Transverse Flute 1820 - 1870

Hugh Cottier made this transverse flute out of wood, ivory, and metal sometime between 1840 and 1860. Think about this object as it relates to social class in nineteenth-century America. For whom was this flute made? Who was it made by? The United States in the mid-1800s was becoming more industrialized, and with that came new class divisions. Musical instruments like this flute were luxury items, and it's unlikely they were made for or purchased by the working class. Instead, this flute would have been played by someone who had the leisure time to learn and to practice. Musical knowledge was an accomplishment that marked one's place in the middle or upper class, just like knowing French or playing cards. To learn more, consider exploring the museum’s collection of other period instruments or looking into popular sheet music from the time period.