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Triple flageolet
William Bainbridge (English, active 1803–1834)
1830
Object Place: London, England
Medium/Technique
Boxwood, ivory, silver
Dimensions
Length 57.2 cm (22 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Leslie Lindsey Mason Collection
Accession Number17.1824
CollectionsEurope, Musical Instruments
ClassificationsMusical instruments – Aerophones
DescriptionIn A-flat and G-flat. Conoidal bores. Boxwood, stained light yellow; ivory tips and mouthpiece; silver keys. The fundamental instrument is made in four principal parts; the cap, which serves as an air-chamber for both tubes; the lip-stock with a double bore; two tubes of unequal length. The third tube is attached to the air-chamber cap by a short nipple, the same mouthpiece serving all three tubes. The lip-stock has two lips with wind- cutters and also two keys for the shorter tube stamped 'New C Key,' 'New D Key' (nominal high C and D keys). The shorter tube (left-hand) has six finger-holes and the following keys: low C-sharp, D-sharp, F-natural, high D (the duplicate of one on the lip-stock), and high E. The lower end bore of the longer tube is covered by a cap with a vent hole. It has four finger- holes and five keys; low B-natural (open, D, F-natural, high B-natural, and high C, the last four keys being closed. The third side-tube is made in three parts: a lip-stock with an auxiliary air-chamber, fipple, and wind- cutter; a receptacle tube plugged with a cork at the bottom; a long decorative extension tail-piece screwed into the ivory tip of the receptacle tube at the lower end. There is only one open finger-hole on the receptacle tube marked 'F-natural'; four silver keys, a', b', c'', d''. Some keys hallmarked.
InscriptionsStamped on ?: BAINBRIDGE / INVENTOR / 35 / HOLBORN / HILL / LONDON / NEW / PATENT
ProvenanceFrancis W. Galpin (1858-1945), Hatfield Regis, England; 1916, sold by Francis W. Galpin to William Lindsey (1858-1922), Boston, Massachusetts; 1916, gift of William Lindsey, in memory of his daughter, Leslie Lindsey Mason, to the MFA. (Accession Date: October 5, 1916)