DCM 0825: Rudall & Rose Flute in A or A-flat

Each silver ferrule is adjacent to an animal horn ferrule, positioned as a decorative element. This is either a flute d'amore in A, or, less likely, a band flute in high pitch A-flat, and therefore called a B-flat flute. However, the fragile design of an animal horn ferrule ahead of the more supportive silver ferrule at each socket may indicate an instrument less well suited for outdoor flute band usage. In letter from G. A. Rose to DCM, 20 Sept. 1928, he states: "...they [DCM 817, 825 and 826] have been in my father's family many years...." DCM ledger states that G. A. Rose was "Referred by W. C. McQuillen (through J. Geo. Morley)." G. A. Rose had been a restorer of paintings in London for 30 years when he first contacted Miller on 20 Sept. 1928, offering to sell him three flutes (DCM 817, 825 and 826). Rose's friend, John Sebastian Morley, of the harp-making firm, J. Geo. Morley in London, had shown Rose some photographs of Miller's collection. On 7 Aug. 1928, Morley had been visited by Walter C. McQuillen, a retired banker, amateur flutist, and world traveller, based in Los Angeles, who was a long-time friend of Miller's. Morley wrote to Miller the same day, saying: "I have today received a visit from Mr. McQuillen who has asked me to communicate with you should I come across interesting old flutes, or other instruments of that family." Thus, it was via Morley, via McQuillen, that G. A. Rose came to contact Miller.
Instrument type: Flute in A or A-flat
Medium: Cocus, silver lip plate ferrule, silver keys and ferrules, animal horn ferrules.; 81.7 cm.
Key Holes System: 8 keys, saltspoon with pewter plugs for low C# (A#), C (A). Pin in block.
Mark Maximum: RUDALL & ROSE / N° 15 PIAZZA / COVENT GARDEN / LONDON / 2001
Mark Additional: Mark on upper body. Mark on barrel, lower body, foot: RUDALL & ROSE / LONDON
Condition: Head joint, both sections, cracked. Middle joint socket cracked. Foot joint socket cracked. C#, C key block missing wood-separating element, and front side of block broken and replaced. Of 7 original animal horn ferrules, only 2 are intact, 2 are widely cracked, 3 are missing.
Provenance: G. A. Rose, London, 24 Dec. 1928. Referred by John Sebastian Morley, of the harp-making firm, J. Geo. Morley, London, who had, in turn, been referred by Walter C. McQuillen, of Los Angeles.

The Dayton C. Miller collection in the Library of Congress, contains nearly 1,700 flutes and other wind instruments, statuary, iconography, books, music, trade catalogs, tutors, patents, and other materials mostly related to the flute. It includes both Western and non-Western examples of flutes from around the world, with at least 460 European and American instrument makers represented. Items in the collection date from the 16th to the 20th century.