Joseph Wallis of Euston Road
Joseph WALLIS is perhaps best known for joining forces with Carlo Tommaso GIORGI (1856–1953) to produce the Giorgi flute under patent in England. There’s much more to his story though – from the rise to the sad demise of the business he founded.Early life and careerOur Joseph Wallis was born…
Cesare Vicinelli – the ocarina’s Stradivarius
Imagine an ocarina with exceptional intonation, pure sound quality and design elegance. Then its maker could be the man known as the Stradivarius of ocarinas – Cesare VICINELLI (1841-1920). From kiln man to ocarina maker par excellence, Cesare Vicinelli certainly had an exciting life. But how could that all come…
Ring-key flute – GODFROY AINÉ, Clair
Ring-key flutes are very special, aren’t they? This Clair GODFROY Ainé (1774-1841) ring-key flute is just fabulous.There were five generations of the Godfroy family. Clair Godfroy Ainé or Clair Godfroy II was trained by his father – Clair GODFROY I (1750-1813) of course. Although he made all woodwinds, he is…
B-flat clarinet – LAFLEUR & SON
Joseph-René LAFLEUR (1812-1874) was considered to be one of the best bow makers in Paris where he had a music shop. Among his clientele was the French violinist, conductor and composer, Jules Prudence RIVIÈRE (1819-1900), who had settled in London in 1857 and fortunately for Joseph-René had learned to speak…
Oboe – SAUERHERING, Hermann
Here is a grenadilla oboe with nickel silver keys that was made by Hermann SAUERHERING (1840-1909) sometime around 1900.Hermann Sauerhering was born in a town called Rogätz – about 30 km north of Magdeburg, Germany. He was a woodwind instrument maker and instrument dealer. In 1875, he started working together…
Walking stick trumpet/cornet
Here is an extremely unusual and rare item – we’ve never laid eyes on such a thing before. It’s a walking stick instrument. We think it is probably German as there were quite a few makers of ‘Stock Trompeten’ including B. Schott of Mainz, Germany.It’s a walking stick trumpet, or…
Ivory flute – SCHERER, Georg Henrich
Imagine a four-part, full ivory flute made by one of the Scherers – Georg Henrich SCHERER (1703-1778). The Scherers made woodwind instruments for the rich and royal, including Frederick the Great (1712-1786), the King of Prussia. Father and son made some extremely beautiful woodwind instruments – this flute is no…
Flute – CAHUSAC, Thomas (Junior)
This is a beautiful, boxwood flute made at the turn of the nineteenth-century by no other than Thomas CAHUSAC Junior or Thomas II (1756-?1843). The Cahusacs were among the first woodwind instrument makers in London and became extremely famous.Thomas Cahusac II was at the 41 Haymarket address from 1800 to…
