Beck, Arnold Frederick

 Glassonbury St, Long Acre, London, cabinet maker and musical instrument maker (1763–77)

Insured his household goods and stock for £150 and wearing apparel for £50 on 2 August 1763. [GL, ref. 201685, p. 483] Possibly the maker of pianofortes (dated 1775 and 1777) trading at Broad St, Golden Sq., who is thought to have employed a cm in his firm to make instrument cases. He may, however, have gone to one of the specialist inlayers for some of the mahogany panels. Eight pieces are attributed to ‘Beck's cabinet-maker’, and three more bear marquetry medallions by the medallion marqueteur’ who seems to have worked for him. Known pieces include a square piano in marquetry case by Frederick Beck at Lady Lever Gallery, Liverpool, and a pair of semicircular commodes at Osterley Park, Middlx, bearing marquetry medallions. The central medallion of one, showing Diana seated with one of her hounds, is repeated on an unusual fall-front commode sold from the collection of Earl Temple, Sotheby's, 9 May 1941, lot 101. Lot 100 was a similar commode, probably from the same shop. Characteristic marquetry style of intricate contours of veneer and nervous engraved lines in draperies; fleurette-and-trellis marquetry. Beck piano illus. in DEF, 1st edn., vol. 2, p. 6, fig. 11. [C. Streeter, Met. Museum Bulletin, June 1971; Burlington, June 1980]