DCM 0955: Astor & Horwood Flute in C

Instrument type: Flute in C
Medium: Ebony(?), ivory cap, cork-setting mechanism, and ferrules, silver keys. Head fully metal-lined.; 66.7 cm.
Key Holes System: 6 keys, foot to C, pewter plugs over metal-lined holes. B-flat key a replacement, modern style key cups. Pin in brass-lined blocks.
Mark Maximum: ASTOR / & / HORWOOD / 79 CORNHILL / LONDON / (unicorn head) / PATENT
Mark Additional: Mark on head. Mark on upper, lower: ASTOR / & / HORWOOD / (unicorn head). Mark on foot: ASTOR / & / HORWOOD / (unicorn head) / PATENT. Barrel: PATENT
Condition: Head joint, both sections, extremely cracked. The head joint upper section ferrule is missing and the tenon beneath it is cracked in 5 places and missing 40 percent of its circumference. The head joint lower section is complete but cracked and broken into 5 parts.
Provenance: William Hayes, London, 30 July 1930

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.