This flute is carved from a wooden police truncheon and recently sold at Tennants for £220.
Catalogued as a “well-made easily playable novelty instrument” the flute is apparently tuned to the key of Bb.
It measures 40cm long with six finger holes and an adjustable head cork. It was consigned by a private buyer and bought by a member of the trade for a hammer price of £220, outstripping the £80-100 estimate.
Other examples of these novelty flutes exist and are normally carved out of late Victorian police truncheons.
The piece was part of Tennants’ sale of scientific and musical instruments last week. The top seller there was a flat back double bass which took £14,000 over an estimate of £2000.
