Antique Gustav Becker Musical Floor Clock. Germany, 1920s

Stunning Antique Gustav Becker Musical Floor Clock. Restored. Germany, 1920s

A significant antique musical floor clock, manufactured in Germany by the renowned clockmaking firm Gustav Becker in the 1920s. The clock is a very attractive piece of undeniable interest, both for its aesthetics and its quarter-hour chime. The mechanism features two melodies, Westminster and Whittington, accompanied by a silence function; it has been thoroughly cleaned, adjusted, and tested to ensure flawless operation. It has three weights that allow the clock to run for a total of 10 days. The clock stands out for its quality and the beauty of its case, crafted from walnut and fully restored to showcase the magnificent appearance seen in the images.

The wooden case features a Black Forest-style design, highly characteristic of early 20th-century German decorative arts. The decoration is highlighted by the marvelous handcrafted high-relief carving that adorns the clock with images of halberdiers, mythological beasts, cherubs, volutes, flowers, and curious figures. The base is carved with the head of a soldier and two bird-bodied animals, while at the top, two graceful halberdiers flank the dial. Above them, crowning the piece, two strange figures adorned with winged helmets and light garments rest upon the metal dial, which is enameled in silver and features black Roman numerals.

Designed to stand out in a grand salon or an aristocratic entrance hall, this marvelous antique floor clock will fill even the most elegant interior with its presence and its chime.

Dimensions: Width: 70 cm. Height: 245 cm.

The Story of Gustav Becker

Gustav Becker began his career as an apprentice to various renowned clockmakers based throughout Germany. During his time in Vienna, he decided to found his own clock factory: the business was established in Freiburg in 1847. His stay in the Austrian capital is the reason why many of the brands clocks are specifically of the Vienna stylethe model with which he began his career as a manufacturer. In 1852, the business truly took off after winning the Gold Medal for Design at the Silesian Trade Exhibition. From that point on, Becker incorporated the medal and the initials GB into his logo. In 1860, Becker began creating his Gustav Becker Classics watches, which became highly decorative and intricate timepieces. In 1875, sales peaked at over 300,000 orders. In the 1880s, watchmakers in the Black Forest began producing higher-quality, yet more affordable models, which forced Beckers factory to return to manufacturing simpler and more economical watches.

Becker passed away in 1885; the Gustav Becker brand as such was established four years later, in 1899, and in 1930 it merged with Junghans. After World War II, production was moved to Poland; although Junghans continued to operate in East Germany, watches under the Gustav Becker brand were no longer manufactured.