Flute Catalog - L

Detailed information for a subset of flutes in the Flutopedia Flute Catalog whose source begins with the letter L. The source is the crafting culture (if known), or else the flute maker's last name (if known), or else the name of the collection in which the flute resides.

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Flute Cultures, Makers, or Collections starting with L

Culture: Lakota (Lakȟóta)

John Colhoff Lakota (Lakȟóta) ~1890 Native American Flute

Primary Material: Cedar¹; Crafting culture: Lakota (Lakȟóta)¹ «Wikipedia»; Instrument maker: John Colhoff¹ — Sioux (Dakhóta / Lakȟóta) (1878–1954); Date crafted: 1880 – 1900²; Overall length: 80.645(±0.635) cm (⇇ 31.75 in)¹

Provenance: From the Collection of Marvin L. Lince, Oregon.¹; Auction history: September 19, 2013 by Cowan's Auctions: Sale price $8,400 (including buyer's premium)¹; Remarks: Lakota Sioux Polychrome Courting Flute From the Collection of Marvin L. Lince, Oregon, carved with the head of a crane and detailed with openwork and spiral carved bands; stylized bird saddle covers tone hole and is affixed using cotton cord embellished with brass beads; a hoop woven with hide mesh hangs from the open mouth of the crane by a twisted hide thong; flute body painted in blue, red, green, and purple, length 31.75 in. Accompanying flute is a handwritten note: "Flute / John R. Colhoff Pine Ridge, S.D./ This is a real Sioux Love Flute made by John Colhoff and used by him, he was very gifted player. The flute is made of cedar to give it a good tone./ Very fine and old / 1918." Census records show that John R. Colhoff was born between 1877-1880 and noted as living on Pine Ridge Reservation in 1890. Courting flutes with avian characteristics stem from the Siouan legend of a woodpecker teaching a hunter how to make a flute from the branch of a cedar tree. Once the hunter made the flute, he used it to captivate his lover. Flutes carved with long necks and open-beaked birds can be found within the collections of the American Museum of Natural History (Cat. No. 50.1/ 518); National Museum of the American Indian (Cat. No. 10/9295); and the National Music Museum, University of South Dakota (Cat. No. NMM 4050).¹

¹ Auction by Cowan's Auctions on September 20, 2013
² Auction by Cowan's Auctions on September 20, 2013 (original text: ‘late 19th century’)

PBH 985-27-10/59313: Lakota (Lakȟóta) 0 Native American Flute

Primary Material: Wood¹; Crafting culture: Lakota (Lakȟóta)¹ «Wikipedia»; Date crafted: 19th century¹; Overall length: 48.5(±0.5) cm²

Provenance: Donor: Estate of William H. Claflin, Jr. (1985), Collector: Mr. William R. Morris (1878-1893 - 1930), Collector: William H. Claflin, Jr. (1930 - 1985)¹; Disposition: In the Peabody Museum of Harvard, cataloged as #985-27-10/59313.³; Remarks: Inventory Description: Flute, carved wood, end carved in shape of birds mouth. Object Description: Teton Sioux carved flute. Split piece of wood hollowed out and put back together. End of flute carved into shape of bird's head, portions of which are painted red.¹

¹ Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University catalog record as of April 14, 2017
² Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University catalog record as of April 14, 2017 (original text: ‘Overall: 48.5 x 3 x 4 cm (19 1/8 x 1 3/16 x 1 9/16 in.)’)
³ entered by Clint Goss on April 14, 2017

PBH 985-27-10/59314: Lakota (Lakȟóta) 0 Native American Flute

Primary Material: Cedar¹; Crafting culture: Lakota (Lakȟóta)¹ «Wikipedia»; Date crafted: 19th century¹; Overall length: 63.2(±0.1) cm²

Provenance: Donor: Estate of William H. Claflin, Jr. (1985), Collector: Mr. William R. Morris (1878-1893 - 1930), Collector: William H. Claflin, Jr. (1930 - 1985)¹; Disposition: In the Peabody Museum of Harvard, cataloged as #985-27-10/59314.³; Remarks: Inventory Description: Wooden flute, carved bird head at one end, brass and lead fixtures. Object Description: Carved flute. Split piece of wood hollowed out and put back together, wrapped w/ sinew and leather. End of flute carved in shape of bird's head. Squares carved out in relief along flute, holes are in the center of them. Brass mouthpiece. Carved wood stop over metal piece. 63.2x5.4 cm.¹

¹ Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University catalog record as of April 14, 2017
² Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University catalog record as of April 14, 2017 (original text: ‘Overall: 63.2 x 5.4 x 4 cm (24 7/8 x 2 1/8 x 1 9/16 in.)’)
³ entered by Clint Goss on April 14, 2017

Von Roenne Lakota (Lakȟóta) ~1839 Native American Flute

Crafting culture: Lakota (Lakȟóta)¹ «Wikipedia»; Date crafted: 1839 or before²

Disposition: In the collection of the Ethnological Museum in Berlin.³

For more information: Flutopedia: The Development of Flutes in North America / The Von Roenne Flute

¹ entered by Clint Goss
² entered by Clint Goss on 3/10/2017, based on the date collected.
³ entered by Clint Goss on March 2010

Culture: Laotian (ປະເທດລາວ)

Laotian (ປະເທດລາວ) Kaen

Crafting culture: Laotian (ປະເທດລາວ)¹; Date crafted: March 15, 2009 or before²; Date acquired: March 15, 2009¹

Provenance: Purchased by Clint Goss in person on March 15, 2009 as part of a lesson on how to play the instrument.¹; Disposition: In the collection of Clint Goss.³

¹ entered by Clint Goss
² entered by Clint Goss, based on the date acquired.
³ entered by Clint Goss on April 1, 2022

Culture: Little Osage

DCM 940: Little Osage ~1930 Native American Whistle

Primary Material: Branch¹; Branch²; Crafting culture: Little Osage² «Wikipedia»; Date crafted: Before May 7, 1930³; Date acquired: May 7, 1930²; Overall length: 63.90(±0.05) cm²; Materials: Branch, 3 strips of braided grass tied to tube by four strips of thong.²; Condition: Red painted decoration now nearly invisible.²

Provenance: From Albert G. Heath, Chicago, 7 May 1930.²; Disposition: In the Dayton C. Miller collection of the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., cataloged as DCM 940:.⁴; Remarks: Dayton C. Miller ledger entry: "Utsehta or Little Osage."²

For more information: Library of Congress / Dayton C. Miller Collection

¹ entered by Clint Goss
² Dayton C. Miller Flute Collection catalog record as of February 23, 2017
³ entered by Clint Goss, based on the date acquired.
⁴ entered by Clint Goss on February 23, 2017

Maker: Ken Light

Ken Light 1987 Mid-range A Chinese Pentatonic Native American Flute

Fundamental pitch (design): A4¹; Fingering sequence: 12–123¹; Instrument maker: Ken Light¹ «Web Site»; Date crafted: 1987²; Date acquired: March 1, 2015¹; Primary scale: Chinese Pentatonic³ (steps: 3–2–3–2–2); Markings: Flute is marked "1987".⁴

Provenance: Purchased by Clint Goss at a private auction from Tim Crawford (lot #20) on March 1, 2015.¹; Disposition: In the collection of Clint Goss.⁵; Remarks: Auction description: 5 Hole A flute, style 1, OD ~1.25 in, OAL ~24in, Cedar, by Ken Light, with original bag including some documentation. While living in Alaska in 1994 I discovered an ad for what was described as a Lakota Cedar flute (copy of ad included). I called and met with the gal who owned the instrument and she seemed to be “suffering” a bit of seller’s remorse and was not sure she wanted to sell it after all. I visited with her for some time and she let me even play the instrument, which spoke well to me. She also showed me a flyer for “The Renaissance Of the Native American Flute” being held that year (for the 3rd time, I think) with facilitators Ken Light and R. Carlos Nakai. The only requirement, at the time, was that you had to own a Ken Light instrument. When I saw RC’s name I knew I had to attend. When I asked her if she would sell it she said she would have to give it further thought. I then decided that I would have to see where I could purchase a Ken Light flute so I could attend the workshop. I had the door open and was leaving when she called out and said wait and something to the effect that the flute seemed to like me and responded well to me and that she would sell it if I still wanted to purchase. This then was the year (1994) that I attended the workshop for the first visit of three total. Aside from being able to hang around and learn from RC the most important event was the learning of RC’s TABlature which solved a great problem I had been wrestling with as to how to write out my music for different flutes. While at the workshop, Ken showed me where the serial # and other data was located (#138; 1987) and remarked that it was a very early flute of his and that he had started marking them with #100 for his first flute (if I am recalling this correctly). Several years later, along the path, I sent Ken the instrument to fix a problem with the nest (which, if I recall correctly was wooden) and he asked if I wanted to upgrade it to a “silver edition.” So it now has a silver nest. I would assume then that this is the oldest made flute by Ken that has a silver nest. It is a unique appearing flute and this one and Lot# 19 were my favorite five hole instruments. A note regarding the ding In the last photo; the mark to the right of the dime is a reflection; the ding/scratch is to the left of the dime (if a purchaser is interested in pursuing this it might be worthwhile to at least ask Ken if he could “re-finish” the scratch).⁴

¹ entered by Clint Goss
² entered by Clint Goss, based on markings on the flute.
³ entered by Clint Goss on 3/31/2017, based on the approximate scale produced when keeping the 3rd hole from the top closed.
⁴ Auction by Tim Crawford on March 1, 2015
⁵ entered by Clint Goss on April 1, 2022

Ken Light Broken Flute Cave Replica Ken Light Rim-blown Flute

Fingering sequence: 123–123¹; Instrument maker: Ken Light¹ «Web Site»; Date crafted: 2002 or before²

Provenance: Saw at RNAFF 2002 and Ken Light let me borrow the flute to measure it. Measurements have been posted on Flutopedia.com's Broken Flute Cave page since about 2010.¹; Disposition: In the collection of Ken Light.³

¹ entered by Clint Goss
² entered by Clint Goss on 3/10/2017, based on flute measurements taken in 2002.
³ entered by Clint Goss on June 20, 2002

Ken Light Mid-range F# Minor "Waterspirit" Native American Flute

Fundamental pitch (design): F#4¹; Fingering sequence: 123–123¹; Instrument maker: Ken Light¹ «Web Site»; Date crafted: March 13, 1998²; Date acquired: May 15, 2002¹; Primary scale: Minor Pentatonic¹ (steps: 3–2–2–3–2) «Wikipedia»; Overall length: 58.45±0.05 cm³

Provenance: Purchased by Clint Goss from the flute maker, Ken Light, by mail on May 15, 2002.¹; Disposition: In the collection of Clint Goss.⁴

Cited in: [Light 2000] 

¹ entered by Clint Goss
² entered by Clint Goss, based on the filing date for the patent on this design.
³ Measured by Clint Goss on 2/15/2017: Valley brand stainless steel one-meter ruler using the metric scale.
⁴ entered by Clint Goss on April 1, 2022

Ken Light Mid-range G Minor "Sonoran" Native American Flute

Fundamental pitch (design): G4¹; Fingering sequence: 123–123¹; Instrument maker: Ken Light¹ «Web Site»; Date crafted: March 13, 1998²; Date acquired: May 15, 2002¹; Primary scale: Minor Pentatonic¹ (steps: 3–2–2–3–2) «Wikipedia»; Overall length: 55.60±0.05 cm³

Provenance: Purchased by Clint Goss from the flute maker, Ken Light, by mail on May 15, 2002.¹; Disposition: In the collection of Clint Goss.⁴

Cited in: [Light 2000] 

¹ entered by Clint Goss
² entered by Clint Goss, based on the filing date for the patent on this design.
³ Measured by Clint Goss on 2/15/2017: Valley brand stainless steel one-meter ruler using the metric scale.
⁴ entered by Clint Goss on April 1, 2022

Maker: Ladislav Libica

Ladislav Libica Low G Overtone side-held Konsovka

Fundamental pitch (design): G3¹; Fingering sequence: ∅¹; Instrument maker: Ladislav Libica¹; Date crafted: April 27, 2005 or before²; Date acquired: April 27, 2005¹; Primary scale: Overtone¹ (steps: 1–1–1–1–1–1–1)

Provenance: Purchased by Clint Goss by mail from Tomas Kovac of Slovakia on April 27, 2005.¹; Disposition: In the collection of Clint Goss.³

¹ entered by Clint Goss
² entered by Clint Goss, based on the date acquired.
³ entered by Clint Goss on April 1, 2022

Maker: Marty Lisonbee

Marty Lisonbee Mid-range G Minor Dual-Chamber Native American Flute

Fundamental pitch (design): G4¹; Instrument maker: Marty Lisonbee¹; Date crafted: May 1, 2010 or before²; Date acquired: May 1, 2010¹; Primary scale: Minor Pentatonic¹ (steps: 3–2–2–3–2) «Wikipedia»; Overall length: 55.90±0.05 cm³

Provenance: Gift of the flute maker, Marty Lisonbee, to Clint Goss in person at the Zion Native Flute Festival on May 1, 2010.¹; Disposition: In the collection of Clint Goss.⁴

¹ entered by Clint Goss
² entered by Clint Goss, based on the date acquired.
³ Measured by Clint Goss on 2/16/2017: Valley brand stainless steel one-meter ruler using the metric scale.
⁴ entered by Clint Goss on April 1, 2022

Maker: Scott Loomis

Payne #44: Scott Loomis ~1999 Native American Flute

Crafting culture: (Unspecified)¹; Instrument maker: Scott Loomis^2,3 «Web Site»; Date crafted: About 1999^2,3

Identification: Munn auction lot #115B²; Auction history: October 21, 2005 by R. G. Munn Auctions: Sale price $300 ($380.18 including buyer's premium and tax), Estimate $275 - $400, Starting bid $138⁴; Remarks: First flute has a killer whale baffle block & painted design, made by Laughing Mallard. The shorter flute was made by Loomis. Both flutes have storage cases. Length of flutes: 24” & 29”.³

¹ [Gatliff 2005] (original text: ‘(blank)’)
² Auction by R. G. Munn Auctions on October 21, 2005
³ [Gatliff 2005]
⁴ R. G. Munn Auctions catalog record as of October 21, 2005