Marlborough Delhi Durbar Indian Courtyard (1 Viewer)

[arnie00]

Does anyone have information on the Indian Courtyard Marlborough Military Models made for their Delhi Durbar range? Photo attached. It is approx 60 cm long and has a wooden lid. A sticker says it was made by Marlborough at a North Wales address.

 

[paxtoysoldier]

I either never saw it or saw a rare one once - can't remember - but I don't know much about Marlborough MM.

Aside: I have lots of their beautiful 1903 Durbar/Durbar market.

Best Wishes and I'm sure you'll get an informative answer on this Forum.
Paddy for Dad & me

 

[damian]

They did some scenic pieces. A Turkish harem and a Roman bath spring to mind. Looks a bit like that .

 

[tdubel]

I believe these "dios" were actually made during the time period that John Eden was a part owner. I have seen the Roman Bath (have one) later populated with John Eden figures, but similar type box dioramas. I do know the original vacuum type facades were eventually made by JG miniatures, first in plaster/resin (heavy) then later and now in the resin format for Marlborough.

Tom

 

[TheDurbarMan]

Hi All

I’ve got a couple of the dioramas in wooden boxes (similar to the one you shared in your photo) and another diorama in a big blue Marlborough box - photo attached. I’ve only seen the wooden boxed diorama come up for action once in the last year or two (I think C&T or Vectis). Best wishes, TheDurbarMan

 

[arnie00]

Hi All

I’ve got a couple of the dioramas in wooden boxes (similar to the one you shared in your photo) and another diorama in a big blue Marlborough box - photo attached. I’ve only seen the wooden boxed diorama come up for action once in the last year or two (I think C&T or Vectis). Best wishes, TheDurbarMan

Fascinating - so pleased you posted. Very interesting. My courtyard is possibly a bazaar as there are rolls of cloth against the back wall so I shall people it with traders and buyers.

 

[arnie00]

I believe these "dios" were actually made during the time period that John Eden was a part owner. I have seen the Roman Bath (have one) later populated with John Eden figures, but similar type box dioramas. I do know the original vacuum type facades were eventually made by JG miniatures, first in plaster/resin (heavy) then later and now in the resin format for Marlborough.

Tom

I have a couple of Marlborough facades with JGM in ink on the back. I think this stood for John Gittens Marlborough.

 

[TheDurbarMan]

I have a couple of Marlborough facades with JGM in ink on the back. I think this stood for John Gittens Marlborough.

Hi, I think that JGM could also mean JG Miniatures. That company made (and continues to make) many building facades. I think at some point JG Miniatures worked in collaboration with Marlborough then went on to continue to sell the same facades under its own JGM branding. I’ve had fun trying to find the versions made and sold under Marlborough as they featured in Marlborough’s catalogue and had their own set numbers.

 

[TheDurbarMan]

Fascinating - so pleased you posted. Very interesting. My courtyard is possibly a bazaar as there are rolls of cloth against the back wall so I shall people it with traders and buyers.

My pleasure. Always nice to find someone new who collects Marlborough figures. I focus mainly on the Durbar, what do you collect? I hadn’t noticed the rolls of cloth until you mentioned them. Sounds like a good idea to add the figures you mentioned. Would be great to see how your display turns out.

 

[tdubel]

The History of the Facades. Original facades were made in house by Brian Hay and John Eden doing business as Marlborough. They were the vacuum type plastic ones and are the hardest to find b/c not everyone was remade. John Eden left the business, so Brian Hay full owner - contracted out to John Gittins which ushered in the heavy plaster resin versions. Again, hard to find util JGM or John Gittins Miniatures made in the resin versions that are still made today by Sheffield Miniatures. And there you have the actual history of Marlborough produced Facades.

Regarding a catalog, if you try https://web.archive.org/ (Wayback machine) and put in old address for www.marlboroughtoysoldiers.com then search 2005 circa for one of the screenshots and there should be a link to 4 pages of Durbar. That is the only one I have ever seen other than original printed ones which were a few pages only.

Tom

 

[TheDurbarMan]

Hi Tom,

Thank you so much for the history of the facades and the tip to locate the catalogue. Very helpful and very much appreciated!!!

I had always assumed that the lighter plastic versions followed the heavier plaster versions so it is most interesting to learn it was the other way around.

I have some figures of mounted governor general’s bodyguards. Again I had assumed these were by Marlborough but they do not appear in any of my lists or the lists accessed through the link you shared. So I believe they could be Blenheim or Nostalgia. Any thoughts would be gratefully received.

Best wishes

 

[tdubel]

Sorry, one amendment, Brian and John inherited the vacuum plastic facades from the Jan Scroby. She technically was the original designer and owner. They expanded the series. She also was Blenheim which became Marlborough. In addition, she contracted the Star Miniatures line to American dealer Star C. And, they also made a series called the Silk Route which lasted about 20 sets, very nice figures, I have that line, but alas do not have the Dragon Bridge (a holy grail). That line was mainly made at the behest of a very wealthy French collector! And......they made a line called India At Last which was a rework and new additions to some of the durbar street scenes and vendors (These came in little oval shaped boxes with a woodlike feel and the figures were packed in shreddings like straw. Finally - Nostalgia figures were sculpted by Shamus Wade and he contracted Blenheim to produce his figures - a joint venture so to speak.

As to mtd governors set - yes it is Marlborough, I just forget the set number at this moment, will try and look up.

Ok, I think I got the history out and right finally.

Tom

 

[TheDurbarMan]

Hi Tom, thanks for sharing that information.

I have many of the Silk Route figures too. It’s a great series. I was not aware of the Dragon Bridge as I have not seen it referred to in any list of Silk Route sets before. Do you have a photo of it that you could sure?

I was also not aware of the India at Last series. Do you have photos of any sets that you can share?

Thanks for confirming the mounted governor general bodyguard figures are Marlborough - I look forward to hearing from you if you discover the set number.

Best wishes