S749
A. Bonneville
#: 1578
Paris

Stamp: Engraved on head and body: (monogram)AB/ BONNEVILLE/ (gothic) PARIS; additionally on body the number: 1578.

Comments: The sculpting of the keys is very special on this flute, and the instrument has not been damaged a bit over time. This is an exquisite flute from one of the finest of flutemakers.

Date: Made c. 1890-1896, assuming 75-100 flutes per year. The case, which may well be original to the flute, is marked "9 rue Corbeau, Paris". Langwill suggests that the firm's address changed in 1896 to rue St. Sebastian.

Material: Made of silver, although without hallmarks.

Hallmarks: No hallmarks.

System: This is the model 5, French flute of silver with C foot. The trill is to Bb.

Condition: This flute is in lovely, barely used condition. All the parts are original and unaltered. The lipplate is very attractive, very clean, and completely original. The exquisite Bonneville crown is modestly worn in parts. There are no plier marks on the flute, and the pins look perfect. Oddly, the basic soldering of the ribs and tone holes is not as neat as one would suspect considering the exquisite quality of the flute, possibly suggesting that the one overhaul we can see the flute did have included resoldering the toneholes.

Pitch: Seems pitched at A=438-440.

Case: The case is an original Bonneville case, and may well be original to the flute. The lock is engraved, "BONNEVILLE 9 Rue Corbeau, Paris".

Restoration status: Recently repadded, but not completely successfully. We do not know who did the job.

Price: Sold.

The lipplate is very clean, and very beautiful.

The right hand mechanism uses the advanced "hanging T" clutch, between the E and F holes.

Bonneville, and before him Godfroy, stayed with this elegant clutch for the C key; simple and perfect, yet Lot's abandoned this for the extra rod system.

Bonneville used the 9 Rue Corbeau address to 1896.

Bonneville was listed as a jeweler in Godfroy's inventory; one can see this in his silverwork.

This photograph fairly defines the Bonneville touch. He flattened the surfaces under the fingers, as can be seen here with the G# and D# touches. This gives the player an unusually light touch, and makes the flute feel capable of great speed.

The lovely Bonneville footjoint, with the perfect body.

The finishing of this flute is superb.

Bonneville's keywork is very precise, as he follows in the steps of Lotfroy, yet is definitely a master in his own right.

Please click on calling card to return Home.