Bling

[BrianPowley]

Haven't learned to play one, but I sure like making them sparkle:

[Shelby]

I am curious, wouldn't it be better to put the engravings on the front of the lip plate so the audience could see it? Where these engravings are, they'd be covered by your lip while playing!

[pied_piper]

There are two purposes for engraving a flute lip plate. The first is to ornament the flute. The second is rather practical - it helps to keep the lip plate from sliding around, sort of like the tread on tires help to keep the car from sliding on the road.

You can have any part of a flute engraved, but if you are sitting in the audience, 30 or 40 feet away, unless you have extraordinary vision, you won't be able to see the engraving, even if it's on the front of the flute.

[BrianPowley]

I'm also told that engraving in front of the sound hole can disrupt the airflow and effect the tone.
I'm not a flute player so I don't know if that is correct. (Makes sense though)

[Shelby]

Traction and airflow, both excellent points that I hadn't considered. Thanks for answering my question. Those engravings are lovely, by the way!

[BrianPowley]

Thanks for the kudos!