An all original solid silver flute in very good condition, stamped: Th. Boehm & Mendler in München. Seamed tube, solid gold lip plate, old pads but in reasonable condition, total length 63.4 cm, length from middle of embouchure to end 59.3 cm, total length of the head 20.8 cm, middle of embouchure to end of head 16.7 cm, embouchure 1.2 cm. Probably original case.
Theobald Boehm (1794-1881), a Bavarian goldsmith, flutist, composer, and industrialist, invented this type of flute that became the basis for the modern instrument a little more than a century and a half ago. Boehm manufactured his new flutes at first himself, but later in partnership with Carl Mendler, one of his best workmen, who continued the firm after Boehm's death in 1881.
