This set of 8 hand painted plates are wonderful examples of the best of Minton's artwork. The Aesthetic Movement is exemplified by the full scene depiction of birds in their natural environment, beautifully painted in polychrome enamels on an Eau-de Nil ground. The plates are framed with a wide acid etched gold border making each  plate a unique "canvas" which focuses on the birds' nests. 

There is minor rubbing to the green ground on a few plates and one has minor crazing in one area but overall these are still show stoppers especially for their age. Dated 1873-1874.