THE Bowes Museum will celebrate the 250th anniversary of its iconic Silver Swan this year – but will the automaton be fixed in time or even work again?
The automaton remains out of action but staff at the museum will take the anniversary as an opportunity to start the process of trying to get it to perform again.
Dating from 1773, the metal structure rests on a “stream” made of twisted glass rods interspersed with silver fish.
It was acquired by John Bowes, the museum’s founder, in 1872.
The clockwork device includes a music box and the performance sees the swan catch a 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 was removed from public display when the museum reopened in 2020.
A museum spokesperson said: “The Silver Swan automaton is an old and delicate object with many moving parts that have experienced significant wear over the decades and centuries since its creation.
“As a result of investigations in 2021, we identified the specialist conservation work required to safeguard its mechanism. During 2023, its 250th year, we aim to take steps to enable this work to begin, supporting the swan to perform again.”
The museum’s “year of movement” has been inspired by the swan’s story.
From the objects created at the Northern School of Art from March to June, to the sculptural works by Martin Smith and an exhibition exploring the story of the automaton from July 2023 to January 2024, all have movement in common.
Metal sculptures inspired by nature and the Silver Swan by Smith will be on display in the grounds and in the galleries for a year from February 25.
Degree students the Northern School of Art have been inspired by the Silver Swan to “repurpose and give a new lease of life” to traditional and non-traditional materials.
The Silver Swan will take centre stage for the museum’s main exhibition of the year in the summer.
Movement: Celebrating 250 years of the world’s most famous Silver Swan aims to tell visitors about John Joseph Merlin, the swan’s inventor. People will even be able to make their own clockwork object.
There will be a programme of events and family activities centred around the exhibitions.
