George Gammon Adams
Born 21 April 1821
Died 14 March 1898
Active: 1841 - 1895
Country of birth and death: England
Sculptor, medallist
Born in Staines, Middlesex. Son of James Adams, upholsterer. He was apprenticed to the chief engraver of the Royal Mint, William Wyon RA aged 16 and entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1840. Adams also received instruction in modelling and cutting medals and coin dies from Benedetto Pistrucci (1783-1855). In 1846 he travelled to Italy and studied briefly with John Gibson. By the early 1850s he had established a thriving practice as a portrait sculptor and medallist. Adams also received a number of commissions for public statues. Around 1871, he volunteered for the 1st London Artillery Regiment and served as a captain. Adams died at his home, Acton Green Lodge.
Wealth at death: £343 0s. 0d.
Probate date: 18 July 1898
Works
Dates are usually the year a work was exhibited so may differ from date of production.
New entries have been made each time a work was exhibited. Click here for more information.
A Case of Wax Medallions and Bronze Medals
Combat of Centaurs and Lapithae
1851
Model for an equestrian statue and pedestal to His Grace the Duke of Wellington
1855 (Presumed)
Massacre of the Innocents
1862 (Presumed)
Locations
Address 5A Eccleston Street East Pimlico London | View on map
1851
Address 126 Sloane Street Chelsea London | View on map
1853 (Circa) - 1890 (Circa)
Address Acton Green Lodge Acton Lane London | View on map
1891 (Circa) - 1898
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at The International Exhibition, London, 1862
Multiple works
Exhibited at Second Exhibition of The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (London), 1899
'Portrait Bust'
Exhibited at Seventh Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (London), 1907
Multiple works
Exhibited at Corporation of Manchester Art Gallery, Thirteenth Autumn Exhibition, 1895
'Spring'
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, The Eighty-Fourth, 1852
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, The Eighty-Seventh, 1855
p.52
Exhibited at International Exhibition of Arts and Manufactures, Dublin, 1865
p. 112, no. 218. 'Saint John' - marble.
p. 112, no. 221. 'His Holiness the Pope' - marble bust.
p. 112, no. 223. 'Bust of the Late Duke of Wellington' - marble.
p. 113, no. 251. 'Slaughter of the Innocents' - Plaster.
p. 113, also nos. 252 to 257 inclusive. Details of all of the above objects not given; listed details given as below:
p. 113, no. 254. ' Bust of Lord Gough' - plaster.
p. 113, nos. 255, 256, 257. 'Antique Marble Busts'. Owned by E. W. O'Mahony, Esq.
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts (Summer Exhibition), 1768-
1841 - 1885
Exhibited 41 times (32 times from 1851), an average of three works per year, a mixture of busts, medals and ideal works.
Exhibited at Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations (London), 1851
1851
Exhibited at Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the first (Free Public Library and Museum, Liverpool), 1871
1871
Massacre of the Innocents (cat. no. 891, marble, £472 10s.); St John the Baptist (cat. no. 893, marble, £367 10s.).
Exhibited at Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the third (Free Public Library and Museum, Liverpool), 1873
1873
The late Duke Wellington (cat. no. 1032, marble, £26 5s.); Ruth (cat. no. 1043, marble, £200); The late Viscount Palmerston (cat. no. 1047, marble, £31 10s.).
Exhibited at Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the fourth (Free Public Library and Museum, Liverpool), 1874
1874
S. R. Graves, Esq., the late (cat. no. 1078, marble bust, not for sale).
Institutional and Business Connections
Member of Institute of British Sculptors
1860 (Circa)
Unsuccessful in ballot for election to Royal Academy of Arts
Personal and Professional Connections
Nominated by Francis Grant
24 May 1864
For RA; unsuccessful.
Seconded by John Callcott Horsley
24 March 1867 - 24 May 1867
For RA; unsuccessful.
Descriptions of Practice
Listed as medallist Biographical Dictionary of Medallists, Coin, Gem, and Seal-Engravers, Mint Masters, &c., Ancient and Modern with References to their Works, B.C. 500 - A.D. 1900, Volume I, 1902 Biographical Dictionary of Medallists
Listed as a Medallist. Produced medals between c. 1865 and 1893. Maker of medals for the London 'City Corporation' (in 1869, 1880, 1885 and 1893), and for various celebrations/ocassions including, for example, the opening of Blackfriars bridge and the Holborn Valley Viaduct, by Queen Victoria (1869). Produced a 'Stotch series' in c. 1867: see Forrer, vol. 1, (1902), p. 11. References given by Forrer include R. N. Cochran-Patrick, 'Medals of Scotland' (1884) [summary].
Listed under Sculptors Post Office London Directory, 1851 Post Office/Kelly London Directories
Listed under Sculptors Post Office London Directory, 1860 Post Office/Kelly London Directories
Listed under Sculptors Post Office London Directory, 1890 Post Office/Kelly London Directories
1890
p.1997
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
'Sculptor' and his son, George B. Adams (born c.1862 in London), 'Student Architecture'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871
'Sculptor. Capt. 1st Lon[don] Artillery Volunteer'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861
'Sculptor' and his wife, Ellen 'Lady'
Sources
A Biographical Dictionary of Sculptors in Britain, 1660-1851
2009
pp. 3-7
Catalogue of the Thirteenth Autumn Exhibition, 1895
1895
Cat. Nos. 626, 630, pp. 53, 54, 55
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861
2005
RG09 piece 38 folio 8 page 9
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871
2004
RG10 piece 89 folio 59 page 20
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
2004
RG11 piece 87 folio 60 page 17
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
2004
Class: RG12; Piece: 1037; Folio 107; Page 48; GSU roll: 6096147
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
2010
Name: George Gammon Adams
Probate Date: 18 Jul 1898
Death Date: 14 Mar 1898
Death Place: Middlesex, England
Registry: London
International exhibition 1862, official catalogue, fine art department
1862
List of Members: Institute of British Sculptors (or Sculptor's Institute)
2008 (Circa)
List of Members: Institute of British Sculptors (or Sculptor's Institute)
2008 (Circa)
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1871 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1871
p. 32.
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1873 Walker Art Gallery
1873
pp. 39-40.
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1874 Walker Art Gallery
1874
pp. 42-43.
London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906
2010
Name: George Gammon Adams
Record Type: Baptism
Estimated Birth Date: abt 1821
Baptism Date: 3 May 1821
Father's name: James Adams
Mother's name: Sarah Adams
Parish or Poor Law Union: Staines St Mary
Official Catalogue of Dublin International Exhibition of Arts and Manufactures 1865
1865
p. 112, no. 218. 'Saint John' - marble.
p. 112, no. 221. 'His Holiness the Pope' - marble bust.
p. 112, no. 223. 'Bust of the Late Duke of Wellington' - marble.
p. 113, no. 251. 'Slaughter of the Innocents' - Plaster.
p. 113, also nos. 252 to 257 inclusive. Details of all of the above objects not given; listed details given as below:
p. 113, no. 254. ' Bust of Lord Gough' - plaster.
p. 113, nos. 255, 256, 257. 'Antique Marble Busts'. Owned by E. W. O'Mahony, Esq.
Post Office London Directory, 1851 Post Office/Kelly London Directories
1851
p. 1364
Post Office London Directory, 1860 Post Office/Kelly London Directories
1860
p. 1803
Post Office London Directory, 1890 Post Office/Kelly London Directories
1890
p.1997
Royal Academy of Arts Nominations for Associateship, 1866-1906
1906
See entries for 1867.
Rules of the Institute of Sculptors
1861
p. iv (confirms his membership had ceased by 1861)
The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, The Eighty-Seventh, 1855
1855
p.52
Citing this record
'George Gammon Adams', 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/person.php?id=msib7_1206710572, accessed 29 May 2023]
