It all started with a lance
- Forester Lowenhart
- Apr 17, 2014
- 3 min read
PIONEERS IN SL JOUSTING
An occasional series of profiles featuring those who were first to create signature products and programs that advanced the SL Sport of Jousting.
FRANCESCO DESPRES ~ Medieval Designs
Photo caption: Francesco leading fife and drum band in Florence, Italy.
Most of us who have been in SL jousting awhile have one or two MD lances in our inventory as well as armor, helms, horse barding and knights tunics from Medieval Designs. The distinction of creating that first lance in SL goes to MD's owner Francesco Despres, who began like many of us, stumbling into SL and the beginnings of a Medieval community.
His interest in the Middle Ages when he joined February 2007 stemmed from painting lead soldier models at an early age. On his first or second day, he participated in a sword tournament and won, which he credits for hooking his interest.
“If I would have lost, who knows, maybe I would not be here”
It earned him his first 1000L, which he spent on weapons and outfits.
“They were really ugly and offered no armor at all. So I decided to try to make some armor for myself and a great helm”
One day while struggling with prims he met Eleannah, the lady who would become his best friend in SL and business partner. She decided to buy a small island and Francesco bought another adjoining hers. There he started experimenting with a lance and after a few weeks of testing and experiments was able to have a working prototype.
Eleannah started to make outfits and Francesco created his first horse caparisons which lead to renting a shop together. Eleannah designed the logo and he suggested they combine their two areas of interest, of sword and rose.
Francesco estimates the first Medieval Designs store opened January 2008, but the first lance was sold October 7, 2007.
The sport of joust did not commence until a friend proposed to the owner of Avilion to try the new sport. A joust arena was built and the rest is history. He created his own list in February 2009, and scoreboard in September 2011. His armor was the first quality designs available to outfit early knights in SL and still among the best crafted prim designs.
Francesco estimates he has sold 300 Black Knight outfits (the most popular) but lists his top 5 sellers on Marketplace as:
1) Renaissance Saddle; 2) Musketeer Hat; 3) Saracen Joust Target; 4) MD List; 5) Renaissance Horse Armor.
Hippo vendors vendors show top sellers as:
1) Sparring Lance; 2) Other Lances; 3) Heavy Plate Armor; 4) Black Knight basic set; 5) Dummy target.
His favorite is the recently completed dragon design called Drachenfels, but a close second is Von Bynsfelt. Not all names are historical and some have been inspired by custom requests, such as the King of Scotland, which originated from a commission by the Headmaster of the DDA.
In RL, Francesco makes his home where he grew up near Florence, Italy. He has a degree in physics and specializes in astronomy. He works at the observatory in Florence, where he is responsible for the computing facilities. An early picture attached to this post, shows Francesco leading the Fife and Drum band in a Florence Renaissance.
One can say, he walks his talk.
