One of Minton’s most significant achievements in the 19th century was the development and production of “Majolica ware”: ceramics decorated with bold, colorful lead glazes inspired by the bright colors of Italian “maiolica” and Renaissance ceramicists Luca Della Robbia and Bernard Palissy. First presented at Minton’s stand at the Great Exhibition of 1851, majolica was awarded with the Council medal and became incredibly popular with both Queen Victoria and the general public, and was seen by many as a novel ceramic art form appealing to the opulent spirit of the Victorian era.