Description

Romantic boxwood flute – KNOCHENHAUER, August Friedrich Andreas

This exceptional Romantic flute originates from the Berlin workshop of master maker August Friedrich Andreas KNOCHENHAUER (1796–1881).

This Knochenhauer flute has six flat keys – typical of the early 19th century. Crafted in the traditional Berlin and Potsdam style, it pairs handsome boxwood with elegant ivory rings. It is equipped with brass keys for D-sharp, long and short F, G-sharp, B-flat and C. The highlights are undoubtedly a masterfully designed screw cork and a beautifully cut oval embouchure, making it real joy to play.

Each section is clearly stamped, and there are no visible cracks. We think it was probably made around 1830.

This instrument was restored by its previous owner and treated to fresh pads, felts, tenon windings and corks. It is in very good condition, offering a wonderfully bright tone. It was used by a professional player for recording work.

At present, it plays beautifully at A=442 Hz. It also includes an additional middle joint crafted by Elmar Hofmann, which brings the pitch to A=430 Hz with a sounding length of 545 mm. It plays excellently, though it would benefit from a quick service before returning to the concert stage.

Important note

This instrument contains ivory. A certificate for the legal sale of this instrument within the European Union is supplied when purchased.

About the maker…KNOCHENHAUER

His somewhat unfortunate surname meant literally “bone hacker”, but was used for the profession of butcher. His father Andreas was a royal master baker in Potsdam.

The literature informs us that Knochenhauer was a court wind instrument maker and academic artist. He was born in Potsdam and trained with Griessling & Schlott in Berlin in 1808. He then took part in The German Campaign [Befreiungskriege] as a volunteer hunter. After three years as a journeyman in Dresden, he returned to Berlin in 1819 to work as workshop manager for Johann Wendelin WEISSE (ca. 1780-1864). He established his own workshop in Berlin in 1826. Knochenhauer was appointed “academic artist” by patent of the Berlin Academy of Arts on 8 May 1841 for the excellence of the flutes and clarinets he made and, in some cases, improved.

The president of the Berlin Police said of Knochenhauer in 1843

“He runs his business without assistants or apprentices, and therefore on a very small scale. He has no assets, but has nevertheless managed to remain debt-free until now. He is a skilled worker and has a reputation as a man of integrity.”

Knochenhauer expanded his business to include brasswind and according to his own ads in 1873, his company, which was founded in 1830 (!), employed 6 people. He died in 1881. One of his sons, Carl Friedrich Rudolph Knochenhauer (1841-1906) was also an instrument maker in his own right, under the name F.A. Knochenhauer. He also dealt in instruments and it seems that he took over his father’s business.