This flute was made by Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Grenser, in Dresden, Germany around 1780 to 1799. It is a 1-keyed flute in C made of boxwood with ivory ferrules and tuning slide, and a silver key. This flute has seven upper joints of different lengths numbered 1 through 7 for tuning. All of the pieces are stamped:
[symbol] H. GRENSER DRESDEN
Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Grenser (1764-1813) started his career as an apprentice, working with his uncle August Grenser in Dresden from 1779-1786. Heinrich Grenser took over the shop in 1796 and continued making musical instruments until his death.
This flute was acquired from the collection of Leopoldo Franciolini in 1892. Leopoldo Franciolini (1844–1920) was an Italian antique dealer who flourished in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is remembered as a fraudster who sold faked and altered historical musical instruments.
This flute was made by Johann Ziegler in Vienna, Austria around 1821 to 1830. It is a 6-keyed flute made of boxwood with horn ferrules and brass keys. The flute is stamped:
I. ZIEGLER
Johann Joseph Ziegler (1795-1858) was born in Hungary and by 1821 established himself as a wind instrument maker in Vienna. Ziegler was one of the more prolific makers of the era and displayed his instruments at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London. In a catalog listing from the exhibition, Ziegler sold flutes made of cocoa-nut wood with case for 120 florins.
This flute was made by Rudall Carte & Co. in London, England around 1878 to 1885. It is a Clinton System flute, serial #1238, made of rosewood with nickel silver ferrules and keys. This flute is stamped:
RUDALL CARTE & Co. 23 BERNERS STREET OXFORD STREET LONDON 1238 1867 PATENT
This flute was made by Rudall Carte & Co. in London, England about 1877. It is a “Boehm System flute, Rockstro model, made of ebony with silver keys. This flute is stamped:
RUDALL CARTE & CO. 23 BERNERS STREET OXFORD STREET LONDON 775 ROCKSTRO'S MODEL
This flute case was made by an unknown maker, most likely Germany, around 1800-1825. It is made of paper with a marbled finish, and a green fabric interior. Accessioned with flute (MI.66.478).
This flute was made by Alfred G. Badger in New York, New York around 1875 to 1892. It is a Boehm system flute made of silver with an ebony end cap. This flute is marked:
This flute case was made by an unknown maker in England, around 1838-1852. It is made of wood, painted black with a gold pattern (stencil?), chamfered top, metal fittings, and burgundy fabric interior. Accessioned with Wylde flute (MI.64.013).
This flute was made by Richard Potter in London, England around 1787 to 1800. It is a 6-keyed flute made of boxwood with ivory ferrules, an ivory crown cap, and silver keys. This flute is stamped:
PATENT 6 POTTER JOHNSON'S COURT FLEET STREET LONDON
Richard Potter (1726-1806) was granted British Patent #1499 on October 28, 1785 for “An improvement upon the musical instrument commonly called the German flute, and which invention was also as to parts thereof applicable to and an improvement upon most of such other musical wood instruments as are played upon with keys.”
This flute was made by Firth, Hall & Pond in New York, New York around 1833 to 1844. It is a 1-keyed flute made of dark stained boxwood with ivory ferrules and a square silver key. This flute is accessioned with an original case. This flute is stamped:
This flute was made by Goulding & Co. in London, England around 1795 to 1805. It is a 1-keyed flute made of stained boxwood with ivory ferrules and a brass key. This flute is stamped:
This flute was made by Louis François Philippe Drouet in London, England around 1818 to 1819. It is an 8-keyed flute made of ivory with silver ferrules and keys. The flute is stamped:
L. DROUET 358 OXFORD St 827 LONDON
and engraved on a medallion:
No Flute is genuine that is not bought at Mr. L. Drouet's Manufactory 358 Oxford Street, London & accompanied by a Certificate under his hand.
Louis François Philippe Drouet (1792-1873) was a flute player, teacher, and composer. In 1818, Drouet established a flute shop in London, and one year later, left the business to his employee Cornelius Ward. The inscription on the medallion is a response to fake Drouet flutes appearing on the market during this time.
This flute was made by Muzio Clementi & Co. in London, England around 1802 to 1821. It is a 1-keyed flute made of boxwood with ivory ferrules, and a brass key. This flute is marked:
This flute was made in Germany around 1878 to 1880 and sold by the J. Howard Foote Company in New York and Chicago. It is a 4-keyed flute in F made of stained boxwood with ivory ferrules and German silver keys.
John Howard Foote (1833-1896) was a musical instrument dealer with shops in New York City and Chicago. This make and style of flute (#5307), as listed in an 1880 J. Howard Foote catalog, sold for $2.40.
This flute was made by Firth, Pond & Hall in New York, New York around 1847 to 1863. It is a 4-keyed flute made of stained boxwood with ivory ferrules and brass keys. This flute is stamped:
This piccolo case was made by an unknown maker in the United States, around 1930-1940. It is made of wood, covered with black-stained leather, with metal fittings, and purple plush interior. Accessioned with Philip H. Marcil piccolo (1985.0016.18)
This flute case was made by an unknown maker in the United States, around 1848-1857. It is made of wood, covered with black-stained leather, with metal fittings, and red fabric interior. Accessioned with William Hall & Son flute (MI.387979).
This flute was made by Klemm & Brothers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania around 1840 to 1880. It is a 4-keyed flute made of stained boxwood with nickel silver ferrules and keys. This flute is stamped:
This flute was made by Heinrich Friedrich Meyer in Hanover, Germany around 1890 to 1897. It is a 10-keyed flute made of rosewood with German silver ferrules and keys, and an ivory head joint. This flute is stamped: