Lidded toiletry dish, 7.5 x 2.75 x 1.25 inches. Printed and impressed maker's marks for Mintons. This dish was originally part of a toilet service, which was a set of objects used at the dressing table. The "Gorse" pattern features sprigs of the eponymous flower placed on every side of the dish. The molded knob handle is printed and painted to resemble a stylized flower. The thin border features two lines sandwiching an undulating vine with highly-stylized foliage set against a solid background.

Thomas Minton started the business in 1793 and since then there were many partners and company names. In 1849 Colin Minton Campbell joined Herbert Minton (his uncle and the son of Thomas Minton) and Michael Daintry Hollins and the business traded as Minton & Co. In 1849 Herbert Minton engaged a young French ceramic artist, Léon Arnoux, as art director and he remained with the Minton Company until 1892. This and other enterprising appointments enabled the company to widen its product ranges, one of the first innovations being the very colorful and highly successful majolica ware launched at The Great Exhibition of 1851. Colin Minton Campbell and Michael Daintry Hollins were also in partnership with Robert Minton Taylor as tile manufacturers trading as Minton, Hollins & Co. When Herbert Minton died in 1858 Colin Minton Campbell took over direction of the firm. The partnership with Hollins was dissolved in 1863, Colin Minton Campbell taking the china works and Hollins the tile works. From 1879 the business traded as 'Mintons.'