J. Whitehead and Sons Ltd.

Other names: John Whitehead and Sons (1880-1921)

Active: 1880 - 1985

Function: Marble mason, monumental sculptor, portrait sculptor

Policy: (1880-1900) Church Restorations, Reredoses, Pulpits, Fonts etc.

History or description: A multi-generational firm of funerary sculptors, undertakers and marble merchants based in London and with branches in Aberdeen, Carrara and possibly Manchester. The business may have its origins in the late 18th century when a James Whitehead of London created a number of funerary monuments between c.1799-1817. From about 1870 the firm was run by John Whitehead Senior (c.1845-1904), he may have taken over the business from his father or uncle as a monument to a member of the Wright family was created by J Whitehead and Co in 1849 at Acton Trussell, Staffordshire. A Joseph Whitehead born c.1830 in St Pancras, an architectural draughtsman and artist and his son Alfred C. Whitehead born c.1856, a wood carver and architectural moulder may also be associated with the firm.

John Whitehead Senior (c.1845-1904) was primarily an undertaker and marble merchant. His oldest son Joseph James Whitehead was the principal sculptor associated with the firm from the late 1880s. John Whitehead Junior was also employed by the firm c.1901 and may have continued to be involved after his father's death in 1904 perhaps by managing John Whitehead in Manchester c.1911-31 which appears to be one of the branches of the company.

Citing this record

'J. Whitehead and Sons Ltd.', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/organization.php?id=msib1_1242690832, accessed 08 Jun 2023]