Custom Made Flute Cases
After collecting and restoring vintage French flutes for a couple decades, I realize that a good original case is just as difficult to come by as a good original flute. Most old cases have sacrificed themselves to protect the flute. Wood, fabric and leather tend to disintegrate and provide places for mold to grow. The whiff of antiquity so often associated with antique store is the odor of mold. There is no easy way to restore an old case or rid it of its smell. Yet, they are so beautiful to look at, and no matter how worn the case is, one can still touch the old school craftsmanship with one’s hands.
My cases are made in the style of some Louis Lot, Godfroy and Buffet cases I came across over the years – veneered, curved top profile extending to the bottom, straight sides, metal hinges, and a drawn pin locking system that was used on Joseph Rampal’s Louis Lot case. The lining is a suede material, often blue or purple. The blocks are set up in the same way as in many vintage French cases. When the case closes, the top blocks rest gently on the flute tube to keep it from moving around. The headjoint is placed facing the same direction as the body.
These cases are handmade one at a time in any configuration – C-foot, B-foot, wood flute, conical flute, combination flute and piccolo, flute with two headjoints, baroque flute, alto flute, etc. Customization is welcome. The choice of veneer is limited to current market supply. The pin locking system can be tricky to operate and requires some dexterity and patience.
The wood veneer of above cases, from top to bottom, are Pomelle Sapeli, curly Maple, and Indian Rosewood.
A case for a B-foot instrument featuring a purple interior and optional compartment for small objects.
A case for my own cocuswood flute with space for a grease pot.
A case in figured veneer with red interior for a very rare Godfroy flute. The exterior dimensions, shape, orientation, interior blockings and fabric color are based on an original Godfroy case.
A long case in walnut veneer for a Gary Lewis single-body flute.
A C-foot case with Pomelle Sapeli veneer.
A B-foot case with Brazilian Rosewood veneer.
A pair of cases in waterfall Bubinga veneer.
The colors of Fall.
A case for a very early and important Buffet Crampon conical cocuswood flute.
Close up of the compartment for the original tuning rings.
A combination case for flute and piccolo in Tiger Maple with purple interior, a common color found on many vintage French cases.
A case for an eight-key cocuswood Irish flute by Peter Noy, with an extra Eb body.
A long case in Brazilian Rosewood veneer for a Louis Lot cocuswood flute with two headjoints.
A case in Brazilian Rosewood veneer for an important Godfroy cocuswood flute from around 1862. This is a very compact case, the outside dimensions are the same as those of a case for a silver flute. The grease case in the truncated square is made of Mopane, decorated with ivory alignment dots.
A case for alto flute with a wood headjoint. The veneer is a very special Kewazinga Bubinga.
A very slim case for a wooden Louis Lot flute in Lacewood veneer.
A double case for two Irish flutes in Curly Maple veneer.
A case in Santos Rosewood veneer. It houses an important flute made by C. Rive.
The starting price of a case is $1,400, and delivery time is about 3-6 months.
For more information please e-mail david at sideblown dot com
