Hi everyone,
There is a beautiful Rudall & Rose #1899 going on the Auction block at Christie’s., just found it with my Google search…
Hope someone scoops this one up, looks like a real find.
http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=5225343
Est. $900- $1,400 Ha, Ha!
the electroplated keys
From the description it seems that the flute doesn’t have silver keys. Am I correct in assuming that?
Wouldn’t that be a fairly serious disincentive from a collector’s standpoint?
Could it be a counterfeit?
firewood
Nah, looks like one of the smaller-holed models. You need the big tone holes for a really good blaze. You should see a Pratten go up - oh boy! 
The online picture isn’t good enough to see, but I doubt very much the flute has plated keys - this is more likely the description writer/assessor not getting it right. If they’re original (and they don’t look odd to me as far as can be seen in the pics) then they’ll be solid silver. I suppose there’s a very thin chance they’re German Silver (unlikely at this period for R&R), but I doubt it and it doesn’t look like it. A serial number of #1899 would be in the 1830s at latest and I don’t think electroplating was around then! Christies might be well up on fiddles, but I doubt their specialist music staff are all that hot on winds. The estimate certainly seems excessively conservative (not to say ill-informed)! If anyone gets it at that price and it is in as good nick as it looks, they’ll have a real bargain!
Has David Migoya any insight? David???
It is obvious that Christie’s is a couple of cans short of a six pack with there description, and there assessment. I would love to pick it up fro $900 even if the keys were electroplated! 
As far as small tone holes+ small sound, I think it is safe to say, that that is a good myth, and if you want to honk, go buy a boring Pratten, and see how long before you sell it out of boredom.
True. Medium to small hole R&R type flutes are so much more expressive and rich, and when played by someone with a proper embouchure for those flutes I’d say they are as loud as any Pratten…
Just my 2cl of
whisky 
As Sillydill said once, tea vs. coffee.
Both lovely in different ways.
Not about to sell this out of boredom.
When you play it Jim, it’s not boring…
Thank you, most kind.
no insight at all, jem
many of the flutes at auction houses are mislabeled or mismarked or maldescribed.
but it’s also key to knowing what you’re buying.
many a time i’ve purchased a flute believing one thing and getting something else.
And I typically know better, so imagine for someone who doesn’t!
Indeed! thanks for responding. Thing is, we kinda tend to assume that “experts” at Christies or Sothebys at least, unlike lesser houses, will know their stuff, or know when and whom to refer out to when they recognise they don’t know enough themselves to provide the service for which they are reputed to both vendor and prospective purchasers. I bet they DO know on violins. Of course, the biggest sums on flutes are peanuts in the serious violin world, large as they may seem to us fluters! To folk who move in those circles, a few hundred or even a few grand for a non-mainstream-modern-use flute just ain’t worth serious attention! Still, you’d think their in-house precious metals folk would be able to tell them if the keys were solid or plate and to know when “electroplating” started to be used and for the music bods to then compare that with the (easily discovered) probable date range for the serial number… Bet they didn’t even ask… Sloppy!
It’s kinda sad when places/organisations with an established reputation for being the bees knees so palpably let you down!
Well today’s the day!! I wonder how much this flute will go for. Looks like a very nice instrument, prehaps someone will get it cheap.
I was going to bid, but the process of getting signed up to do so is a LITTLE more “privacy invading” than PayPal - I wasn’t comfortable with it… I’m sure it’s not a problem, but, well…
Holy Mackerel!!!
It went for almost $5400!!! Somebody out there likes Rudall and Rose (a LOT, and a LOT more than myself)!!!
Pat
£3250. Dunno why you’re so shocked, Pat. That is about right - I’m glad it went for a proper amount but not a silly over-the-top one. It looks to be a good example in excellent condition that should play very well. £3k + is a decent market price for such an instrument. Whoever got it at that has not had an underpriced bargain, no, but neither have they paid way above par. If I had to replace my own R&R, that is about what I’d expect to have to pay and is in the area of the insurance valuation I have on it.
Jem:
Yeah, guess you’re right for a good example that’s playable. I was pretty sure it would go for a BIT more than the Christie’s estimate!
Pat
About where they should be, especially in the down economy.
If it’s in pristine shape (I actually have a couple like that), then perhaps more.
The days of the bargain auction are nearly over, I’m afraid.
If you were buying Rudalls in the 1970-90s, you got some wonderful deals!
Nice price for such a flute - could this be the dawn of a new Paul Davis era as regards prices - hope so!!
i surely hope so!
too bad paul didn’t live long enough to see it happen again.
of course, all his Rudalls are now in the hands of a single collector/player. Sigh.
One day i’ll get the inventory.