A checklist of 18th-century flutes in
America's Shrine to Music Museum

Mary Oleskiewicz, Curator of Musical Instruments
2000

Specific Makers Found in this Checklist:
Bizey, Charles
Borkens, Philip
Cahusac, Thomas
Folkers & Powell
Grenser, August
Grenser, Heinrich
Hallet, Benjamin
Hotteterre
Kirst, Friedrich Gabriel August
Otto, Johann Georg
Potter, Richard
Potter, William Henry
Raudonikas, Felix
Scherer
Schlegel, Jeremias
Stanesby, Thomas

No. 3979. Transverse tierce flute by Thomas Stanesby, Jr., London, ca. 1716 to 1732. Four sections. Stamped on all sections: STANESBY / IUNIOR. Ivory, unmounted. One closed, silver key: D-sharp. Lowest note f'. Total length (shortened), 507 mm. Sounding length (currently), 431.7 mm. Ex coll. Friedrich Von Huene. Board of Trustees, 1986.

No. 4073. Transverse flute by Johann Wilhelm Oberlender I, Nürnberg, ca. 1720. Four sections, with three corps de rechange. Stamped on all sections: [in a diagonally oriented scroll, left end lower:] I. W. Oberlender / O. Ivory, unmounted. One closed, engraved silver key: D-sharp. Lowest note d'. Total length, 539.9 mm -- 629.1 mm. Sounding length, 484.0 mm-573.2 mm. Board of Trustees, 1986.

Lit.: Phillip Young, 4900 Historical Woodwind Instruments (London: Tony Bingham, 1993), p.170 (see Y6).
No. 5795. Transverse flute by Philip Borkens, Amsterdam, ca. 1724-1750. Four sections. Stamped on all sections: (crown) / P BORKENS / (lion rampant). Boxwood, with ivory mounts. One closed, brass key: D-sharp. Lowest note d'. Total length (shortened), 647.8 mm. Sounding length, 572 mm. Board of Trustees, 1994.
Lit.: David Schulenberg, Music of the Baroque (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001), p. 265.
No. 3624. Transverse flute by Charles Bizey, Paris, ca. 1730-1740. Four sections. Stamped on all sections: (fleur de lis) / BIZEY. Ivory, unmounted. One closed, silver key: D-sharp. Lowest note d'. Total length (shortened), 598.9 mm. Sounding length (currently), 545 mm. Board of Trustees, 1985.
Lit.: Phillip Young, 4900 Historical Woodwind Instruments (London: Tony Bingham, 1993), p.22 (see Y12).
No. 1291. Transverse flute by Benjamin Hallet, London, ca. 1740-1750. Four sections. Stamped on head and upper section: BENJAMIN / HALLET. Ivory, unmounted. One closed, silver key: D-sharp. Total length, 587.4 mm. Sounding length, 534.3 mm. Arne B. Larson Collection, 1979.

No. 4438. Transverse flute from the workshop of Richard Potter, London, ca. 1745-1785. Four sections. Stamped on all sections: [in scroll:] POTTER / LONDON. Boxwood, with ivory mounts. One closed, silver key: D-sharp. Lowest note d'. Total length, 605.4 mm. Sounding length, 535 mm. Arne B. Larson Estate, 1988.

Lit.: Amy Shaw Kreitzer, Transverse Flutes by London Makers, 1750-1900, M.M. Thesis (University of South Dakota: 1993), pp. 48, 59, 62-64.
No. 4166. Transverse flute from the workshop of Richard Potter, London, ca. 1745-1785. Four sections. Stamped on all sections: [in scroll:] POTTER / LONDON. Boxwood, with ivory mounts. One closed, silver key: D-sharp. Lowest note d'. Total length, 602.2 mm. Sounding length, 532 mm. Ex coll.: Efrim Fruchtman, Memphis. Arne B. and Jeanne Larson Endowment Fund, 1987.
Lit.: Amy Shaw Kreitzer, Transverse Flutes by London Makers, 1750-1900, M.M. Thesis (University of South Dakota: 1993), pp. 48, 59, 60-61, 63.
No. 3589. Transverse flute from the workshop of Scherer, Butzbach, ca. 1750. Four sections. Stamped on all sections: (four stitches) / SCHERER / (lion rampant of Hesse). Ivory, with tortoise shell and horn mounts. One closed, gold key: D-sharp. Lowest note d'. Total length (shortened), 587.6 mm. Sounding length (currently), 518.9 mm. Ex coll: Giesbert, Neuwied am Rhein. Rawlins Fund, 1985.
Lit.: Phillip Young, 4900 Historical Woodwind Instruments (London: Tony Bingham, 1993), pp. 207-208 (see Y34).
No. 5809. Transverse flute from the workshop of Jeremias Schlegel, Basle, ca. 1770. Four sections. Stamped on all sections: (fleur de lis) / SCHLEGEL / A: BALE. African blackwood, with ivory mounts. One closed, silver key: D-sharp. Lowest note d'. Total length, 728.9 mm. Sounding length, 541.3 mm. Board of Trustees, 1995.

No. 9947. Transverse flute by Friedrich Gabriel August Kirst, Potsdam, ca. 1772-1790. Four sections, with three corps de rechange. Stamped on all sections: (Prussian eagle) / F  G  A KIRST / POTSDAM / (sun). Boxwood, with ivory mounts. One closed, silver key: D-sharp. Lowest note d'. Total length, 618-604 mm. Sounding length, 536.65?522.65 mm. Ex coll.: Simon Boendermaker, The Hague. Board of Trustees, 2000.

Lit.: Phillip Young, 4900 Historical Woodwind Instruments (London: Tony Bingham, 1993), p. 131 (see Y8).
No. 4561. Transverse flute by Thomas Cahusac, London, ca. 1780-1805. Five sections. Stamped on all sections: CAHUSAC / STRAND / LONDON. Boxwood, with ivory mounts. Tuning slide, screw-cap, foot register. Metal lining in head joint. One closed, silver key for D-sharp. Five added, closed, silver keys: B-flat, C, G-sharp, short and long F. Lowest note d'. Total length, 599.5 mm. Sounding length, 525.5 mm. Arne B. Larson Estate, 1988.
Lit.: Amy Shaw Kreitzer, Transverse Flutes by London Makers, 1750-1900, M.M. Thesis (University of South Dakota: 1993), pp. 37-39.

Phillip Young, 4900 Historical Woodwind Instruments (London: Tony Bingham, 993), p. 44 (see Y39).

No. 2359. Transverse flute, maker unknown, after 1785. Five sections. Stamped on all sections: POTTER / LONDON. Stamped on head, tuning slide barrel, and foot: PATENT. Of boxwood, with ivory mounts. Tuning slide and ivory screw-cap, graduated, but without Potter's usual stamped Arabic numerals. Metal lining in head joint and tuning slide. Six silver keys fitted with pewter plugs. Closed keys: B-flat, G-sharp, short F, D-sharp. Articulated keys: c' and c'-sharp. Lowest note c'. Total length, 670.4 mm. Sounding length, 590.1 mm. Arne B. Larson Estate, 1988.
Lit.: Amy Shaw Kreitzer, Transverse Flutes by London Makers, 1750-1900, M.M. Thesis (University of South Dakota: 1993), pp. 207-208.
No. 4837. Transverse flute from workshop of Thomas Cahusac, Sr., ca. 1785?95. Four sections. Stamped on all sections: CAHUSAC / LONDON. Ivory with silver mounts and cap (replacement). Four closed, silver keys: B-flat, G-sharp, short F, D-sharp, all stamped: I. H. [John Hale]. Total length, 613.1 mm (no head cap). Sounding length, 535.6 mm. Ex coll.: Philip Bate, London. Higbee-Abbott-Zylstra Collection, 1989.
Lit.: Amy Shaw Kreitzer, Transverse Flutes by London Makers, 1750-1900, M.M. Thesis (University of South Dakota: 1993), pp. 34, 36-39

"USD Museum Acquires Higbee Collection," Newsletter of the American Musical Instrument Society, Vol. 18, No. 3 (October 1989), pp. 2-3.

Phillip Young, 4900 Historical Woodwind Instruments (London: Tony Bingham, 1993), p. 44 (see Y40).

No. 2360. Transverse flute from workshop of Richard Potter, London, ca. 1785-1800. Five sections. Stamped on barrel of tuning slide: POTTER / JOHNSON'S COURT / FLEET STREET / LONDON; on head and foot: PATENT; all other pieces: POTTER / LONDON. Boxwood, with ivory mounts. Tuning slide, screw-cap, and register graduated (six concentric rings stamped with Arabic numerals). Metal lining in head joint, tuning slide, and foot register. Four silver keys fitted with patented pewter plugs. Closed keys: B-flat, G-sharp, short F, D-sharp. Lowest note d'. Total length, 598.6 mm. Sounding length, 528.45 mm. Arne B. Larson Collection, 1979.
Lit.: Amy Shaw Kreitzer, Transverse Flutes by London Makers, 1750-1900, M.M. Thesis (University of South Dakota: 1993), pp. 52, 59, 69-71.
No. 3573. Transverse flute by Heinrich Grenser, Dresden, ca. 1796-1807. Four sections, with three corps de rechange. Stamped on all sections: (crossed swords) / H  GRENSER. African blackwood, with ivory mounts. Four closed, silver keys: B-flat, G-sharp, short F, D-sharp. Lowest note d'. Total length, 625mm - 611 mm. Sounding length, 539.5 mm - 525.0 mm. Rawlins Fund, 1985.
Lit.: Phillip T. Young, 4900 Historical Woodwind Instruments (London: Tony Bingham,1993), p. 100 (see Y21).
No. 3574. Transverse flute by Johann Georg Otto, Neukirchen, Vogtland, 1798. Four sections, with three corps de rechange. Stamped on all sections: (crossed swords) / A. GRENSER / DRESDEN / 1798. African blackwood, with ivory mounts. One closed, silver key: D-sharp. Lowest note d'. Total length, 616.9 mm - 603.49 mm. Sounding length, 545.7 mm - 532.29 mm. Rawlins Fund, 1985.
Lit.: Ardal Powell, "A Fake Grenser Flute by J. G. Otto, Dated 1798," Traverso: Historical Flute Newsletter, Vol. 9, No. 1 (January 1997), pp. 1-3.

Amadeus: His Music and the Instruments of Eighteenth-Century Vienna. An Exhibition Presented by The Shrine to Music Museum . . . at the Dahl Fine Arts Center, Rapid City, South Dakota, February 4 - March 2, 1990, p. 14 (illus.).

Phillip Young, 4900 Historical Woodwind Instruments (London: Tony Bingham, 1993), p. 95 (Y25).

Shrine to Music Museum Newsletter, Vol. 13, No. 2 (January, 1986), p. 2.


No. 2668. Transverse flute by Johann Georg Otto, Neukirchen, Vogtland, 1800. Four sections. Stamped on all sections: (crossed swords) / OTTO / NEUKIRCHEN / 1800. Boxwood with ivory mounts. One closed, brass key: D-sharp. Total length, 626.25 mm. Sounding length, 544.7 mm. Arne B. Larson Collection, 1979.

Lit.: Ardal Powell, "A Fake Grenser Flute by J. G. Otto, Dated 1798," Traverso: Historical Flute Newsletter, Vol. 9, No. 1 (January 1997), pp.1-3.
No. 2357. Transverse flute by William Henry Potter, London, ca. 1806-1814. Five sections. Stamped on barrel of tuning slide: POTTER / JOHNSON'S COURT / FLEET STREET / LONDON; on head and foot: PATENT; on upper section and heart piece: POTTER / LONDON; on foot: WILLM. HENY / POTTER. Boxwood, with ivory mounts. Tuning slide, screw-cap, foot register. Tuning slide and register graduated (six concentric rings stamped with Arabic numerals). Metal lining in head joint and tuning slide. Six silver keys fitted with patented pewter plugs. Closed keys: B-flat, G-sharp, short F, D-sharp. Articulated keys: c'-sharp, c'. Lowest note c'. Total length, 661.3 mm. Sounding length, 587.8 mm. Arne B. Larson Collection, 1979.

No. 4291. Transverse flute by William Henry Potter, ca. 1806-1814. Five sections. Stamped on tuning slide barrel: WILLM. HENY / POTTER / JOHNSON'S COURT / FLEET STREET / LONDON; on all sections: WILLM. HENY / POTTER; on foot, PATENT. Boxwood, with ivory mounts. Tuning slide, screw-cap, foot register, all graduated (six concentric rings stamped with Arabic numerals). Metal lining in head joint and tuning slide. Four closed, silver keys fitted with patented pewter plugs: B-flat, G-sharp, short F, D-sharp. Lowest note d'. Total length, 597.2 mm. Sounding length, 516.6 mm. Arne B. Larson Collection, 1979.

Lit.: Amy Shaw Kreitzer, Transverse Flutes by London Makers, 1750-1900, M.M. Thesis (University of South Dakota: 1993), pp. 57, 59, 77-78.
No. 2358. Transverse flute (composite) by William Henry Potter and William Milhouse, London, ca. 1806-1837. Five sections. Stamped on upper section: WILLM. HENY / POTTER; on foot: POTTER / LONDON; on heart piece: W. MILHOUSE / LONDON. Boxwood with ivory mounts. Tuning slide (Milhouse), screw-cap (missing). Tuning slide graduated. Metal lining in head joint and tuning slide. Six silver keys. All but F key (Milhouse) fitted with Potter's patented pewter plugs. Closed keys: B-flat, G-sharp, short F, D-sharp. Articulated keys: c'-sharp, c'. Lowest note c'. Total length (cap missing), 658.6 mm. Sounding length, about 587.5 mm. Arne B. Larson Collection, 1979.

No. 4439. Transverse flute by William Henry Potter, London, ca. 1806-1814. Five sections. Stamped on barrel of tuning slide: WILLM. HENY / POTTER / JOHNSON'S COURT / FLEET STREET / LONDON; on head and foot: PATENT; on upper section, heart piece, and foot: WILLM. HENY / POTTER. Boxwood, with ivory mounts. Tuning slide, screw-cap, both graduated (six concentric rings stamped with Arabic numerals). Metal lining in head joint. Six silver keys fitted with patented pewter plugs. Closed keys: B-flat, G-sharp, short F, D-sharp. Articulated keys: c'-sharp, c'. Lowest note c'. Total length, 664.1 mm. Sounding length, 591.85 mm. Arne B. Larson Estate, 1988.

Lit.: Amy Shaw Kreitzer, Transverse Flutes by London Makers, 1750-1900, M.M. Thesis (University of South Dakota: 1993), pp. 57, 59, 74-77.
No. 4440. Transverse flute from the workshop of Richard Potter, London, ca. 1785-1800. Five sections. Stamped on tuning slide barrel: POTTER / JOHNSON'S COURT / FLEET STREET / LONDON. Stamped on lower three sections: POTTER / LONDON. Stamped on head and foot: PATENT. Boxwood, with ivory mounts. Tuning slide and screw-cap, graduated with numbered settings up to Arabic numeral 6. Metal lining in head joint and tuning slide. Six silver keys fitted with patented pewter plugs. Closed keys: B-flat, G-sharp, short F, D-sharp. Articulated keys: c' and c'-sharp. Lowest note c'. Total length, 667.2. Sounding length, ca. 591.4 mm. Arne B. Larson Estate, 1988.
Lit.: Amy Shaw Kreitzer, Transverse Flutes by London Makers, 1750-1900, M.M. Thesis (University of South Dakota: 1993), pp. 52, 59, 67-69.
No. 4337. Transverse flute from the workshop of Richard Potter, London, ca. 1785-1800. Five sections. Stamped on tuning slide barrel: POTTER / JOHNSON'S COURT / FLEET STREET / LONDON; on head and foot: PATENT; all other pieces: POTTER / LONDON. Ivory, unmounted. Tuning slide and screw-cap, graduated with six concentric rings stamped with Arabic numerals. Metal lining in head joint and tuning slide. Six silver keys fitted with patented pewter plugs. Closed keys: B-flat, G-sharp, short F, D-sharp. Articulated keys: c'-sharp and c' (lever vaulted over c'-sharp). Lowest note c'. Total length, 666.5 mm. Sounding length, 594.9 mm. Arne B. Larson Collection, 1979.
Lit.: Amy Shaw Kreitzer, Transverse Flutes by London Makers, 1750-1900, M.M. Thesis (University of South Dakota: 1993), pp. 17, 52, 64-66.
No. 4437. Transverse flute, maker unknown, possibly American, late eighteenth century. Four sections. Stamp on head and foot: POTTER / LONDON. Stained (box?)wood, with bone mounts. One closed, silver key (replacement?): D-sharp. Lowest note d'. Total length, 596.1 mm. Sounding length, 520.5 mm. Arne B. Larson Estate, 1988.
Lit.: Amy Shaw Kreitzer, Transverse Flutes by London Makers, 1750-1900, M.M. Thesis (University of South Dakota: 1993), pp. 207, 209.
No. 4086. Transverse flute by Felix Raudonikas, Leningrad (St. Petersburg), Russia, 1979; after "Hotteterre" copy, St. Petersburg, Institute of Theater, Music, and Cinematography (no. 471). Three sections. Unsigned. African blackwood with mammoth tusk ivory mounts. One, closed, silver key in integral ring mount. Lowest note d'. Total length, 70.92 mm. Sounding length, 58.18 mm. Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Igor Palley, 1986.\
Lit.: "An Exhibition of Flutes in Honor of Dayton C. Miller and in Honor of the Centenary of Case Institute of Technology. The Napoleon Room, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, OH, October 5-17, 1980," p. 7.
No. 3871. Transverse flute by Robert Bigio, USA, 1985; after "Gabriel A. Kirst, Potsdam, 1775." Four sections. Unsigned. African blackwood or ebony. One closed, brass key in integral ring mount. Lowest note d'. Total length, 60.80 / 63.66 mm. Sounding length, 526 / 554.6 mm. USD Purchase, 1985.

No. 10001. Transverse flute by Cathy Folkers of Folkers & Powell, Hudson, New York, August 2000; after Johann George Tromlitz, Leipzig, ca. 1796-1805. Four sections. Stamped on all sections: FOLKERS / & POWELL. African blackwood with artificial ivory mounts. D-foot, with alternate C-foot. Graduated screw-cap; graduated foot register (in D-foot only). Eight silver keys in integral block and ring mounts. Closed keys: c'', double B-flat, B-flat, G-sharp, short F, long F, D-sharp, E-flat. Alternate C-foot provides only a single key for both D-sharp and E-flat; it adds articulated keys: c'-sharp and c'). Lowest note d' (c' available with alternate foot). Total length, 675.4 / 749.7 mm. Sounding length, 541.0 / 615.35 mm. Museum O & M funds.

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