January 19, 2020: Broken links fixed. A few new pics added. A lot of new articles added. Changed Symple Accordions into Symple Toggles. Updated the Nextgen galleries to work properly and not reload the entire page when you click on a pic.
March 18, 2017: More construction. Adding some new stuff and fixing links.
March 13, 2016: Under construction. Mind the dust. I’m in the process of fixing links and adding more stuff.
Added links to the new Library of Congress pages. Definitely check those out. The pics are 630x7057px. That’s larger than life-sized!
Introduced: 1806
Discontinued: 1862 (Laurent died in 1849. Production continued under JD Breton until 1862ish.)
Production Numbers: Appx. 124 instruments remaining.
Current Value: Appx. $14,000 to $25,000 US, depending on configuration (adjusted for inflation)
Available Colors: Clear (“White”), Uranium Green, Cobalt Blue.
Keywork: Brass or silver. Sometimes with mother-of-pearl or other gemstones on keywork and/or endcap.
Keys: Variable. No less than 3, no more than 8.
Available Pitches: C piccolo, D flute, C flute, Db flute and possibly others.
Here’s a little departure from the saxophone world. Allow me to talk about flutes, for a bit. These horns are important to anyone who’s played a keyed woodwind in the past 200 years, so it’s a good read. They’re pretty to look at, too.
First, I am not a flute player. I have difficulty even getting a sound out of one. My sister, on the other hand, was a pretty decent flute player. Additionally, as one of the administrators for the Woodwind Forum, I’ve researched more than a few non-saxophone instruments. Also, something that appears “expected” of most saxophone players in a “big band” jazz setting is that they should be able to play flute and I’ve been in some big band ensembles. That means that I’ve at least been around some flute players for a large percentage of my playing career and/or my Internet career.
The subject at hand is Claude Laurent and his crystal flutes.
As a starting point, you’ve got to know that the Claude Laurent flutes only bear a passing resemblance to the “knick-knack” crystal flutes of today (like the ones at hallflutes.com, for instance). These are both historic and historical instruments that were made in the first 2/3rds (or so) of the 19th century — and, if you want to buy one, expect a 5-digit price tag.
So, why should you care about Laurent and his flutes? Let’s start with this brilliant article from Dayton C. Miller (“Flutes of Glass,” The Flutist 6, no. 7 (July 1925): 151) that’s reproduced on the Library of Congress website.
On November 21, 1806, Claude Laurent was awarded French patent number 382:
“[A five year patent for a flute made of crystal glass]:
“CLAIMS: After searching for a long time for means for remedying the well-known variation in the various tones of flutes, due to variations in the hygrometric condition of the atmosphere and to the moisture in the player’s breath, and also desiring at the same time to give this instrument a tone of clearness and perfect purity, the inventor has discovered that cristal (glass) is a proper material, as it gives sounds of the sweetness and purity desired, and also renders the tones invariable, and makes the instrument convenient and easy to play.”
Further, the Dayton C. Miller article goes on to say,
“[The patent] author explains that it is well known that flutes of wood and ivory are much affected by the alternate dry and moist conditions to which they are subjected; and as especially as there are long intervals where the flute may not be used. Glass, on the contrary, is not affected by humidity and always preserves the same dimensions, and combines with this a constant tone quality and an elastic capacity which renders the instrument more sonorous and easier to sound.”
Now, the “crystal” used in the Laurent flute is really the French word “cristal.” While I do know that it’s also a brand of champagne, it refers to “clear white glass of superior quality” and not “rock crystal,” like quartz. It’s also not exactly a new idea, as there have been crystal instruments around since at least the 16th century. However, it’s still a nice idea. Hey, why not make a horn that’s not going to be affected by blowing into it and losing its intonation? However, that’s not the historic part. Let’s continue with the patent description from Dayton C. Miller:
“The patent explains that in overcoming this, at the same time the instrument was rendered more perfect as to its musical qualities. These improvements consist of silver tenons and sockets for joints …”
Again, a nice idea. Not necessarily a new idea, but an immensely functional one. Metal joints, called “caps,” are used on a lot of woodwinds, even today. Hey, my wife’s 1981 Selmer Signet 100 clarinet has them. They also allow you to have an instrument that you can take apart and reassemble without damaging it, which makes life easier for your repairman and more convenient for you, as you don’t have to lug around a really long case.
But wait. There’s more:
“… [and] mounting the keys in silver posts attached to metal plates which are screwed to the tube, the steel pins on which the keys turn are tempered and polished and permit a perfect fitting ….”
That’s a completely earth-shattering idea.
While it’s obvious to you and me that if you want to mount keywork you need, well, a mount. This wasn’t obvious in 1805. If you wanted to put a key on an instrument, you formed a little “bump” in whatever material you were using and affixed a key though that (see, well, all of the flutes under the heading “First Generation English 6-8 Key Flutes” at www.mcgee-flutes.com). With this one sentence in a patent, all woodwinds became MUCH easier and less expensive to produce and allowed manufacturers to add on more keys. As a matter of fact, Boehm’s 1832 flutes and his fingering system would have been almost impossible to make. Just imagine one of these with formed wood or ivory pivots. Take a look at this video (around the 1:20 mark), even if you don’t understand French. They do a side-by-side comparison of a Laurent flute (specifically, the one owned by Napoleon III) and a contemporary flute with the “formed” pivots. Same amount of keys, but the Laurent flute looks much, much more modern.
Another thing that’s overcome by using glass and the “steel pins” is that you do have a much tighter fit for the keywork. Let me use a quote, because I’ve found a lot of good ones. I’m going to translate and transliterate from the Dutch:
“… [T]he invention had an additional benefit, namely an improvement in the setting of the keys above toneholes, making a system that had hardly any lateral play. This allowed the key to provide a much tighter and consistent seal on the tonehole.”
So, you’ve got a flute that’s “impervious” to humidity problems, keywork that’s cheaper and easier to make — but allows for a tighter seal around a tonehole. And it’s pretty. Good combination.
I really don’t need to write anymore about Laurent, because other folks have already done more than enough research. Let me just give you some recommended reading, viewing and listening:
(EDIT March, 2017: The Library of Congress has a new “landing page” for the Claude Laurent flutes in the Dayton C. Miller collection. It includes English translations of both Laurent’s 1806 patent and the 1834 patent. What hyped me more is a list of extant Laurent flutes. I’m going to see if I can fill in some of my gaps.)
Patent Drawings
I’ve downloaded and stitched together these pics from Institut national de la propriété industrielle (INPI). because it’s dial-up-speed slow.
If you right-click the image and choose “View Image” in your browser, you’ll a huge pic. Recommended.
Claude Laurent 1806 patent, number 382.
Claude Laurent 1834 patent, number 5643. JD Breton 1843 patent, number 24935, This patent is from JD Breton, one of Laurent’s apprentices. He produced at least one glass flute.
Some further reading
“Flutes of Glass” by Dayton C. Miller.
From The Flautist, Vol. 6, No. 7. July 1925. Pages 151 to 155.
The entire article is online and contains most of what you should know about Laurent flutes.
“U.Va.’s Rob Turner Plays James Madison’s Glass Flute.”
News release; June 11, 2000.
As in, President James Madison. Some interesting history and information about a CD that features a Laurent flute.
“Library of Congress Loans Rare Crystal Flute for Madison’s 250th.”
Office of Media Relations, James Madison University. March 9, 2001.
A bit of a parallel to the above article, but a different player (Carol Noe).
See also this article.
“The Mystery of James Madison’s Crystal Flute”
By Wendi Mahoney, October 5, 2018
Two pics are in the article.
“Madison’s Crystal Flute.”
NPR, Morning Edition, March 16, 2001.
RealAudio clip of the radio program. Very much worth listening to.
“The Flute Book”
Specifically, Chapter 4: “A Brief History of the Flute” (starts on page 42) is what you should take a look at. Laurent is mentioned on page 49.
“Metropolitan Museum of Art Project: From Crystal to Gold.” From RedCedar.org
Music performed on the MET’s 1813 and 1815 Laurent flutes.
“Valpo flutist displays 200-year-old flute at Porter Co. Museum.” From NWITimes.com.
A short article and pics of an 1816 clear (“white”) fluted flute.
Here’s an earlier article and another pic.
Hey! She’s sent me a couple e-mails!
“Phil Unger and the Flute Center of New York (Part 2).”
Flute Focus. July 1, 2009.
1837 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute. 5 or 6 keys. Silver keywork and bands.
Good pics, but a little small. (ed. 2016: the pictures are now offline, but the article text is still available.)
“Anatomy of the Flute.”
By Erin Allen. Library of Congress Magazine, September-October 2014. Pages 4-5. PDF.
“Understanding Glass Flutes with Medical Imaging”
By Kristen Mitchell. February 7, 2019
Couple of very nice pictures in this article.
The LOC.GOV Wise Guide August 2007.
MENDING A BROKEN LAURENT 8-KEY CRYSTAL FLUTE
From McKay Lodge Laboratory: The Conservation of Objects.
This is an 1821 clear (“white”), fluted C flute.
I was able to find some more pics on www.originalflutes.com.
Check out this Reddit post.
Hey, I’ve been quoted on one of my favorite websites in one of my favorite subs (i.e. Artefact P0rn). I’m seriously happy about that! Definitely check out that sub. You’ll spend a couple hours there.
List of (Many) Extant Claude Laurent Flutes, from the Library of Congress (PDF)
Les Flautes de Vidre del Museu de la Musica de Barcelona (1839 | 1844)
From ResearchGate.net (sign-up required).
By Montserrat Gascón
Also contains a few pictures, including some smaller, color images of the 1806 Laurent patent.
Une Flûte en Cristal
Les flautes de vidre de Claude Laurent (1774-1849).
Three volumes. “The second volume is a descriptive catalogue of the extant Laurent instruments.”
By Montserrat Gascón.
As an aside, this is Ms. Gascón’s doctoral thesis. It was published well after I created this page. I hope it helped in some small way!
Short article and some pics from www.rebeccaquigleyflute.com regarding a trip to view the Dayton C. Miller collection.
Pics and Info from AntiqueFlutes.com
1809 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute.
5 keys. Brass bands and keywork.
Only known Laurent flute with two headjoints.
1815 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute.
4 keys. Silver bands and keywork.
1822 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute.
8 keys. Silver keywork and bands.
Pics and Info from Citedelamusique.fr (aka Philharmonie de Paris)
Silver rings, keys. Amethyst gems.
1820 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute. E.245.
Silver rings, 8 keys. Amethyst gems.
1820 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute in D. E96.
Silver rings, 7 keys. Amethyst gems.
Additional joint with three keys.
1820 clear (“white”) fluted crystal piccolo. E982.
Silver rings, 3 keys.
More stuff to check!
Even more!
Pics and Info from The Library of Congress: The Dayton C. Miller Flute Collection.
1807 clear (“white”) fluted crystal C flute (DCM1051).
4 keys. Silver keywork and bands. Earliest known Laurent flute.
Pics and info on the new LoC website.
1809 clear (“white”) C flute (DCM0719).
Possibly the only Laurent flute with only 3 keys. Silver keywork and bands. Crystal end cap.
Pics and info on the new LoC website.
1811 clear (“white”) C flute (DCM0850).
6 keys. Silver keywork and bands. Pretty red morocco case.
Pics and info on the new LoC website.
1811 clear (“white”) fluted crystal C flute (DCM1311).
6 keys. Silver keywork and bands. Emperor Francis I of Austria’s flute.
Additional pic at the LoC (far right).
Additional pic on Flickr.
Pics and info on the new LoC website.
1813 clear (“white”) “diamond-shaped facet[ed]” crystal C flute (DCM0378).
4 keys. Silver keywork and bands. President James Madison’s flute.
Additional pic at the LoC (far left).
Pics and info on the old LoC website.
Pics and info on the new LoC website.
1814 clear (“white”) fluted crystal C flute (DCM0475).
4 keys. Silver keywork and bands. Additional middle joint.
Pics and info on the new LoC website.
1815 clear (“white”) fluted crystal C flute (DCM0717).
6 or 8 keys. Silver keywork and bands. Cracked.
Pics and info on the new LoC website.
1815 clear (“white”) fluted crystal C flute (DCM1400).
7 keys. Silver keywork and bands.
Pics and info on the new LoC website.
1816 clear (“white”) fluted crystal C flute (DCM0772).
5 keys. Silver keywork and bands.
Pics and info on the new LoC website.
1817 clear (“white”) fluted crystal C flute (DCM1404).
6 keys. Silver keywork and bands.
Pics and info on the new LoC website.
1817 clear (“white”) fluted crystal C flute (DCM0450).
4 keys; D foot. Silver keywork and bands.
Pics and info on the new LoC website.
1817 clear (“white”) fluted crystal C flute (DCM1404).
6 keys. Silver keywork and bands.
Pics and info on the new LoC website.
1818 clear (“white”) fluted crystal C flute (DCM0611).
Silver keywork and bands. w/ametheyst or garnet jeweled keywork.
Very interesting fluting.
Pics and info on the new LoC website.
1818 clear (“white”) fluted crystal C flute (DCM1373).
6 keys. Silver keywork and bands.
Pics and info on the new LoC website.
1826 clear (“white”) fluted crystal C flute (DCM0382).
8 keys. Silver keywork and bands.
Pics and info on the new LoC website.
1826 clear (“white”) fluted crystal C flute (DCM0670).
8 keys. Silver keywork and bands.
Pics and info on the new LoC website.
1844 Uranium Green crystal C flute (DCM0011).
Semi-Boehm System (5 rings, 6 keys). Silver keywork and bands.
Additional pics at the LoC.
Even more pics + article.
Pics and info on the new LoC website.
Some nice, big pics on Facebook.
1862 Uranium Green crystal C flute (DCM1063).
10 keys. Silver keywork and bands. By JD Breton, Laurent’s apprentice.
Pics and info on the new LoC website.
Pics and Info from Musical Instruments Museum Online
1809 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute (M264)
Gold rings, 5/6 keys w/additional middle joint.
From Stockholm Music Museum via MIMO.
1809 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute (E.96.2)
Silver rings. Amethyst jewels.
Louis Clapisson Collection.
From Cité de la Musique
1809 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute (N147209)
Silver rings, 4 keys w/citrine jewel.
From Stockholm Music Museum via MIMO.
1809 cobalt blue foot joint for C flute.
Brass rings, 4 keys.
From Museum für Musikinstrumente der Universität Leipzig via MIMO.
1811 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute. (3999)
Brass rings, 4 keys.
From Museum für Musikinstrumente der Universität Leipzig via MIMO.
One more pic from Wikimedia Commons
1815 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute in C (MI410)
Silver rings, 6 or 8 keys.
From Germanisches Nationalmuseum
1815 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute (2380)
Silver rings.
From Carmentis.
1819 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute in C (1259)
Silver rings, 8 keys.
From Museum für Musikinstrumente der Universität Leipzig via MIMO.
1833 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute (M525)
Silver rings, 8 keys.
From Stockholm Music Museum via MIMO.
1833 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute (VE0351)
Silver rings.
From Carmentis
1835 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute (RCM0066)
5 keys, Silver rings.
From the Royal College of Music, London
1839 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute (MDMB 149)
8 keys, silver rings.
From Museu de la música de Barcelona via MIMO.
1844 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute (MDMB 145)
8 keys (probably), silver rings, amethyst jewels.
From Museu de la música de Barcelona via MIMO.
Misc. Pics from Around the Web
7 or 8 keys. Silver bands and keywork. HUGE pics.
From another angle.
From the Rijks Museum.
1807 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute (PDF).
4 keys. Silver bands and keywork. Citrine jeweled.
From Vichy Enchères
1812 & 1813 cobalt blue fluted crystal flutes.
1812 has 8 keys, 1813 has 4. Silver keywork and bands.
Short article, in French, accompanies these flutes.
From ARCHIVES MUSIQUE, FACTEURS, MARCHANDS, LUTHIERS.
1813 clear (“white”) fluted crystal Db flute ( 89.4.924)
Brass bands and keywork.
Additional pic.
Additional pic and info.
Additional pics and info @ the AMICA Library.
From The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
1814 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute.
5 or 6 keys. Silver keywork and bands.
From the Corning Museum of Glass Annual Report (2007). PDF. Page 9.
Two more pics on tumblr
Another at the Corning Museum of Glass
1815 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute. (W.83-1921)
8 keys, I think. Silver keywork and bands.
From the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum
1817 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute (NMM 10103)
4 keys. Silver keywork and bands. Citrine jewels.
From The University of South Dakota National Music Museum
Additional pic and article at Google Arts & Culture
1821 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute.
8 keys. Silver keywork and bands.
From www.les-dominicains.com
1821 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute.
8 keys. Silver keywork and bands. Kinda small pics.
From www.worthpoint.com
1837 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute. (pic removed).
8 keys. Silver keywork and bands.
From Christie’s Auctions. (Sale price was $15,000 in 2009.)
1837 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute (1994.241)
5 keys. Silver keywork and bands. Mother-of-pearl headcap.
From Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
Some Videos
5 keys. Silver keywork and bands.
Montserrat Gascón performances.
1837 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute. (1994.21)
5 keys. Silver keywork and bands. From MFA Boston.
More pictures.
Peter H. Bloom performing “Andantino and Allegro from Air D’Acteon; Variations for Flute” by Jean Louis Tulou, 1837. 1080p.
Claude Laurent’s Crystal Flute
c. 1835 flute. Other details not listed. Audio only.
14 tracks.
Performed by Cuauhtemoc Trejo
“Partant pour la Syrie, by Paula Bär-Giese.”
Played by flautist Dario Lo Cicero.
Video of an 1807 clear (“white”) fluted crystal flute being played in a duo. Somewhat low quality, but one of the very few videos of the Laurent flute.
“Une flûte en cristal.”
Video of Bruno Kampmann talking about Napoleon III’s flute. June 7, 2007. French language.
I mentioned this video in my above ramblings. Even if you can’t speak French, you’ll appreciate the comparison of a Laurent flute to a contemporary 19th century flute.
These are gorgeous! I’d love to try one out! Also, thanks for the shout out. Great article. Well done.
Thank you so very much for this lovely article!