Could it be true?
Any other reason what looks to be a fairly straightforward French post mounted 4-key (with admittedly rather nice ivory settings) with a crack thru the embochure, trashed slide, and missing barrel should go for $1,300? Is Clair Godfroy Aine such a big name in flutes?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/160663654146?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
I sure hope so! My Wm Hall with a John Gallagher headjoint still hasn’t sold (and it is a superb flute - just not as good as my Gallagher Pratten)!
Pat
wow it’s lovely but I would never have bid that much.
There are antiques out there at reasonable prices that would be much more fun than that flute.
Is Clair Godfroy Aine such a big name in flutes?
Yes.
I bid on that one, but nowhere near that high! 
I guess people like fancy stuff, and that crown looks fancy…
Famous name. A number of examples in museum collections and the Dayton C. Miller collection. Tony Bingham has one for quite a bit more than that, but in better condition.
http://www.oldmusicalinstruments.co.uk/instruments/instrument_detail.php?id=335&cat=TF
Some other key system flutes go for way more than that.
I agree that I’ve seen other keyed flutes go for more than this, just not a incomplete flute in this poor condition (and not English, block mounted, soemhow associated with R&R). I’ve also see some quite nice looking post mounted french flutes in usable condition struggle to get to 1/4 the price this one sold for on e-bay. The crown certainly is nice, but the whole ivory thing can be more of a hassle (shipping and repairs wise) than it is worth IMHO. Don’t know that presence in the Dayton Miller Collection is any real indicator of quality or collectibility. That collection has so many manufacturers that it is hardly exclusive.
Still I guess you never know what a collector will go for. 
And as I have a very small selection of antique flutes, I can’t help but be pleased if their value is going back up.
In that vein, is anyone interested in a nice, playable, fully restored cocus Metzler 6-key with German Silver fittings? Tone holes are medium - large and that, with the fully lined head, gives a very sessionable flute. I’ve even put a silver cap on the headjoint cork (which has a functional wood screw adjustment). I’d keep it, but need to get funds for the new project: 8-key Wood and Ivy still into the first stages of repair.
I doubt it. Though in any auction fever can set in and buyer’s remorse delayed some. Maybe that happened here. Or maybe the price was consistent with what was being sold.
This one seems like a steal for what it is. Look at what I or any other maker charges for a 4 key flute and $1300 is cheap. This at one time was a great instrument and can still be after restoration someday. Godfroy flutes were well made. I find the keywork particularly elegant on this specimen. For someone playing mid 19th century music this would be a great instrument to have.
The only instruments commanding higher prices these days are the ones hedge finds are buying as stores of value, such as a Strad fiddle. Otherwise this could still be the early stages of a big deleveraging of flutes and other instruments. There will continue to be some steals out there for some - who then may be forced to liquidate these assets down the road as economic circumstances deteriorate, for an even lower price. As fun as it would be to have a collection of old flutes to stare at, this remains out of my budget.
Casey
Is it common not to have a B-flat key ? Or are we not seeing that side of the top section ?
Hmmm … no, I think you’re right, David. Seems to have Eb, F, G# and Cnat. No Bb key. Unless I too am going blind, crazy or something ..
I wonder what there is (or isn’t …) on the side of that section that is not in the photograph.
As fun as it would be to have a collection of old flutes to stare at, this remains out of my budget.
Oh, I don’t know about that Casey. I, for one, would be willing to trade my 6-key antique Metzler for one of your all wood low flutes… 
I wonder what there is (or isn’t …) on the side of that section that is not in the photograph
Perhaps it was a really long key mounted on the missing barrel? 
The normal Bb is there - it can just be seen at top R in this picture, and I think its pillars can just be discerned in one or two other shots.
So it’s not a four-keyed flute, but a five-keyed one then?
Ahhh, perhaps the buyer is a Charanga fan then 
The flute is a big name in the Antique French flute circles! So not surprised at the price. If it was a R&R with a missing barrel, I am sure it would still fetch a good price.
Well an unrestored 6 key Hall flute just went for $510.00 so maybe the prices are starting to go back up… 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/380377636024?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_500wt_689
Great, time to put my HY Potter on ebay then 
Well an unrestored 6 key Hall flute just went for $510.00
Saw that one. It is virtually identical to the one I have, and love. Of course mine had more cracks when I got it, but now in restored condition is certainly worth twice what that one went for. Someone got a great flute there, at a very fair price. Small toneholes, big sound, very similar to the Firth, Hall & Pond that Terry modeled his GLP after. If I didn’t already have a project flute in the works (8-key Wood & Ivy) I would certainly have bid on that one.
Guess there was some kind of buyer’s remorse because the Godfroy flute is back (same one from same seller as far as I can tell): EBAY AD
For those who thought $1,300 was a fair price it is now much cheaper (maybe original buyer figured that it was in rather poor condition and missing the barrel?).