Silver Swan, Mechanical automaton at Bowes Museum, England
The Silver Swan is a mechanical device from the 1700s housed at Bowes Museum, crafted from silver exterior with brass components inside. It rests on a base designed to represent a small pond, with tiny silver fish visible beneath glass rods.
The device was engineered in 1773 by London jeweler James Cox and inventor Joseph Merlin. It first appeared in exhibitions across Europe during the late 1700s, drawing the attention of visitors who marveled at its working mechanisms.
The Silver Swan represents a blend of craftsmanship and entertainment from its era, showing how mechanical skill was used to create objects that combined beauty with function. Visitors see it as an expression of what fascinated people about nature and technology during the 1700s.
The mechanism performs a sequence of movements where the neck bends, fish are caught, and music plays from within its body. Allow yourself time to observe the full performance from different angles to appreciate the coordination of all its parts.
The Swan was displayed at major exhibitions where it caught the attention of notable thinkers and writers, reflecting its importance beyond mere mechanics. Its ability to coordinate multiple movements simultaneously was remarkably advanced for its era.
Inception: 1773
Creator: James Cox
GPS coordinates: 54.54190,-1.91528
Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:25
Bowes Museum
30 m
Market Cross
547 m
Church of St Mary
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War Memorial to South West of Bowes Museum
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Barnard Castle War Memorial to South East of Bowes Museum
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Bowling Club Pavilion Approximately 70 Metres To East Of Bowes Museum
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Hopper Tomb Approximately 2 Metres South Of Church Of St Mary
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The Vicarage And Glebe Cottage
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The Old Well
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14 (Left Part), Market Place
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24, The Bank
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Basin To South Of Bowes Museum
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Walls Around Spring Lodge Garden
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Garden Walls To East Of Numbers 64 And 66, Spring Grove Garden Walls To Spring Grove, Newgate
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Walls To The Vicarage And Glebe Cottage
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Barn And Attached Wall At Spring Lodge
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Former Stable, Outbuildings And Walls To The Vicarage And Glebe Cottage
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Hayloft And Dovecote Approximately 40 Metres East Of Spring Lodge With Sheds, Kennels And Wall
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41, Newgate
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South Boundary Wall To Grounds Of Bowes Museum And Church Of St Mary
202 m
Blagraves
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Entrance gates and lodges to Bowes Museum
118 m
Terrace Walls And Steps, And Heraldic Beasts, To South Of Bowes Museum
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2 And 4, Market Place
563 m
60, Newgate
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31, Galgate
601 m
Stables And Coach House Approximately 10 Metres East Of Spring Lodge With Walls And Outhouse
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34, The Bank
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