Gustav Becker Antique Musical Grandfather Clock. Germany, 1920s.

Amazing antique musical grandfather clock made in Germany by the famous clockmaker Gustav Becker and dating from the 1920s. The clock is a remarkable and very interesting piece for its great look and fine-sounding chimes that strike the quarters and the halves. The movement includes two chimes, Westminster and Whittington, accompanied by a mute function. It has been fully cleaned, tuned and tested in order to provide a flawless working order. The movement includes three weights that make it possible to keep the clock working for 10 days. This item stands out for its quality and beautiful box, made of solid walnut wood and fully restored to show off the great condition that we can appreciate in the images. The wooden box shows a Black-Forest style typical of early-20th-century German decorative arts. It is wonderfully hand-carved with many high-relief images depicting halberdiers, mythological beasts, cherubs, volutes, flowers and other curious images. The clocks base bears a carved soldier head and two animals with bird bodies, while the top part shows two martial halberdiers flanking the dial. Crowning the clock, two strange-looking characters with winged helmets and dressed with light clothes rest over the silver-enameled metal dial with black roman numerals. Bound to shine in a great dining room or a stately entryway, this striking antique Gustav Becker grandfather clock will fill the most special home with its presence and sound. Measurements: Width: 27.5 in / 70 cm. Height: 96.4 in / 245 cm.History of Gustav Becker Gustav Becker started his clockmaking career as an apprentice with different renowned clockmakers all around Germany. During the time he spent in Vienna he decided to create his own factory, which he did in Friburg in 1847. His stay in the Austrian capital city is the reason why many of his clocks are Vienna-style models; these clocks were the first ones to be produced in his workshop. In 1852 the business took off after being awarded the Design Gold Medal in the Silesia Trade Exhibition. From then on, Becker included the medal and the initials GB in his mark. In 1860 he started creating the Classic Gustav Becker clocks, complex and decorative high-quality models. In 1875 the sales reached a peak with more than 300,000 orders. In the 1880s, the Black Forest clockmakers started making quality and cheaper clocks so Becker had to return to making simpler and less expensive clocks. Becker died in 1885 and the Gustav Becker brand was created four years later, in 1899. In 1930 they merged continued to exist in West Germany, clocks bearing the Gustav Becker brand ceased being produced.