Description

Cylindrical wooden Boehm flute – GODFROY AINÉ, Clair

This cylindrical wooden Boehm flute was made by the Clair Godfroy Ainé (1774-1841) workshop in Paris way back in 1861. This date, along with the serial number 656, is stamped on the head joint. It also displays the number 2, perhaps for one of two alternative head joints… We really have no idea what the 36 stands for… answers on a postcard or email please!

It is very beautifully made. The silverwork is still amazing and still very sharp. The cups show hardly any wear… almost like new. Its oval embouchure seems original and measures 10.4 mm x 11.8 mm. The keywork and rings are exquisitely crafted in solid silver with those charmingly French pointed-arm keys. We can see its square-ended ribs and of course, the Dorus G-sharp key.

The cocuswood is in very good condition indeed but the flute presents the typical cracks at the head joint tenon, with hairline cracks at the foot joint tenon towards the tone-hole and there is also a hairline crack between the D and E holes. We think it could be possible to play at around a=440 Hz.

Our opinion

Here’s a fantastic chance to own a very early wooden Boehm flute in excellent original condition, made by the famous Godfroy Ainé workshop. It was made just 14 years after Theobald BOEHM (1794-1881) patented his cylindrical flute. This flute is expertly crafted with incredible finesse. It will need some restoration if it is to sing beautifully once more, but we think that is well worth the investment.

About the maker

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 known for his expertise in flutes. Born in La Couture-Boussey, he moved to Paris around 1800 and was a music instrument maker and seller, but didn’t set up his own workshop there until 1814. On a personal level, he was married twice and his first daughter from his second marriage, called Caroline Joséphine, would go on to marry one of his workers – a certain Louis LOT (1807-1896). He retired from the business in 1836 and the company was then run as a partnership by his son Vincent Hypolite GODFROY (1806-1868) and his son-in-law Louis LOT. The two went their separate ways in 1854. Vincent Hypolite continued on his own and when he died, his widow carried on the company until her death in 1888.