Oboe – TRAPP, Hermann

This is a grenadilla oboe with nickel silver keys by Hermann TRAPP (1855-?).  Hermann Trapp seems to have set up his instrument shop in 1878 where he was born in Neukirchen bei Eger after having trained in Paris, Vienna and Linz. Then he moved to Wildstein in 1893, which is now called...

Romantic oboe – LUDWIG & MARTINKA

This delightful Romantic oboe was made by the Prague-based masters Franz LUDWIG (1801-1882) and his son-in-law Josef MARTINKA (1831-1886). It is crafted in grenadilla with nickel silver keys and rings. The literature states that Ludwig was an apprentice at the CZERMAK workshop in Prague. Around 1830, he set up his own business. Josef...

Double flageolet – BAINBRIDGE & WOOD

This double flageolet was restored and is in playing condition. It has a nominal pitch of C and lowest note D. It is made of beautiful boxwood and has five silver keys and two windcutter keys (labium shutters). The original beak, wind distributor and studs are all made of ivory....

 Flute – STENGEL, Johann Simon

Here is a lovely four-part Romantic flute in its original case by the Bavarian master Johann Simon STENGEL (1803-1885). Listen to this flute playing Kaspar KUMMER’s (1795-1870) Etude mélodique op.110 n° 4. The flute exhibits a high level of craftsmanship, featuring beautifully made nickel silver rings. The tenon sockets are also inlaid...

B-flat flute & piccolo set – Luigi BILLORO

Have you ever seen a piccolo flute with a B-flat foot joint? We hadn’t until now… This piccolo is in a set with a flute that also goes right down to B-flat! Plus, it’s in its original case and in splendid condition.   Piccolos normally end with a D-foot, which is...

Thinned throughout, cocuswood flute – Rudall Carte

This stunning creation was entirely handmade in luscious cocuswood by the Rudall, Carte & Co Ltd – England’s finest flute-makers of the mid-twentieth century.  The company was set up in 1872 as successors to Rudall Rose, Carte & Co. Later in 1943-1944, it was acquired by Boosey & Hawkes. For more...

Fife – GEISLER, Christian Gottfried

Here is an unusual E fife – nominal pitch is D. It is made of fine boxwood and has a conical bore. Its embouchure is oval. The brass ferrules carry the number 1487 at the top and 1??5 at the base. The instrument plays at a=440 Hz and was perhaps...

Presentation flute – Anonymous

This delightful flute was a gift to a school friend in 1842 – William Guppy. It is a three-part flute, made of maple and fitted with one brass key. The form of the instrument suggests that it might be American, as does the style of the date and the wording...

Ocarina with double tuning slide – CANELLA, Antonio

This terracotta and brass ocarina was made in Ferrara, Italy by Antonio CANELLA (1861?-1952?). To date, we have never seen another ocarina with a double tuning slide like this one! It almost looks like a gun in the hand of Bond… James Bond. Antonio Canella was active making ocarinas from around...