The flute is one of the oldest and most widely used wind instruments. A typical Western design side-blown flute, the player holds this instrument to the side (transverse) and blows air across the mouth hole into the flute. Along with keys that cover finger holes, this creates a different, higher sound than Indigenous block flutes.

Born in Germany, Heinrich Eduard Baack immigrated to New York around 1832 where he began manufacturing and importing instruments as Edward Baack. Baack marked this flute, which disassembles in four pieces, with his signature, E. Baack.