Details of Sculptor

Surname

Wade

Alternative Surname

First Name

Joseph

Initial of Surname

W

Year of Birth/Baptism

c1664

Flourished

Year of Death

1743

Biographical Details

He executed work in both wood and stone in partnership with Richard Chichley between 1719 and 1728 (1, 2). In 1729 Wade was employed on his own at Greenwich Palace, receiving a total of £2,595 2s 9d. This included £101 for decorative work on the south pavilion of Queen Anne’s Court, £8 a ‘face’ for Corinthian capitals, £21 10s for 43 modillions and £3 each for two scrolls, carved to a depth of 2 feet (TNA ADM 68/708) (3). He received £121 9s 1d in 1740 for carved work on the Duke of Kingston's new yacht, ‘Mary’ (4).
He died on 22 November 1743, aged 79, and was buried at St Mary, Rotherhithe, London, where a cartouche tablet states that he was ‘King’s carver in His Majesty’s Yards at Deptford and Woolwich’ and adds that he was ‘Equalled by few and excelled by none’ in his profession.
Literary References: Gunnis 1968, 411; Penny 1992, 20
Archival References: GPC