Carl G. Becker
Chicago, 1887–1975
BECKER, Carl G. Born 1887, died 1975 Chicago USA. Son of a celebrated violin teacher and grandson of violin maker H. Macklett. Active from 1901. Joined Lyon & Healy 1902, working under John Hornsteiner. Left Lyon & Healy with Hornsteiner 1908, continuing as his assistant until 1923. — John Dilworth
Auction Price History
Highest auction price
42 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labelled Carl Becker with William Lewis & Son No. 121 Chicago 1925 Lot 17 | — | November 2025 | £82,857est. $ 60,000-90,000 | |
| Violin | Labelled Carl Becker with William Lewis & Son N°. 106 Chicago 1926 Lot 75 | Ingles & H. | March 2025 | £36,000est. £ 18,000-25,000 |
| Viola | Labelled Carl Becker with William Lewis & Son No. 193 Chicago, 1928 Lot 33 | Tarisio | May 2024 | £28,270est. $ 30,000-50,000 |
| Labelled Carl Becker with William Lewis & Son, No. 375 Chicago, 1934 Lot 128 | — | June 2022 | £38,241est. $ 35,000-50,000 | |
| Labelled Carl Becker with William Lewis & Son No. 421 Chicago 1943 Lot 142 | — | March 2022 | £27,055est. $ 30,000-50,000 | |
| Labelled Carl Becker with William Lewis & Son No. 478 Chicago, 1946 Lot 172 | — | November 2021 | £26,680est. $ 30,000-50,000 | |
| Illustrated in The American Violin; labelled Carl Becker with William Lewis & Son No. 468 Chicago 1946 Lot 131 | — | July 2021 | £34,775est. $ 40,000-60,000 | |
| Guarneri model, labelled Carl Becker, Chicago, anno 1917 Lot 164 | — | November 2020 | £45,304est. $ 40,000-60,000 | |
| Labelled Carl Becker and Son, Associated with William Lewis & Son, No. 539 Chicago, 1951 Lot 140 | — | May 2018 | £22,119est. $ 30,000-50,000 | |
| Labelled Carl Becker and Son, Associated with William Lewis & Son, No. 524 Chicago, 1950 Lot 149 | — | February 2018 | £27,438est. $ 30,000-45,000 | |
| Labelled Carl Becker, with William Lewis & Son, No. 316, Chicago, 1935 Lot 202 | — | November 2017 | £24,444est. $ 27,000-40,000 | |
| Labelled Carl Becker, with William Lewis & Son, No. 465 Chicago, 1944 Lot 203 | — | November 2017 | £29,923est. $ 30,000-45,000 | |
| Labelled Carl Becker and Son / Associated ..., later table, branded externally to lower rib, good condition Lot 80 | — | November 2017 | £5,102est. $ 5,000-7,000 | |
| Labelled Carl Becker with William Lewis & Son No. 440 Chicago, 1943 Lot 25 | — | March 2017 | £21,600est. £ 20,000-30,000 | |
| Labelled Carl Becker, with William Lewis & Son, No. 445 Chicago 1943 Lot 184 | — | February 2017 | £19,245est. $ 20,000-30,000 | |
| Labelled Carl Becker with William Lewis & Son No. 421 Chicago 1943 Lot 171 | — | May 2016 | £20,768est. $ 30,000-50,000 | |
| Labelled Carl Becker with William Lewis & Son, No. 399, Chicago, 1940 Lot 258 | — | May 2015 | £24,365est. $ 40,000-60,000 | |
| One-piece back, later replacement table, varnish of an orange brown colour on a golden ground Lot 1065 | — | March 2015 | £2,400est. £ 2,000-4,000 | |
| Labelled Carl Becker with William Lewis & Son, No. 100, Chicago 1928 Lot 10 | — | October 2014 | £16,800est. £ 15,000-25,000 | |
| Labelled Carl Becker with William Lewis & Son, no. 428, Chicago, 1941 Lot 69 | — | October 2013 | £52,685est. $ 60,000-90,000 | |
| Labelled Carl Becker with William Lewis and Son, Chicago, No. 103, 1925 Lot 248 | — | May 2013 | £26,971est. $ 35,000-55,000 | |
| Violin | 35.3 cm Chicago, 1951 | — | October 2011 | £20,592 |
| Viola | 42.0 cm Chicago, 1961 | — | October 2010 | £15,021 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Chicago, 1953 | — | October 2010 | £11,899 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Chicago, 1949 | — | October 2010 | £17,346 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Chicago, 1948 n°494 | — | April 2010 | £15,712 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Chicago, 1948 n°492 | — | April 2010 | £23,568 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Chicago, 1937 | — | April 2010 | £24,655 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Chicago, 1944 | — | April 2010 | £16,436 |
| Cello | 74.5 cm Chicago, 1929 | — | October 2009 | £39,559 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm Chicago, 1952 n°558 | — | May 2009 | £19,410 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Chicago, 1946 | — | May 2008 | £10,839 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Chicago, 1930 #248 | — | October 2007 | £15,707 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Chicago, 1946 #480 | — | October 2007 | £14,275 |
| Violin | 35.4 cm Chicago, 1952 | — | April 2007 | £19,408 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Chicago, 1949 | — | October 2006 | £14,099 |
| Viola | 42.9 cm Chicago, 1943 | — | October 2006 | £21,553 |
| Violin | Chicago, 1927 | — | November 2005 | £22,987 |
| Violin | 1924 | — | November 2002 | £19,120 |
| Violin | 1940 | — | November 2001 | £17,535 |
| Violin | 1927 | — | October 2000 | £17,903 |
| Violin | 1958 | — | October 1984 | £4,400 |
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Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
BECKER, Carl G. Born 1887, died 1975 Chicago USA. Son of a celebrated violin teacher and grandson of violin maker H. Macklett. Active from 1901. Joined Lyon & Healy 1902, working under John Hornsteiner. Left Lyon & Healy with Hornsteiner 1908, continuing as his assistant until 1923. Joined William Lewis & Son 1924 as leading connoisseur, maker, and restorer. From 1925 to 1947 devoted the summer months to new work in Pickerel, Wisconsin, continuing to work for Lewis for the remainder of the year. Acknowledged as the finest of modern American makers, he also established a dynasty of similarly conscientious makers and restorers. Carl Becker & Sons remains an active and highly influential atelier in Chicago. Extremely elegant Stradivari and Guarneri models, particularly distinguished by the precision of the woodwork and the delicacy of the soft richly coloured varnish. William Lewis & Son published a monograph on his work in 1937, The life and works of Carl Becker. Carl Becker / Chicago 1902. Carl Becker / with William Lewis & Son / No.. Chicago 1925 Carl Becker and Son / Associated with William Lewis & Son / No.. Chicago. 1947
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