Richard Potter 6-Keyed Flute: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This flute was made by Richard Potter in London, England around 1787 to 1800. It is a 6-keyed flute made of boxwood with ivory ferrules, an ivory crown cap, and silver keys. This flute is stamped:

Richard Potter (1726-1806) was granted British Patent #1499 on October 28, 1785 for “An improvement upon the musical instrument commonly called the German flute, and which invention was also as to parts thereof applicable to and an improvement upon most of such other musical wood instruments as are played upon with keys.”

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date made: 1787 - 1800
• maker: Potter, Richard
• maker: Potter, Richard
• Object Name: flute
• Physical Description: boxwood (overall material)
• Physical Description: ivory (overall material)
• Physical Description: silver (overall material)
• Measurements: overall: 26 1/4 in x 1 1/2 in; 66.675 cm x 3.81 cm
• place made: United Kingdom: England, London
• ID Number: MI.035625a
• catalog number: 35625a
• accession number: 97135
• patent number: 1499
• Credit Line: Gift of Estate of Mr. and Mrs. Roberdeau Buchanan
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.