Instrument Type: Violin
Circa: 1925
Asking Price: SOLD
Maker: Carl Becker Sr.
The Violin
Carl Becker Sr. made this violin in 1925 on a Stradivari model, and it is a fine example of his work. That year he decided to number his instruments. He did not know how many he had already made, so he simply started the count at 100. This one is number 103.
It remains in excellent condition, and the tone is rich and powerful with excellent clarity through every register. This Carl Becker Sr violin has a back length of 35.55 cm.
As one of the very first numbered instruments, it marks the start of the system collectors still use to date his work. So this Carl Becker Sr violin carries interest well beyond its sound.
Low-numbered Beckers are especially desirable for that reason. This Carl Becker Sr violin pairs that historical position with the rich, clear voice that has made his work a favorite of professionals for nearly a century. In short, it is a real piece of American violin making history.
The Maker
Carl G. Becker was born in 1887, the grandson of the maker Herman Macklett. He finished his first violin at fourteen, and he began at Lyon and Healy in 1902. In 1924 he joined William Lewis and Son in Chicago, where he became their leading connoisseur, maker and restorer.
From 1925 to 1947 he spent his summers making new instruments at his lakeside home in Pickerel, Wisconsin. That seasonal rhythm shaped his output for more than twenty years.
In 1968 he and his son formed Carl Becker and Son. He kept working into his late nineties, and a Carl Becker Sr violin still ranks among the finest modern American instruments.
Terms of Sale
This violin has sold, so it is no longer available for purchase. Benning Violins invites you to browse our current catalog of fine instruments. You can also contact us directly to ask about similar pieces.