Flute – RUDHARD, Johann Baptist
1.750,00 €
Category | Flutes |
Maker | RUDHARD, Johann Baptist |
Marks and inscriptions | Head joint & middle joint: Three, six-pointed stars / RUDHARD / STUTTGART / D Foot joint: Three, six-pointed stars / D |
Period | 1830-1900 |
Place of origin | Stuttgart, Germany |
Description | Boxwood flute with horn rings, five brass keys plus F-lever |
Materials | Boxwood , horn, brass |
Dimensions | Total length 617 mm Sounding length 530 mm Weight 243 g Weight with case 512 g |
Condition | Sold as is, for restoration |
Accessories | Original case |
Price (€) | €1,750 |
Ref | 1156 |
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Description
Flute – RUDHARD, Johann Baptist
If you are from Stuttgart, this instrument may be of particular interest to you. It was made by one of the few instrument makers who worked there in the nineteenth century.
Johann Baptist RUDHARD was born in Engelboldshofen, near Leutkirch, in Allgäu Germany on 4 September 1788. He was a musician and member of the Royal Infantry and moved to Beilstein, north of Stuttgart where he married Johanna Magdalena STEIG in 1823. The couple then moved to the city of Stuttgart in 1827.
show more Johann Rudhard is already mentioned in the directories of 1829 as a woodwind instrument maker. So, he must have learnt the trade somewhere before that time to be able to set up on his own. His workshop was based at Militärstrasse 30 for many years until it moved to Kriegsbergstrasse 74 in 1850. This was his last address and where he died on 5 October 1863 leaving behind his wife, daughter and son-in-law. We can assume that there were no successors. In terms of extant instruments, there are three by Johann Rudhard in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg, Germany. Another flute which appears to be almost exactly the same can be found in the Library of Congress collection in the USA. All the parts of this flute are stamped. Funnily enough, Johann Baptist spelt his surname name in various ways: RUDHARD, RUDHARDT and RUTHARDT. Could this confusion be the reason why this instrument is so badly stamped 😊. The flute is made of boxwood with five brass keys and horn rings. We can date it to around 1830 when Johann Rudhard moved to Stuttgart. It is in good condition with no visible cracks and plays with a bright sound at around a=440 Hz. It is sold as is for restoration and comes in its original cardboard fitted case. show less