POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Flute in F made by Jordan Wainwright

Object No. 2005/111/1

Jordan Wainwright is the earliest known flute maker to be working in Australia. Originally working in London, possibly in partnership with his brother, he is recorded in London trade directories as a flute maker from about 1820 until about 1850. He is known to have travelled to Sydney with his wife in 1853 and by 1857 had established himself in George Street, Sydney where he worked in several premises until 1883. He died in Newtown in 1884 at the age of 86. Apart from being recorded as a musical instrument maker at various times he is also recorded in Sydney trade directories as a wood turner, suggesting he certainly had the skills to produce quality work rather than merely importing instruments and stamping them with his mark. Wainwright exhibited in several colonial and international exhibitions such as the 1866 Intercolonial Exhibition of Australasia in Melbourne, a preliminary Sydney exhibition to the London International exhibition held in 1861, the London International Exhibition in 1862 itself and the Paris International Exhibition in 1867. Several of his instruments both during his London period and in Australia are stamped "Patent" however, there appears to be no record of such a patent existing in either English or Australian records. It is also unclear what the exact patent would be as his flutes are usually quite typical simple system instruments of the first half of the nineteenth century. The reasons surrounding Wainwright's decision to leave London are also unclear. Whether it was the pull of a new land with new resources and the prospect of prosperity from the gold discoveries or the push of an increasingly competitive market in London is uncertain. Clearly when in London Wainwright would have seen several new developments in flute design and equally would have missed seeing many others after he left. This possibly explains why he went to Australia but continued manufacturing flutes in an older style, still using a simple fingering system. This dislocation from the English musical instrument making scene possibly suggests that Wainwright could not compete with other makers and the amount of innovation occuring in London. However, although Wainwright adhered to this older style of general design he adopted the use of new materials in Australia. This included the use of a native timber, Myall (Acacia Pendula) and silver from Moruya on the New South Wales south coast. It is unclear at this stage how many of his Australian flutes were made using Australian materials but an instrument comprising them was used as his showpiece instrument for the exhibitions mentioned above. Michael Lea Curator, music & musical instruments March 2005

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Summary

Object Statement

Flute in F, four keys, timber / metal, made by Jordan Wainwright, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1853-1884

Physical Description

Flute in F, four keys, timber / metal, made by Jordan Wainwright, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1853-1884 Timber flute in either cocus or an Australian timber such as Acacia pendula (Myall). Constructed in four sections - head joint with stopper, tuning barrel, upper joint and lower joint. The foot is attached to the lower joint as a single piece. The head joint is metal lined. Four keys are made of silver and in the salt spoon style. Metal ferrules at each end of head joint, barrel and lower joint. Small metal knob on cap of headjoint. Cylindrical metal sleeve protrudes from lower end of headjoint and upper end of tuning barrel.

DIMENSIONS

Diameter

27 mm

PRODUCTION

Notes

The flute was made by Jordan Wainwright in Sydney, New South Wales, between 1853 and 1884. The quantity of flutes by Wainwright in Australia is unknown. However, four instruments have been sighted with his Sydney mark although it is assumed more examples exist seeing he is listed as an instrument maker in Sydney for almost thirty years. Each of these existing instruments are different in type from the others and apart from this four key instrument in F include an eight key, a single key in B flat and a single key in F. There is also a reference to a sighting of a clarinet with Wainwright's Sydney mark. This variety of flutes is consistent with surviving examples of his London work although materials differ. These include an eight key boxwood flute, an eight key cocus flute, an eight key ivory flute, a six key boxwood flute, a single key boxwood flute in A and a piccolo.

HISTORY

Notes

This instrument had been in the collection of Paul Davis in the United Kingdom and was bought by the current owner from him. It is unknown how it travelled to the United Kingdom from Australia. The tuning barrel had been repaired by pinning probably when in the collection of Paul Davis.

SOURCE

Credit Line

Purchased 2005

Acquisition Date

29 April 2005

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