Object Details
Created by
William R. Meinell, American
Used by
Thomas Greene Wiggins, American, 1849 - 1908
Description
This silver flute was made for the performer "Blind Tom" by William R. Meinell of New York and includes a body (a) modeled on the Boehm system with closed key holes, an offset G key, a closed G sharp key, and a Briccialdi B flat key; a foot joint (b) with a low B key; a silver head joint (c) with an embouchure plate with stylized floral detailing around each end and at the crown with a tuning cork; a silver head joint socket (d) used to cap the tenon of the sliver head joint when not in use; an ebony head joint (e) with a flush embouchure hole and a tuning cork, a metal ring separates the body from the crown and a metal tenon is attached to the ebony head joint for joining with the flute body; a silver head joint socket (f) used to cap the tenon of the ebony head joint when not in use.
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Date
1879-1884
Object number
2014.138.1a-f
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Type
flutes (aerophones)
Medium
silver, ebony, gold, and cork
Dimensions
H x W x D (a,b,c joined): 27 1/16 × 1 5/8 × 1 5/8 in. (68.7 × 4.1 × 4.1 cm)
H x W x D (a,b,e joined): 27 5/8 × 1 5/8 × 1 5/8 in. (70.2 × 4.1 × 4.1 cm)
H x W x D (a overall): 1 5/8 × 13 3/16 × 1 1/2 in. (4.1 × 33.5 × 3.8 cm)
H x W x D (b overall): 1 5/16 × 6 5/8 × 1 5/8 in. (3.3 × 16.8 × 4.1 cm)
H x W x D (c overall): 10 × 1 × 1 in. (25.4 × 2.5 × 2.5 cm)
H x W x D (d overall): 1 9/16 × 13/16 × 13/16 in. (4 × 2.1 × 2.1 cm)
H x W x D (e overall): 10 × 7/8 × 7/8 in. (25.4 × 2.2 × 2.2 cm)
H x W x D (f overall): 9/16 × 13/16 × 13/16 in. (1.4 × 2.1 × 2.1 cm)
Place made
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Musical Instruments
Exhibition
Musical Crossroads
On View
NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Topic
African American
Child musicians
Instrumentalists (Musicians)
Music
Slavery
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nmaahc_2014.138.1a-f