19th C. English Boxwood Double Flageolet Bainbridge

Northwestern Europe, England, London, ca. 1808 to 1820 CE. This is beautiful double flageolet made of boxwood, elephant ivory, and nickel-silver keys, by William Bainbridge and John Wood. The lower tubes are equal in length, with 4 nickel-silver keys (one is absent) and 6 finger holes. The double bodies enabled a countermelody or a drone (continuous note) to be played at the same time as the main melody. The whistle-shaped mouthpiece is made of ivory, and this instrument is similar to a recorder style of instrument. All keys are numbered and lettered for easy reference for the player and the holes are separated by ivory finger studs to guide the player. The upper segment is stamped with the mark maximum "BAINBRIDGE / & WOOD / 35 / HOLBORN / HILL / LONDON / PATENT." William Bainbridge was a respected flutist, flageoletist, oboist, instrument maker, and sheet music publicist. He was also an inventor and is accredited with developing the "improved English flageolet" as well as the double and triple flageolets. Size: 19" L x 2.25" W (48.3 cm x 5.7 cm)

For an example of and more information on Bainbridge and the double flageolet, please see the Duke University article "A Race for Recognition: Bainbridge and the Double Flageolet" by Nick Smolenski published March 8th, 2021.

Cf. Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 11.60.177.

This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world's largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.

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

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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.

#167274
Condition Report: Mark maximum is slightly rubbed but mostly legible. The instrument mouthpiece produces sound but is not fully functional for playing individual notes. Losses to nickel-silver keys. Upper mouth head segment is slightly loose and has a loss to the ivory rim. Crack to ivory ring around joint and chips to ivory on the lower tubes. Surface wear to wood as expected with age and use.