848
Clair Godfroy, ain�
Serial #5364.
Paris, France
Stamp: Each joint is stamped: (Head of Medusa?)/ (in oval cartouche)CLAIR/ (SCRIPT) Godfroy ain�/ A PARIS/ (below cartouche) monogram CG. The three midjoints all have the monogram again next to the C key. Headjoint also with serial number: 5364.
Marks: No marks visible under keys.
Manufacture Date: We estimate an extraordinary annual average of 303 simple-system flutes from 1818-1836. Thus this flute would have been made in 1835.
Hallmarks: No hallmarks.
Comments: This lovely flute has a sweet and clear high end, with an effortless high A, and a robust lower range. Louis Vincent Dorus, the young student of Guillou and the rage of Paris, used keyed Godfroy flutes until his conversion to Boehm around 1835, just as this flute was being made. Dorus played the solo at the March 1831 concert of the Soci�t� des Concerts on a keyed Godfroy flute.
Material: This masterpiece is made of grenadilla? wood with silver keys and trim. Footjoint keys with metal pad washers. Springs of steel.
System: This is a very beautiful 8 keyed flute, with three corps de rechang�. The foot is to C. The whole instrument is fitted into a suede lined two layer wooden case. This elegant instrument is the height of flutemaking for it's time. The use of extra midjoints rather than a tuning slide gives the flute the full range of pitch used in France at the time, from A=430 to A=448.
Condition: This magnificent flute is in excellent condition, with some signs of fairly considerable use. The heartpiece, or right hand joint, shown the most wear on the toneholes, followed by the shortest of the midjoints, which we estimate to be pitched at A=448. All of the silver lined sockets have minor hairline cracks, which do not threaten anything and have been filled. All of the tone holes and embouchure have the same style of cutting, which is less elegant than I would have suspected. This was not someone's later work, but looks rather to be the final adjustments for the original owner, or all of the holes would not have the same tool marks. At any event, the flute plays perfectly, with a strong and intense tone all the way up and down, as one would hope and expect.
Pitch: The three joints appear to play at A=430, 440, and 448.
Sounding Length: The sounding lengths are: 590 mm, 595 mm, and 603 mm.
Measurements:
Weight: Gram weight 344 g, 348 g., 350 g.
Case: In the original case, having two layers for the flute inside a round wooden box. The suede finish is in excellent condition. The key is with the case, although the handle is gone.
