E. Riley Cocus & Ivory 4-Key, D

This 4‑key flute by E. Riley features a newly made headjoint and barrel crafted from beautifully matched cocuswood by Jon Cornia—an increasingly rare tonewood that's now exceptionally difficult to source. The body is also constructed from cocus, complemented by elegant ivory fittings. The flute includes four keys, allowing for full chromatic playability.

It plays at A=440 with the tuning slide extended about a quarter inch and offers a strong, clear voice across all registers. The toneholes are smaller in size, making this flute well-suited for players with smaller hands, while still providing excellent tone and projection. Due to the presence of ivory, this instrument is available for domestic sale only.

Edward Riley Sr. (1769–1829), the maker of this flute, was a prominent English-born craftsman who emigrated to New York around 1806. He became a respected flute maker, music publisher, and teacher. His workshop, located at 29 Chatham St, continued under his sons after his death and later became J.F. Gould & Co. Riley’s instruments are noted for their musical responsiveness and solid construction. Notably, two of his daughters married leading instrument makers—John Firth and William Hall—cementing his connection to what would become the influential firms of Firth & Hall and later Firth, Pond & Co.