Tile, 6 x 6 inches. Brown transfer on buff background. Designed by John Moyr Smith, c. 1870-72 for the Minton's China Works. This tile has the pattern name, "The Potter" printed on the face of the tile along with the designer's initials "JMS." The ancient Greek word for “potter,” κεραμεύς, is also included. This pattern is from a series of 12 tiles known as the “Industrial Series” or “The Trades.” This particular tile was produced by the Campbell Brick & Tile Co., which was run by Colin Minton Campbell, who was also in charge of the Minton's China Works.

The partnership between Colin Minton Campbell and Michael Daintry Hollins ended in 1868. It produced a split in the famous Minton company, with Campbell in charge of china production at Minton's China Works, and Hollins producing tiles of various types at Minton, Hollins & Co. Campbell also started to produce tiles, but it was not until he took over an existing tileworks in 1875 that production of encaustic and mosaic floor tiles began. This business was originally styled the Minton Brick & Tile Co., though a lawsuit brought by Hollins forced Campbell to drop 'Minton' from the name. Henceforth the firm traded as the Campbell Brick & Tile Co. until switching to simply the Campbell Tile Co. in 1882.