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Help finding marcus designs or D H morton
13 Answers
Hope someone can help me, I have had hanging on my wall for a couple of years a relief of charging knights, and on the bottom of this relief are the words marcus designs and D H morton, so decided too google these names, but cannot find anything, just a couple of things being sold on ebay type site.
Does anyone have any information on theses titles, or does anyone know of a website explaining about these people.
Would like to know about the history of the relief, I bought from a market. it has a bronze colour too it, and has charging knights on it.
It is well made so thought their would have been more ont the net about it.
Any info would be gladly recieved.
Thank you.
Does anyone have any information on theses titles, or does anyone know of a website explaining about these people.
Would like to know about the history of the relief, I bought from a market. it has a bronze colour too it, and has charging knights on it.
It is well made so thought their would have been more ont the net about it.
Any info would be gladly recieved.
Thank you.
Answers
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Marcus Designs were the concept of David Morton who lived in Bottesford in Leicestershire and made decorative plaques mainly of medieval design from the late 1960's -till sometime in the 80's. I know this because my mother worked there as a colourist for a few years in the 70's. The plaques started simply, (one early type I remember featured the design of a greek coin) and developed into freizes of medieval battles as long as seven feet.
In the early days, my grandfather worked for Morton producing the hand written cards that accompanied these plaques (in Old English) and both my father and uncle did quite a bit of delivering for him. The premises were on the little industrial estate that was on Normanton Lane, but has now gone. I believe they experienced difficulties when this type of decoration ceased to find favour from the outset of the minimalist trend.
In the early days, my grandfather worked for Morton producing the hand written cards that accompanied these plaques (in Old English) and both my father and uncle did quite a bit of delivering for him. The premises were on the little industrial estate that was on Normanton Lane, but has now gone. I believe they experienced difficulties when this type of decoration ceased to find favour from the outset of the minimalist trend.
I have a D.H.Morton set of three,depicting the courting,proposal,and marriage of an aristocratic type couple,the main one(the wedding) has a castle in the background,dated 1979,there are dogs and rabbits discreetly placed in each of them,they are amazingly detailed,and i agree with pentdragon that considering the detail and quality there should be more about them on the net.
We purchased three (3) D H Morton designs in the late 70s and love them for their exquisite coloring, detail and realism. We have Henry the Eighth, Elizabeth I, and The Charge of Knights. The information we received on the Charge of Knights when purchased indicated the knights wore armour of the 13th century. The body and head are covered by a "suit" of Chain Mail, topped by the Heaume. The sleeves are prolonged to cover the hand with mail-gauntlets and the Chausses, similarly, are prolonged to protect the feet. The metal knee-pieces or Genouillieres both protect and give greater mobility. Special shoulder defences are the Ailettes, designed to lessen the impact of a sweeping cut with sword or battle-axe. Over the anonymous mail is the Surcoat, displaying along with ailettes and shield, the wearer's device or coat of arms, as a means of identifying him as friend or foe. The knights are armed with a Sword and a Lance, leaning forward in their high-pommelled Saddles as the charge gathers momentum. These hand-made reliefs are reproduced with artistic skill from sculpture by D.H. Morton. A specially developed colouring process further enhances the relief, which is authentically based on the mediaeval period. To maintain its' beauty, occasionally dust with a soft dry cloth -- care should be taken in handling. Would love to have more information about them.
Marcus Designs (also Marcus Replicas) was started by two friends, Dennis Morton and Brian Flannery in the late 1960's with Dennis sculpting the designs, whilst Brian found outlets for them as the sales director, many times through the gift shops of stately homes.
Whilst early work focussed on the medaieval, later the firm produced figures from many other periods of history, and also completed commissions for individuals, companies and town centres.
Dennis left the company at the end of the century to start a new company - Vale Garden Houses and was the designer of many custom built and designed conservatories and garden houses for wealthy clients worldwide. The company is a family run concern and includes not only Dennis (who though now semi-retired still does much of the design work) and his wife, but also his and daughter and son Simon who now runs it.
Marcus Replicas (Designs) continued to be run by Brian Flannery until his death in the late '90's, after which the premises and many of the stock items were taken over by the production manager Chris (Bud) ?
Equestrian artist and sculptor Elizabeth Sharp joined the firm as a free lance sculptor in the 1980’s, to help Dennis to produce figures for an historical Clock made by the firm of Thwaites and Reed, (who also look after Big Ben in London) for the Victoria Centre in Sydney Australia. This clock featured 6 mechanised scenes from British history, including the beheading of Charles 1 and the Battle of Hastings - where Elizabeth's equestrian expertise was most useful! After Dennis left the company, Elizabeth continued to produce a number of sculptures of historical figures for Marcus Replicas (amongst them being a bust of Churchill, a suit of armour of Henry 8th, scenes of Robin Hood and a portrait of Richard III, as well as larger sculptures including the 4' round 'Flying Horse' for Nottingham City Centre), until the firm's closure. More of Elizabeth's work can be seen at www.stantongraphics.co.uk.
The Marcus Design buildings were sold off for development at the start of the 21st century, and though Chris did produce the designs elsewhere for some time there seems to be no sign of the company now.
Whilst early work focussed on the medaieval, later the firm produced figures from many other periods of history, and also completed commissions for individuals, companies and town centres.
Dennis left the company at the end of the century to start a new company - Vale Garden Houses and was the designer of many custom built and designed conservatories and garden houses for wealthy clients worldwide. The company is a family run concern and includes not only Dennis (who though now semi-retired still does much of the design work) and his wife, but also his and daughter and son Simon who now runs it.
Marcus Replicas (Designs) continued to be run by Brian Flannery until his death in the late '90's, after which the premises and many of the stock items were taken over by the production manager Chris (Bud) ?
Equestrian artist and sculptor Elizabeth Sharp joined the firm as a free lance sculptor in the 1980’s, to help Dennis to produce figures for an historical Clock made by the firm of Thwaites and Reed, (who also look after Big Ben in London) for the Victoria Centre in Sydney Australia. This clock featured 6 mechanised scenes from British history, including the beheading of Charles 1 and the Battle of Hastings - where Elizabeth's equestrian expertise was most useful! After Dennis left the company, Elizabeth continued to produce a number of sculptures of historical figures for Marcus Replicas (amongst them being a bust of Churchill, a suit of armour of Henry 8th, scenes of Robin Hood and a portrait of Richard III, as well as larger sculptures including the 4' round 'Flying Horse' for Nottingham City Centre), until the firm's closure. More of Elizabeth's work can be seen at www.stantongraphics.co.uk.
The Marcus Design buildings were sold off for development at the start of the 21st century, and though Chris did produce the designs elsewhere for some time there seems to be no sign of the company now.
6 years after the last answer on here and still very little to find about this maker online. I've had an 'ornament' of a medieval couple that I was given nearly 30 years ago. I know it came from a small boutique type shop locally. I have found others similar online but not exactly the same. I'd love to find out more but other than what I have read on this page I know nothing. Mine says D. H. Morton Marcus Replicas 74 along the bottom and it depicts a medieval couple. Most I have seen online are bronze coloured whereas mine is coloured (for want of a better description).
I first discovered this MARCUS DESIGNS art work at Busch Gardens, "The Old Country", near Williamsburg, Virginia in 1985. I was on military duty as a student at US Army JAG School in nearby Charlottesville, Virginia at University of Virginia. BUSCH GARDENS is an Amusement Theme Park where each section is a representation of Old Europe. There was a small booth in Old England Section of the theme park. They sold several versions of the plague and also did original art work of your family or any family Coat of Arms. These plaques were priced from 30 up to 100 dollars at that time. I purchased three of them between 1985 and 1988. Each year I would visit the Army school center and take a weekend fun excursion to Busch Gardens "The Old Country". The "LOCH NESS MONSTER" was the best Roller Coaster of those years at Busch Gardens. "BIG BAD WOLF" was a close second. The beer was very good too. And I enjoyed the cuisine at the OLD GERMANY section of the theme park. After you eat the knockwurst and 3 kinds of sauerkraut you have no room for the 7 layer Black Forrest chocolate cake. : - (
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