Between Art, Technology, and Science – Research on the Manufacturing Techniques and Sound Aesthetics 
of Claude Laurent’s Glass Flute

When technical thinking meets artistic imagination, instruments of extraordinary expressive power emerge. A remarkable example is the glass flute by Claude Laurent in the collection of the Deutsches Museum. Originally a watchmaker and mechanic, Laurent patented a transverse flute made of crystal glass in 1806, opening new paths in instrument making. His glass flutes reflect an era in which craftsmanship, technical knowledge, and musical ideals were inseparably intertwined. The research project of early music specialist Eva Ivanova-Dyatlova focuses on the Munich instrument, using modern, non-invasive methods. The study examines the material and manufacturing techniques, the internal structure of the flute, as well as details that shape its sound and playability. Acoustic measurements provide insights into its resonance behavior and reveal how technical decisions influence musical expression. This research opens a window onto the early nineteenth century, when instrument making united art and science. It documents rare glass instruments and demonstrates how technical innovations expanded sonic possibilities. In this way, the glass flute becomes a living testament to a creative interplay that continues to inspire musicians and researchers alike.