Lot Essay
Leopold Becher (recorded circa 1725-50) was undoubtably the most distinguished of the Carlsbad gunmakers. His work is well represented in the major international collections including the Bayerishes Nationalmuseum in Munich, the former Imperial collection in Vienna, the Danish royal collection in Copenhagen, the Musée Royal de l'Armée in Brussels, and the ancestral Gewehrkammern of the Princes Schwarzenberg and Lobkowitz. He was court gunmaker to Duke Johann Georg Christian Lobkowitz at Raudnitz in 1726-7
Both Becher and his contemporary Paul Poser of Prague probably worked in co-operation with the distinguished chiseller Franz Matzenkopf, medal die-cutter at the court of the Prince-Bishops of Salzburg. Locks attributable to Matzenkopf are found on firearms by both makers. For information on these three masters see John Hayward, The Art of the Gunmaker, 1963, vol. II, pp. 129-30, 124, and 125-7
Both Becher and his contemporary Paul Poser of Prague probably worked in co-operation with the distinguished chiseller Franz Matzenkopf, medal die-cutter at the court of the Prince-Bishops of Salzburg. Locks attributable to Matzenkopf are found on firearms by both makers. For information on these three masters see John Hayward, The Art of the Gunmaker, 1963, vol. II, pp. 129-30, 124, and 125-7