18th C. English Wood, Silver & Ivory Composite Flute
Northwestern Europe, England, London, ca. 18th to early 19th century CE. A wooden, ivory, and silver flute that has been pieced together from two different instruments: the upper 2 barrels by William Henry Potter (1808 to 1810 CE) and the lower 3 middle and foot joints by Longman and Broderip (1773 to 1797 CE). The head joint and barrel by William Henry Potter is part of a 6 keyed flute made of a lighter, honey colored boxwood with elephant ivory ferrules. The ivory ferrule of the head joint and the barrel is stamped with their mark “PATENT / 6 / WILLM . HENY / POTTER / JOHNSON'S COURT / FLEET STREET / LONDON. The two middle and foot joints by Longman and Broderip are a deep amber colored wood with sterling silver ferrules and keys. Each joint is marked, the middle joint with "LONGMAN & BRODERIP / NO. 26 CHEAPSIDE / LONDON." It is unclear why this flute is a composite of two different instruments, but this could be a way to acquire some spare pieces for any flutes by these makers! Size: 26.5" L x 1.125" W (67.3 cm x 2.9 cm)
According to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History website: "William Henry Potter (1760-1848) was granted British Patent #3136 on May 28, 1808 for "Improvements in German flutes and other musical instruments." The patent specification indicates: "These consist in giving a sliding motion to the valves by which the holes of German flutes and other wind musical instruments, usually stopped by keys with valves, are stopped and opened. The valve is kept close by a spring across the instrument to a flat metal plate let into the flute and having a hole through it to admit the wind. The spring is shown attached to various parts of the keys of a German flute, but the same or a similar description is stated as applicable to all other wind musical instruments."
For more information please see the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, website, accession number 1982.0719.
This is an ESA antique exempt piece of ivory and cannot be sold internationally or to anyone residing in the states of California, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington. We guarantee that the piece is over 100 years old.
Provenance: ex-Stein collection, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA, acquired prior to 2010
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#167421
Condition Report: This is a composite of 2 different makers, and thus the lower and upper joints do not fit flush or tightly. Fair condition. Upper 2 sections are Potter and lower 3 are Longman. Surface wear as expected and age and use. Silver barrel ring on foot tip is loose. Stable fissure on upper barrel through wood and ivory. Has not been tested for playing functionality.
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Northwestern Europe, England, London, ca. 18th to early 19th century CE. A wooden, ivory, and silver flute that has been pieced together from two different instruments: the upper 2 barrels by William Henry Potter (1808 to 1810 CE) and the lower 3 middle and foot joints by Longman and Broderip (1773 to 1797 CE). The head joint and barrel by William Henry Potter is part of a 6 keyed flute made of a lighter, honey colored boxwood with elephant ivory ferrules. The ivory ferrule of the head joint and the barrel is stamped with their mark “PATENT / 6 / WILLM . HENY / POTTER / JOHNSON'S COURT / FLEET STREET / LONDON. The two middle and foot joints by Longman and Broderip are a deep amber colored wood with sterling silver ferrules and keys. Each joint is marked, the middle joint with "LONGMAN & BRODERIP / NO. 26 CHEAPSIDE / LONDON." It is unclear why this flute is a composite of two different instruments, but this could be a way to acquire some spare pieces for any flutes by these makers! Size: 26.5" L x 1.125" W (67.3 cm x 2.9 cm)
According to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History website: "William Henry Potter (1760-1848) was granted British Patent #3136 on May 28, 1808 for "Improvements in German flutes and other musical instruments." The patent specification indicates: "These consist in giving a sliding motion to the valves by which the holes of German flutes and other wind musical instruments, usually stopped by keys with valves, are stopped and opened. The valve is kept close by a spring across the instrument to a flat metal plate let into the flute and having a hole through it to admit the wind. The spring is shown attached to various parts of the keys of a German flute, but the same or a similar description is stated as applicable to all other wind musical instruments."
For more information please see the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, website, accession number 1982.0719.
This is an ESA antique exempt piece of ivory and cannot be sold internationally or to anyone residing in the states of California, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington. We guarantee that the piece is over 100 years old.
Provenance: ex-Stein collection, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA, acquired prior to 2010
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#167421
Condition Report: This is a composite of 2 different makers, and thus the lower and upper joints do not fit flush or tightly. Fair condition. Upper 2 sections are Potter and lower 3 are Longman. Surface wear as expected and age and use. Silver barrel ring on foot tip is loose. Stable fissure on upper barrel through wood and ivory. Has not been tested for playing functionality.
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