Virtual Tour of "Beethoven & Berlioz, Paris & Vienna: Musical Treasures from the Age of Revolution & Romance 1789-1848" Flute by Claude Laurent, Paris, ca. 1817 NMM 10103. Flute by Claude Laurent, Paris, ca. 1817. Crystal (glass) flute, invented by Claude Laurent, who first patented the concept in 1806 and won a silver medal that year at the Industrial Exposition in Paris. Popular with world leaders, Laurent flutes were owned not only by James Madison, the fourth President of the United States, but also by Emperor Napoleon I of France, King Louis Napoleon of Holland, King Joseph Bonaparte of Spain, and Emperor Franz I of Austria. This showpiece, with silver ferrules and four silver keys topped with yellow jewels, survives in remarkable condition. Although glass is more stable than wood and does not react to temperature and humidity changes, glass is easily damaged, so Laurent's instruments, although they played well, were deemed impractical and survive only in the hands of collectors, rather than players. The glass in some of the Laurent flutes also contained too much zinc, which migrates out, leaving the material pitted and opaque. Fortunately, that is not the case in this instance. Purchase funds gift of Tom and Cindy Lillibridge, Bonesteel, South Dakota, 2002. Source: André P. Larson, Beethoven & Berlioz, Paris & Vienna: Musical Treasures from the Age of Revolution & Romance 1789-1848, with essay by John Koster, exhibition catalog, Washington Pavilion, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, September 12-November 2, 2003 (Vermillion: National Music Museum 2003), pp. 40-41.   Click arrow to continue Virtual Tour of Beethoven and Berlioz Exhibition Go to Beethoven and Berlioz Exhibition Virtual Tour Index Go to Virtual Gallery Tour Index Exhibition catalog and poster available from Gift Shop National Music Museum The University of South Dakota 414 East Clark Street Vermillion, SD 57069 ©National Music Museum, 2003, 2004 Most recent update: October 22, 2007 You are the 9,381st visitor to this page since May 18, 2003. The University of South Dakota Return to Top of Page