Details of Sculptor

Surname

Bird

Alternative Surname

First Name

Edward Chapman

Initial of Surname

B

Year of Birth/Baptism

Flourished

Year of Death

- 1792

Biographical Details

He was one of six surviving children and probably the only son of Francis Bird and his wife Hester, the daughter of Edward Chapman, who were married in 1706. He had a considerable business as a marble merchant and is known to have supplied Henry Cheere, Thomas Carter and Louis François Roubiliac, for his name appears in their bank accounts. In 1770 he became bankrupt and a sale of his stock-in-trade was held at his yard at Millbank on 4 April, 1771. The lots included a ‘Head of Venus’, reliefs of ‘The Crucifixion’ and the ‘Death of Lucretia’, ‘Sicilian Jasper marble tablets’, a ‘rare sized slab of lumatella [sic] antica’, which fetched 2 guineas, chimneypieces and vases. He appears to have continued in the same line of business, in spite of this setback, for in 1777 a ‘Mr Bird’ bought uncarved blocks of marble, tables and carved chimneypieces from Thomas Carter II. Bird was insolvent again at his death on 22 February 1792. His sister, Hester Bird, and son, Christopher Chapman Bird, are named as executors in his will.
Literary References: Gunnis 1968, 53; Rendel 1972, 207; Penny 1977 (1), 204; Bindman and Baker 1995, 214, 382 n 12
Will: PROB 11/1217, 91, r-v; 11/633, 1144-115r
Auction Catalogues: Bird 1771