My website main page now has a photo of a one-of-a-kind Rudall & Rose flute, made totally of Ivory, likely the only of its kind.
Owned by a nice woman in upstate NY, it’s quite the sight (the Rudall, that is).
Main page is at http://www.fyfer-restorations.com
David Migoya
Fyfer Restorations
Home of the Rudall & Rose Worldwide
Catalogue Project
http://www.RudallRose.com
[ This Message was edited by: David Migoya on 2003-02-22 14:19 ]
That is some piece of work. Does she play it! Does anyone play it! Wondering what kind of sound it generates because of the ivory.
MarkB
My jaw is still hanging down. That is easily the most beautifully ornate flute I have ever seen.
N, breathless
‘The Companion to Irish Traditional Music’(ed. Fintan Vallely)features a photo(p.306)of James MacMahon playing an ivory flute.How rare are ivory flutes?,you certainly don’t see them every day!(just as well for the wildlife).Have you any idea what type of ivory the flute is made from? Leather flutecases have caused plenty of controversy on this board lately,never mind flutes of ivory! Thats quite a find Dave,though I don’t particularly care for the look of it myself.Thanks for sharing.
Yes, she plays it. She purchased it from Christies years ago. It had a crack, just under the embouchure (you can see the dark line) and had it repaired.
It’s actually a very early Rudall, c.1825 or so, and obviously a custom piece. No serial number, which is pretty rare for the company.
The ivory source, I would guess, was typical for that time in London…African tusks. Again, that’s just a guess. In our conservationist ways today, I can’t hold it against them from back then.
The sound, I’m told, is sweet and creamy. Very nice, I’d think.
Ivory flutes were not that terribly rare, although somewhat impractical because of their expense. Nicholson always said he felt ivory made the best embouchures since they held their edge better. But those were mostly bushing inserts and not entire flutes.
I agree that the engraving is quite over the top (as are the guilded Acanthus keys), but surely beautiful in an odd sort of way.
I meant to add…and Mr. Collins will enjoy this…the same woman owns Rudall #594 (photo is on the Rudall site), which is the original to the flutes replicated by Peter Noy. While Peter offers a sapphire chip on the tip of the cork stem, the original Rudall has an emerald. Again, all guilded Acanthus keys and the most gorgeous cocus.
Hey Dave:
Long time, man.
That ivory flute is a killer! What a collectible flute. What is a market value on a piece like that? C’mon, Dave, find me an ivory low Bb R&R original!
Interesting you mention that she owns the ornate original replicated by Peter Noy–actually, I thought his, too, has an emerald.
By the way, Terry McGee has my #5384, and will have to an artifical hip replacement.
I’m sure she’ll be back in great form soon.
Take care.
Peter Noy’s
[ This Message was edited by: gcollins on 2003-02-23 01:36 ]
Just checked my notes…the orignal is turquoise on the tip.
Anyway, here’s another all-Ivory flute:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2509458904&category=10183
Accordion great Joe Burke (who owns two Rudall flutes, both in the catalogue, including the great boxwood one from his Tailor’s Choice recording) has an all-ivory flute, I believe by Monzani, who made a few.
I can’t even figure the value of the ivory Rudall. As a collectible alone (not caring for whether it plays) it has considerable value. If it plays well, which I understand it does, then it’s considerably more valued.
The last time I was in Lark in the Morning in SF (about 6 mos ago) there was an old all ivory eight keyed flute there of an unknown maker. It has been there for about a year and a half that I know of. It needs work as the joints are wobbly and the pads look marginal. However, the thing does play and is quite responsive if not overly loud. There are several repaired cracks as I recall. I don’t recall how much it was, but it didn’t take my breath away.
Clark