Silver Swan (automaton) facts for kids
The Silver Swan is an amazing old machine that looks like a swan. It was made in the 1700s. You can find it at the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle, England. The museum's founder, John Bowes, bought it in Paris in 1872.
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What is the Silver Swan?
The Silver Swan is a special type of machine called an automaton. An automaton is like an old-fashioned robot that moves by itself. This swan is life-sized, meaning it's as big as a real swan.
It works using a clockwork system, which means it has gears and springs inside, just like an old clock. It also has a music box that plays a tune.
How the Swan Looks
The swan sits in a "stream" that looks like water. This stream is made from shiny glass rods. Around the stream, there are silver leaves that make it look like a real pond. You can also see tiny silver fish "swimming" in the glass stream.
How the Swan Moves
When the clockwork is wound up, the music box starts to play. The glass rods in the stream begin to turn. This makes the "water" look like it's really flowing.
The swan itself moves its head from side to side. It also looks like it's cleaning its feathers, which is called preening. After a short while, the swan spots the little fish. It then bends down as if to catch and eat one. Then, the swan's head moves back up. The whole show lasts about 32 seconds.
To keep this old machine safe, the swan only performs once each day. You can see it move at 2 PM.
Who Made the Silver Swan?
The Silver Swan was designed and built in 1773. Two clever inventors worked together on it. They were John Joseph Merlin (1735–1803) from the Low Countries and James Cox (1723–1800) from London.
The Swan's History
The swan has a long and interesting history. In 1773, a special document described it as being very tall, about 18 feet (5.49 meters) high. Today, the swan is not that tall. Some people think there used to be a waterfall behind the swan. This waterfall might have been stolen when the swan was traveling. This could explain why it's not as tall as it once was.
The Silver Swan was sold many times over the years. It was even shown at a big world's fair in Paris in 1867. This event was called the Exposition Universelle.
Mark Twain's Visit
The famous American writer Mark Twain saw the swan at this fair. He wrote about it in his book Innocents Abroad. Mark Twain said that the swan moved with a "living grace" and had "living intelligence in his eyes." This shows how amazing and lifelike the swan seemed to people.
The Swan Today
The Bowes Museum thinks the Silver Swan is their most famous item. It is so important that it is even used as the museum's logo.
