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Silver Automaton Swan

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Author	Topic: Silver Automaton Swan
June Martin Forum Master Posts: 1343 Registered: Apr 93	posted 12-26-2012 11:45 AM [08-0823] I just read about an amazing silver automaton swan made in 1773 by a London showman named James Cox and watchmaker John Joseph Merlin. The mechanical swan was bought by John Bowes after seeing it at the 1867 Paris International Exhibition and placed on display at the Mechanical Museum that Bowes built in County Durham England. Every afternoon at 2, the swan puts on its show. It sits atop a lagoon lined with 122 silver plated leaves. It looks left, then swings its head to the right to preen itself. Then it spots a fish in what appears as running water and swoops it up, chews and swallows it. Three sets of machinery make the swam come alive. One is for the music, one creates the illusion of running water and darting fish and the most complex set of machinery is in the swan's neck enabling it to preen and catch the fish. Has anyone reading this actually seen the swan? I would love to. IP: Logged
jersey Posts: 1203 Registered: Feb 2005	posted 12-26-2012 11:58 AM Hello June! Its great! Check out the video (click here - mp4 media file). Jersey IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1971 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 12-26-2012 01:28 PM That is fantastic! IP: Logged
swarter Moderator Posts: 2920 Registered: May 2003	posted 12-26-2012 04:29 PM That video is amazing - thanks to both of you for posting this. IP: Logged
doc Posts: 730 Registered: Jul 2003	posted 12-26-2012 08:08 PM All I can say is WOW! Thanks for sharing. IP: Logged
Richard Kurtzman Moderator Posts: 768 Registered: Aug 2000	posted 12-27-2012 11:57 AM This video version is not as good resolution wise, but is emotionally satisfying. watch the video IP: Logged
agphile Posts: 798 Registered: Apr 2008	posted 12-27-2012 01:11 PM Try and see th full BBC INside Out film of the Silver Swan. The Bowes Museum is well worth a visit if you are ever in that part of England. IP: Logged
chase33 Posts: 362 Registered: Feb 2008	posted 12-28-2012 11:33 PM I want one of these! I bet World Market has a few - LOL! Seriously, it is a wonderful piece and I can;t imagine taking the whole thing apart and putting it back together. Just one question: where does the fish go after the swan has eaten it? IP: Logged
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11573 Registered: Apr 93	posted 12-29-2012 01:08 AM The fish is always in the bird's beak. Its hidden until it rotates into view. IP: Logged
Hose_dk Posts: 400 Registered: May 2008	posted 12-29-2012 03:23 AM Amazing - this link goes to a Danish newspaper. And it starts with a commercial - don't know how to link without - sorry. Text also in Danish. However its the The Ethiopian Caterpillar made in Switzerland in 1820, pure gold and juvels. First exhibited in London in the 1820ties. try this As this one has nothing to do with the swan we can leave this reply for a few days. After new year I can delete this reply again (if that is possible) IP: Logged
agleopar Posts: 850 Registered: Jun 2004	posted 12-29-2012 08:50 AM Both of these are fantastic! I have seen automata that are quite amazing but never in precious metals! The swan is just mind blowing in that it is so old, seems to be in perfect working order and has a charm that defies its mechanical guts. How many hours and the skill of years to creat? I showed them to a friend and they asked how much to buy one... I know we do not talk about the price of objects but my response was truly priceless. As they will never be made again. There was a gem carver who put together a team of goldsmiths/watchmakers in the 80's-90's and made 18k automata for the likes of Forbes but honestly they are well made but simple. IP: Logged
Hose_dk Posts: 400 Registered: May 2008	posted 12-29-2012 09:24 AM The catapilar was made by a wachmaker. Well known maker but only 6 of his entire production remains. The catapilar was sold in 2010 for 3.9 million DKK ie 400.000 pound. IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1971 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 12-29-2012 12:18 PM To make something like that, you need to be a skillful silversmith/metalsmith (some of those still exist), a skillful engineer (plenty of those around), and a skillful watchmaker (not as many of those). That combo of skills, updated, still goes into product design. Except the point nowadays is to make it mass-producible. IP: Logged
June Martin Forum Master Posts: 1343 Registered: Apr 93	posted 12-29-2012 12:27 PM Thanks to everyone for sharing the videos. The caterpillar is great. IP: Logged
Richard Kurtzman Moderator Posts: 768 Registered: Aug 2000	posted 12-29-2012 03:04 PM Apparently this once had a silver and rock crystal waterfall backdrop that has since been lost. It also plays six different tunes. Here is a video showing some close-up detail. watch here And here's a longer video with an intro narration. watch here IP: Logged
agleopar Posts: 850 Registered: Jun 2004	posted 12-29-2012 09:30 PM Andreus von Zadora Gerlof has made many very beautiful and complex autonamata. The Four Seasons clock is one of his best. IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1971 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 01-11-2013 10:35 PM This isn't silver, but the Roentgen show at the Met--magnificent 18th C furniture full of secret drawers that transforms itself at the touch of a button or the turn of a key--has an automaton of Marie Antoinette playing the clavichord. (? Not sure that's the right word. A piano-like instrument that the automaton played with a pair of mallets, one in each hand.) 1st Video 2nd Video more info The show closes 1/27 and I HIGHLY recommend it. I just went this evening. IP: Logged
ahwt Posts: 2377 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 01-14-2013 11:51 PM Thanks for the links. Does anyone know the tune played? I think my favorite after the automaton of Marie Antoinette is the traveling game table. So simple, but yet so complex. IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1971 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 01-15-2013 09:34 AM Marie Antoinette is playing a tune by Christoph Willibald Gluck. I don't know its name. There are a couple of clocks in the same show that also play (or played) Gluck tunes. IP: Logged

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