Photo of DCM 0817: Anonymous Flute in C - Public domain dedication

In letter from G. A. Rose to DCM, 20 Sept. 1928, he states: "...they [DCM 817, 825 and 826] have been in my father's family many years...." DCM ledger states that G. A. Rose was "Referred by W. C. McQuillen (through J. Geo. Morley)." G. A. Rose had been a restorer of paintings in London for 30 years when he first contacted Miller on 20 Sept. 1928, offering to sell him three flutes (DCM 817, 825 and 826). Rose's friend, John Sebastian Morley, of the harp-making firm, J. Geo. Morley in London, had shown Rose some photographs of Miller's collection. On 7 Aug. 1928, Morley had been visited by Walter C. McQuillen, a retired banker, amateur flutist, and world traveller, based in Los Angeles, who was a long-time friend of Miller's. Morley wrote to Miller the same day, saying: "I have today received a visit from Mr. McQuillen who has asked me to communicate with you should I come across interesting old flutes, or other instruments of that family." Thus, it was via Morley, via McQuillen, that G. A. Rose came to contact Miller.
Instrument type: Flute in C
Medium: Cocus (rosewood?), silver keys and heavily embossed (medium relief) ferrules. Pewter plugs over square metal plates for C#, C.; 67.8 cm.
Key Holes System: 8 keys, saltspoon, pewter plug C#, C, pin in block.
Mark Maximum: No mark.
Condition: Head joint, both sections, cracked. Long F key mount may be a replacement. Lower joint crack at socket.
Provenance: G. A. Rose, London, 14 Nov. 1928. Referred by John Sebastian Morley, of the harp-making firm, J. Geo. Morley, London, who had, in turn, been referred by Walter C. McQuillen, of Los Angeles.

The Dayton C. Miller collection in the Library of Congress, contains nearly 1,700 flutes and other wind instruments, statuary, iconography, books, music, trade catalogs, tutors, patents, and other materials mostly related to the flute. It includes both Western and non-Western examples of flutes from around the world, with at least 460 European and American instrument makers represented. Items in the collection date from the 16th to the 20th century.