TALKS are taking place between The Bowes Museum, a clockmaker and funders in an effort to fix the Silver Swan.
The museum is going ahead with celebrations to mark the 250th anniversary of the automaton without the swan being able to put on a show. In July, the museum’s doors open to a big exhibition, called the Magic of the Silver Swan, involving artworks, artefacts and moving objects. But the swan hasn’t worked since lockdown when staff said it was now too fragile.
The issue was raised at last week’s meeting of Barnard Castle Town Council. Cllr Chris Foote-Wood asked Vicky Sturrs, director of programmes and collections at the museum, for an update.
He said: “The Silver Swan has been out of action for a long time. There is a tremendous desire to see it back in action. I assume you are geared up for the huge amount of added interest it will bring. Will it be working?”
Ms Sturrs said: “We have got to care for the Silver Swan and look after it and make sure we are treating it with the custodianship and prudence it deserves. We are exploring with a clockmaker and an external funder for a ‘live’ conservation project to get it moving again.”
She added: “All being well it will be working by the back end of the year but there are no guarantees. It’s a target.”
Dating from 1773, the metal structure rests on a “stream” made of twisted glass rods interspersed with silver fish.
The swan was operated once a day at 2pm but the show did not take place in lockdown because the museum was closed. The swan has its own gallery where it can be viewed as a static object.
