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The company was established in 1848 in Frome by John Webb Singer, a skilled silversmith, who opened the Frome Art Metal Works, primarily to meet the need for ecclesiastical metalwork. The occurrence of two world wars and an increasing interest in bronze sculpture encouraged 'Singers of Frome', as it had become known, to move to London after merging with the Morris Art Bronze Foundry in 1927. Morris Singer continued to cast the works of virtually all the major British sculptors whilst building a world-wide reputation amongst sculptors and architects. The Fountain and two of the lions in Trafalgar Square came out of its foundry as did the figure of Justice atop of the Old Bailey. Boadicea and the Chariot outside the Houses of Parliament and St George and the Dragon by Blackfriars Bridge are among many of the other monumental works which contribute to the character of London and commemorate the great names which have made history. |
In England, Canada, USA, Africa, the Middle East and other parts of the world many major monuments were cast and erected by the foundry. Statuary continued to be the largest part of its output until the next and modern phase when, in 1960 Dame Barbara Hepworth began sending her work to Morris Singer, accelerating its transformation into the respected sculpture foundry which has cast every great modern sculptor from Epstein to Moore and Paolozzi. Examples of the quality and craftsmanship of the architectural work we have carried out are to be found, among many others, in the doors to the Washington Cathedral in USA, the Bank of England and the RIBA building. In 1967, the foundry moved from London to purpose-built premises at Basingstoke where among a number of monumental projects, it cast the 56ft high bronze and wall sculpture for Montreal's Notre Dame Cathedral by Charles Dauderin.
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In more recent times, the foundry was responsibel for many major works for corporations and companies in England and abroad including the 15' monument to the Yomper in Portsmouth by Philip Jackson, the Horse of Helios at Piccadilly Circus by Rudy Weller, The Wallenberg Monument by Philip Jackson, unveiled by HM The Queen in February 1997, St George and the Dragon by Michael Sandle, Sheep Group by Henry Moore, Wealth of Nation by Eduardo Paolozzi and countless others. In 1999 Morris Singer moved to new premises in Lasham and Hampshire In 2005 the foundry was responsible for casting all the elements of the Battle of Britain London Monument which was unveiled in September by HRH Prince Charles. At the end of 2005 the Morris Singer name was acquired by Art Founders Limited, and Morris Singer Art Founders is now based at impressive premises in Braintree, Essex. |
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