earthenware designs. When Thomas Minton died in 1836, he left Minton China to his son, Herbert Minton, who proved to be an invaluable addition to the company. Herbert's artistic vision, creativity, and business acumen led Minton China to the forefront of the industrial age.

RARE ENGLISH MINTON CHINA WORKS TILE STATE HOUSE BOSTON MA MACULLAR PARKER 1818.