Description

Solid silver flute – LOT, Louis (BARAT)

Created in 1891, this Louis LOT model 5 flute is made of solid silver. It displays beautiful keywork with delicate pointed-arm keys. It has, of course, a wonderful teardrop D-sharp touchpiece. The flute is hallmarked throughout and in perfect original condition. We can truly appreciate the beauty of the crown. The embouchure measures the typical size of 10.12 x 11.84 mm for that period.

It’s always great to discover the history of a Louis Lot flute’s previous owner. In this instance, the flute was sold to a music publisher, seller and instrument dealer located in Clermont Ferrand, France.

If we consult the journals, we can see that this flute was sold to M. Solacroup Ligier in Clermont-Ferrand 28 February 1891 during the Émile BARAT (1846-1918) era. The name was entered incorrectly in the register and should have been SOULACROUP-LIGIER. Jean SOULACROUP (1845-1919) was a teacher, clarinettist, conductor, music dealer and composer, who in 1904, created the Petit Conservatoire in Clermont-Ferrand.  There’s an in-depth article in French about him here and his importance for the people in Clermont-Ferrand on the Regional Centre for Traditional Music in Limousin website. There is even a street named after him! Jacques LIGIER (1808-1876) was a successful piano maker, teacher, clarinettist and composer. Soulacroup was successor to Ligier.

This Louis Lot flute is in excellent unchanged condition. We can see some minor dents to the reverse side of the trill axis, which has no effect on the playing condition. It is supplied in a period case with a working key. The flute has undergone a full restoration and now delivers that iconic silver Louis Lot sound, playing at a=440 Hz with the head joint fully inserted. It’s perfect for Gaubert…

Sit back and let this fantastic flute simply speak for itself…