This blog is dedicated to the sublime instruments called nose flutes and which produce the most divine sound ever. We have chosen to discard all the native models from S. Pacific and Asia, for they need fingering to be played. We'll concentrate on "buccal cavity driven" nose flutes : the well patented and trademarked metal or plastic ones, plus, by a condemnable indulgence, some wooden craft or home-made productions.

Aug 19, 2014

A nice picture of an Ocariflute

Several times, we have published posts about the Ocariflute (which used to be named "Oclariflute" at its beginnings), notably when we heard of its existence through advertisements, about its Silver Medal at Concours Lépine in 1923, when it was played on french TV or when we found the great (and too short) footage showing Jean Dubuffet and his Ocariflute in 1961...
So, we partly knew this french nose flute, but had never seen one in detail... until I found this beautiful picture coming from the Scenkonstmuseet (Swedish Museum of Performing Arts), based in Stockholm.



There is no doubt this instrument is an Ocariflute: the very typical shape of the heel is an evidence. What is interesting to notice, is that this nose flute was not stamped by a trademark or a name, contrarywise to any known and trademarked nose flutes we know. I have an hypothesis... as usual :)



On the advertisement above, the text "Instruments Brilhault - BT SGDG" (a not the name Ocariflute!) appears on an oval white background: it could be because the flute is not stamped but only got a sticker on the heel. And why not a stamping? Remember there was another instrument that was called Ocariflute at this time. "Ocariflute" was probably a better name than "Oclariflute", but was already in use. So Brilhault chose "Oclariflute" in 1922. But we know than after 1930, the nose flute finally got the name "Ocariflute" (Did Brilhault buy the trademark? Or was the name not renewed by he Ullmann company?). So, in the 20's, why would you have built a stamping machine with a trademark that you don't want to keep (Oclariflute) or are not yet allowed to use (Ocariflute). Better to glue a sticker, no?

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The Scenkonstmuseetpossess also in its collection another metal nose flute, which appears to be a German no-name Nasenflöte, and look very similar to the German one I bought... in Danmark.



Mine:
Publié par à l'adresse
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6 comments:

  1. Maikel MeiAugust 19, 2014 at 6:14 PM

    Yes, totally agree on your theory.

    Most of all the posts on this blog, I enjoy those where authentic nose flutes are recovered, particularly those made from metal.

    I find it rather special that some of these nose flutes are kept in museal collections; what better place for the instrument to be in than a museum of performing arts! Quite rightly so.

    I wonder how and where they got them.. These nose flutes must have been played in some proper performances, right? If I remember well, a major museum in Ney York also had a few in its collection.

    How I would love to behold your complete metal collection! Any chance of posting an overview?

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  2. Maikel MeiAugust 20, 2014 at 4:02 PM

    Any idea what type of metal or coating the Oclariflute "Luxe" would have been?

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  3. UkeHeidiAugust 24, 2014 at 9:17 AM

    Yep : the DeLuxe version was probably coated with chrome.

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  4. nosymusicAugust 27, 2014 at 12:00 AM

    Pff, I want a golden one!!!! Or at least silver!

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  5. nosymusicAugust 27, 2014 at 12:02 AM

    J'ai voulais dire: Pfff, DeLuxe!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UkeHeidiAugust 27, 2014 at 7:41 AM

      and I simply want one (whatever the model :)

      Delete

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