Instrument: 4/5 key flute in D, ebony with silver rings
Maker: Denis Buffet, Paris also know as Buffet Auger - faint makers mark is STAR / D. BUFFET / A PARIS / STAR
Pitch: 425-435
Sounding Length:
Total Length:
Embouchure size:quite small
Restorer: Jon Cornia
Notes: This is a very unusual flute with some features that would seem to place it very early in Buffet’s career. The square key mounts, I have only seen a few very early 19th century flute and the hinged D# key (à bascule) would normally be associated with earlier flutes. It is missing a long F key which was removed at some point. It appears the long-F was not part of the original design of the flute. As such the keys would have been unusual, b-flay, g#, long and short F, D#, but with no C key.
Demonstration recordings:
Pre-Restoration Photos
