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Description: | Glass was used for the body of this flute to avoid the cracking and warping to which wood and ivory were prone. The use of glass necessitated the design of innovative metal pillars to mount the keys. The flute was one of the few wind instruments thought to be acceptable for the early 19th-century gentleman amateur to play. The jewel-like appearance of Laurent's glass flutes would have heightened their appeal and status as aristocratic accoutrements. The fluted surface of this instrument enhances its appearance but also helps to make it lighter.
Flute in D, glass, silver mounts, blue glass inset in end cap. Six finger holes, five silver keys (not including foot keys), round, flat (but shaped to circumference of tube), mounted in pillars on saddles. Two alternative left-hand (upper) joints. Sounding length (embouchure to foot) is 55.5 cm. In fitted wooden case. Stamped: 'Laurent Á Paris'. Dated 1814.
Laurent chose to work with glass because it was much less susceptible to cracking from humidity and temperature changes than traditional materials such as wood or ivory. Because knobs to mount the keys could not be turned from the body of the flute as with wood or ivory, Laurent had to design a futuristic sytem of metal pillars for mounting the keys on the body of the flute. This system would later be widely adopted by other flute makers.
caption: General view of object no. 14.5.47/297.
caption: General view of object no. 14.5.47/297. Image of transverse flute (museum no. 14.5.47/297). | Publisher: | http://www.horniman.ac.uk/ | Rights holder: | Horniman Museum and Gardens | Subjects: | 421.121.12 Open side-blown flutes with fingerholes cork flutes silver flint glass leather transverse flutes | Source: | Horniman Museum | Identifier: | oai:oai.horniman.ac.uk:object-12367 | Go to resource |
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