Thomas Carter (sculptor)

Thomas Carter (1702–1756) was an 18th century British sculptor. His nephew, also Thomas Carter (d.1795), was a sculptor who worked with him and it is hard to separate some sections of their work. They specialised in ornate marble fireplaces for English country mansions.

Life

His was born in London in 1702. He had a stone yard in Shepherd Market in London. He mainly made chimneypieces but also did some statuary. Around 1729 he received a loan of £100 from Charles Jervas who had met him through a business connection. This permitted him to get an assistant and buy some better quality marbles. Through this action he employed Roubiliac, but the latter quickly found his own clients and left the business. Carter later moved to premises in the Parish of St George's near Hanover Square, Westminster.[1]

Apprentices in his yard included John Deare and Peter Matthias Van Gelder. [2]

He died in 1795 and John Cheere was executor of his will.

He was married to Mary and had two daughters: Elizabeth and Ann. The latter was wife of Thomas Carter the Younger (her first cousin).

Works
Chimneypiece at Blair Castle by Thomas Carter the Elder
Chimney-piece, for the Saloon, Milton Park, designed by Sir William Chambers carved by Thomas Carter

Thomas Carter the Younger

Nephew and son-in-law of Thomas Younger the Elder, he was probably apprenticed to him. On the Elder'd death in 1756 he bequeathed his stock to Benjamin Carter, his brother, who also specialised in chimneypieces. But Thomas the Younger appears to have gone into business with Benjamin and together they opened a new yard at Piccadilly. They had a considerable workforce and persons who worked there included John Eckstein. They continued to specialise in chimneypieces.[4]

Carter the Younger appears to have been the craftsman who worked with Robert Adam creating the world-famous Adam fireplaces. His commissions were largely from the British aristocracy and rose as high as working for the Prince Regent.[5]

He died in Knightsbridge on 5 January 1795.[6]

Works
Monument to Chaloner Chute in the chapel of The Vyne

Survival

Most of the Carters' work still survive in-situ. Some examples of their work such as the "Aesop's Fables" Fireplace of 1755, have sold for sums over £60,000.[8]

References
  1. Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851 by Rupert Gunnis p.84
  2. Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851 by Rupert Gunnis p.407
  3. "Untitled 2". churchmonumentsgazetteer.co.uk.
  4. Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851 by Rupert Gunnis p.85
  5. Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851 by Rupert Gunnis p.86
  6. ODNB: Thomas Carter
  7. Trust, National. "Monument to Chaloner Chute (c.1595-1659) 719619". www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk.
  8. "A GEORGE II STATUARY MARBLE CHIMNEYPIECE". www.christies.com.
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