The Silver Swan is a fictional character appearing in DC Comics publications and related media. A major adversary of Wonder Woman, the Swan possesses the superhuman ability to fly, as well as to generate a destructive sonic cry. She first appeared in 1982 in Wonder Woman #288 (volume 1), written by Roy Thomas and illustrated by Gene Colan. Since then, the character has undergone several updates as comic book continuities have evolved and shifted. Indeed, there have been three different Silver Swans since the character's debut, including Helen Alexandros, the original Silver Swan; Valerie Beaudry, the second Silver Swan, debuting in 1988 in Wonder Woman #15 (volume 2); and Vanessa Kapatelis, the third Silver Swan, debuting in 2001 in Wonder Woman #171 (volume 2). The backstories of all three characters are inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale The Ugly Duckling; similar to the tale's titular protagonist, Alexandros, Beaudry and Kapetelis all believe they are undesirable or unwanted, only to find themselves transformed into extraordinarily beautiful (and vengeful) super-powered women.
The Silver Swan is an automaton dating from the 18th Century and is housed in the Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, Teesdale, County Durham, England. It was acquired by John Bowes, the museum's founder from a Parisian jeweler in 1872.
The swan, which is life size, is a clockwork driven device that includes a music box. The swan sits in a "stream" that is made of glass rods and is surrounded by silver leaves. Small silver fish can be seen "swimming" in the stream.
When the clockwork is wound the music box plays and the glass rods rotate giving the illusion of flowing water. The swan turns its head from side to side and also preens itself. After a few moments the swan notices the swimming fish and bends down to catch and eat one. The swan's head then returns to the upright position and the performance, which has lasted about 32 seconds, is over. To help preserve the mechanism the swan is only operated once each day at 2pm.
The mechanism was designed and built by John Joseph Merlin (1735-1803) in conjunction with the London inventor James Cox (1723–1800) in 1773.
The Silver Swan is probably the most famous madrigal by Orlando Gibbons. It is scored for 5 voices (in most sources, soprano(S), alto(A), tenor(T), baritone(Bar) and bass(B), although some specify SSATB instead) and presents the legend that swans sing only just before their death (see swan song).
Text
Gibbons's words for this madrigal were perhaps his own creation, though they were more likely written by his musical patron, Sir Christopher Hatton (b. circa 1579; d. 1619), who chose the texts for many of Gibbons's madrigals. (This piece may have been composed around 1611, at Hatton's home in Ely Place, in the Holborn district of London.) This madrigal's words are:
The song was first published in Gibbons's First Set of Madrigals and Motets of 5 parts (1612). (Gibbons dedicated this collection to Hatton.)
Commenting on the musical form, Philip Ledger notes that "in common with the lute-song, and unlike any true madrigal, it has two musical sections, the second one repeated, and new words are provided for this repeat".
High Definition Video. The silver swan at Bowes Museum has recently been restored. It is operated only once per day, 30 seconds worth of bliss.
published: 07 Mar 2011
The Silver Swan automaton in the Bowes Museum England
Kunjoos & Ponnoos Media
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrNdv-QGJw8oUg4ZGKYIkjg
The Silver Swan is an automaton dating from the 18th Century and is housed in the Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, Teesdale, County Durham, England. It was acquired by John Bowes, the museum's founder from a Parisian jeweler in 1872.
published: 01 Mar 2018
Swan Study Week
Are you joining us for the Silver Swan Study Week? Starting on Tuesday 5 October, visitors will be able to watch a group of specialist conservators and curators dismantle the Silver Swan as the Museum explores the mechanical condition of this iconic object, ahead of creating a conservation plan for its preservation. There will be daily Q&As in the gallery, as well as Zoom panel discussions that you can join in from the comfort of your own home. Find out all the upcoming #SwanStudyWeek events here: http://bit.ly/EventsAtTBM
#SilverSwan #SwanStudyWeek #Conservation #MuseumConservation #MuseumObjects #BehindtheScenes #Automaton #18thcenturyrobot #JohnJosephMerlin #AutumnatTheBowesMuseum #EscapeTheEveryday #TheBowesMuseum #VisitTheBowesMuseum #BarnardCastle #Teesdale #CountyDurham #VisitCo...
published: 28 Sep 2021
The Silver Swan automaton (1773)
At the 'Robots' Exhibition, Science Museum, London.
published: 03 May 2017
The Silver Swan: Introduction
How well do you know the Silver Swan? Our in-house swan doctor Matthew Read has some secrets he'd like to share. Join us each Wednesday at 10.00 to learn more about this beautiful 18th century robot.
Do you have any questions? Comment below.
Your Support Means Everything: bit.ly/SupportTBM
Follow us:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBowesMuseum
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebowesmus...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBowesMuse...
#SilverSwan #TheBowesMuseum #JohnandJosephineBowes #BowesCollection #18centuryrobot #automaton
published: 24 Apr 2020
Bowes Swan Automaton 2021 Study week - Silver Swan at The Bowes Museum
in 2021, the Bowes Swan Automaton was subject to a week-long programme of study in order to establish a wider understanding of arguably the world's best operational eighteenth century object of its kind. This documentary was commissioned by The Bowes Museum and made by Howell Film
Read our peer-reviewed article here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19455224.2023.2202411
www.clockmaker-conservator.co.uk
www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk
www.howellfilm.co.uk
#clock #repair #automaton #heritage #film #museum #dynamic #Swan #SilverSwan
published: 27 Dec 2022
Swan Automaton
published: 28 Sep 2013
The Silver Swan automaton 1773
In the 'Robots' exhibition in the Science Museum. Only plays once a day at 10.25am. Three separate clockwork mechanisms. Used to be in the Cox's Mechanical Museum in London.
published: 02 Mar 2017
The Silver Swan: Glass Rods
The Silver Swan was bought by the Museum’s founders over 240 years ago – find out more about this remarkable working automaton from specialist Matthew Read here.
Do you have any questions? Comment below.
Your Support Means Everything: bit.ly/SupportTBM
Follow us:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBowesMuseum
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebowesmus...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBowesMuse.
#SilverSwan #TheBowesMuseum #JohnandJosephineBowes #BowesCollection #18centuryrobot #automaton
published: 24 Apr 2020
Demonstration of David Roentgen's Automaton of Queen Marie Antoinette, The Dulcimer Player
Watch a demonstration of Queen Marie Antoinette's Automaton playing one of eight melodies it can perform.
Subscribe for new content from the Met: https://www.youtube.com/user/metmuseu...
David Roentgen (1743--1807) took his royal patron by surprise when he delivered this beautiful automaton to King Louis XVI for his queen, Marie Antoinette, in 1784. The cabinetry for this piece is very much a neoclassical masterwork, and the mechanism behind it is truly extraordinary: the figure strikes the strings in perfect rhythm with two small metal hammers held in her hands, which move with great precision.
This object is from Musée des arts et métiers de Paris and is on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in the exhibition Extravagant Inventions: The Princely Furniture of the Roentgens:
View ...
Kunjoos & Ponnoos Media
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrNdv-QGJw8oUg4ZGKYIkjg
The Silver Swan is an automaton dating from the 18th Century and is housed in...
Kunjoos & Ponnoos Media
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrNdv-QGJw8oUg4ZGKYIkjg
The Silver Swan is an automaton dating from the 18th Century and is housed in the Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, Teesdale, County Durham, England. It was acquired by John Bowes, the museum's founder from a Parisian jeweler in 1872.
Kunjoos & Ponnoos Media
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrNdv-QGJw8oUg4ZGKYIkjg
The Silver Swan is an automaton dating from the 18th Century and is housed in the Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, Teesdale, County Durham, England. It was acquired by John Bowes, the museum's founder from a Parisian jeweler in 1872.
Are you joining us for the Silver Swan Study Week? Starting on Tuesday 5 October, visitors will be able to watch a group of specialist conservators and curators...
Are you joining us for the Silver Swan Study Week? Starting on Tuesday 5 October, visitors will be able to watch a group of specialist conservators and curators dismantle the Silver Swan as the Museum explores the mechanical condition of this iconic object, ahead of creating a conservation plan for its preservation. There will be daily Q&As in the gallery, as well as Zoom panel discussions that you can join in from the comfort of your own home. Find out all the upcoming #SwanStudyWeek events here: http://bit.ly/EventsAtTBM
#SilverSwan #SwanStudyWeek #Conservation #MuseumConservation #MuseumObjects #BehindtheScenes #Automaton #18thcenturyrobot #JohnJosephMerlin #AutumnatTheBowesMuseum #EscapeTheEveryday #TheBowesMuseum #VisitTheBowesMuseum #BarnardCastle #Teesdale #CountyDurham #VisitCountyDurham #ThisIsDurham #Durham2025 #October2021
Are you joining us for the Silver Swan Study Week? Starting on Tuesday 5 October, visitors will be able to watch a group of specialist conservators and curators dismantle the Silver Swan as the Museum explores the mechanical condition of this iconic object, ahead of creating a conservation plan for its preservation. There will be daily Q&As in the gallery, as well as Zoom panel discussions that you can join in from the comfort of your own home. Find out all the upcoming #SwanStudyWeek events here: http://bit.ly/EventsAtTBM
#SilverSwan #SwanStudyWeek #Conservation #MuseumConservation #MuseumObjects #BehindtheScenes #Automaton #18thcenturyrobot #JohnJosephMerlin #AutumnatTheBowesMuseum #EscapeTheEveryday #TheBowesMuseum #VisitTheBowesMuseum #BarnardCastle #Teesdale #CountyDurham #VisitCountyDurham #ThisIsDurham #Durham2025 #October2021
How well do you know the Silver Swan? Our in-house swan doctor Matthew Read has some secrets he'd like to share. Join us each Wednesday at 10.00 to learn more a...
How well do you know the Silver Swan? Our in-house swan doctor Matthew Read has some secrets he'd like to share. Join us each Wednesday at 10.00 to learn more about this beautiful 18th century robot.
Do you have any questions? Comment below.
Your Support Means Everything: bit.ly/SupportTBM
Follow us:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBowesMuseum
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebowesmus...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBowesMuse...
#SilverSwan #TheBowesMuseum #JohnandJosephineBowes #BowesCollection #18centuryrobot #automaton
How well do you know the Silver Swan? Our in-house swan doctor Matthew Read has some secrets he'd like to share. Join us each Wednesday at 10.00 to learn more about this beautiful 18th century robot.
Do you have any questions? Comment below.
Your Support Means Everything: bit.ly/SupportTBM
Follow us:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBowesMuseum
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebowesmus...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBowesMuse...
#SilverSwan #TheBowesMuseum #JohnandJosephineBowes #BowesCollection #18centuryrobot #automaton
in 2021, the Bowes Swan Automaton was subject to a week-long programme of study in order to establish a wider understanding of arguably the world's best operati...
in 2021, the Bowes Swan Automaton was subject to a week-long programme of study in order to establish a wider understanding of arguably the world's best operational eighteenth century object of its kind. This documentary was commissioned by The Bowes Museum and made by Howell Film
Read our peer-reviewed article here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19455224.2023.2202411
www.clockmaker-conservator.co.uk
www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk
www.howellfilm.co.uk
#clock #repair #automaton #heritage #film #museum #dynamic #Swan #SilverSwan
in 2021, the Bowes Swan Automaton was subject to a week-long programme of study in order to establish a wider understanding of arguably the world's best operational eighteenth century object of its kind. This documentary was commissioned by The Bowes Museum and made by Howell Film
Read our peer-reviewed article here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19455224.2023.2202411
www.clockmaker-conservator.co.uk
www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk
www.howellfilm.co.uk
#clock #repair #automaton #heritage #film #museum #dynamic #Swan #SilverSwan
In the 'Robots' exhibition in the Science Museum. Only plays once a day at 10.25am. Three separate clockwork mechanisms. Used to be in the Cox's Mechanical Muse...
In the 'Robots' exhibition in the Science Museum. Only plays once a day at 10.25am. Three separate clockwork mechanisms. Used to be in the Cox's Mechanical Museum in London.
In the 'Robots' exhibition in the Science Museum. Only plays once a day at 10.25am. Three separate clockwork mechanisms. Used to be in the Cox's Mechanical Museum in London.
The Silver Swan was bought by the Museum’s founders over 240 years ago – find out more about this remarkable working automaton from specialist Matthew Read here...
The Silver Swan was bought by the Museum’s founders over 240 years ago – find out more about this remarkable working automaton from specialist Matthew Read here.
Do you have any questions? Comment below.
Your Support Means Everything: bit.ly/SupportTBM
Follow us:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBowesMuseum
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebowesmus...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBowesMuse.
#SilverSwan #TheBowesMuseum #JohnandJosephineBowes #BowesCollection #18centuryrobot #automaton
The Silver Swan was bought by the Museum’s founders over 240 years ago – find out more about this remarkable working automaton from specialist Matthew Read here.
Do you have any questions? Comment below.
Your Support Means Everything: bit.ly/SupportTBM
Follow us:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBowesMuseum
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebowesmus...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBowesMuse.
#SilverSwan #TheBowesMuseum #JohnandJosephineBowes #BowesCollection #18centuryrobot #automaton
Watch a demonstration of Queen Marie Antoinette's Automaton playing one of eight melodies it can perform.
Subscribe for new content from the Met: https://www.y...
Watch a demonstration of Queen Marie Antoinette's Automaton playing one of eight melodies it can perform.
Subscribe for new content from the Met: https://www.youtube.com/user/metmuseu...
David Roentgen (1743--1807) took his royal patron by surprise when he delivered this beautiful automaton to King Louis XVI for his queen, Marie Antoinette, in 1784. The cabinetry for this piece is very much a neoclassical masterwork, and the mechanism behind it is truly extraordinary: the figure strikes the strings in perfect rhythm with two small metal hammers held in her hands, which move with great precision.
This object is from Musée des arts et métiers de Paris and is on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in the exhibition Extravagant Inventions: The Princely Furniture of the Roentgens:
View a full documentary on this object: http://www.cerimes.fr/le-catalogue/la-joueuse-de-tympanon.html
Watch a demonstration of Queen Marie Antoinette's Automaton playing one of eight melodies it can perform.
Subscribe for new content from the Met: https://www.youtube.com/user/metmuseu...
David Roentgen (1743--1807) took his royal patron by surprise when he delivered this beautiful automaton to King Louis XVI for his queen, Marie Antoinette, in 1784. The cabinetry for this piece is very much a neoclassical masterwork, and the mechanism behind it is truly extraordinary: the figure strikes the strings in perfect rhythm with two small metal hammers held in her hands, which move with great precision.
This object is from Musée des arts et métiers de Paris and is on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in the exhibition Extravagant Inventions: The Princely Furniture of the Roentgens:
View a full documentary on this object: http://www.cerimes.fr/le-catalogue/la-joueuse-de-tympanon.html
Kunjoos & Ponnoos Media
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrNdv-QGJw8oUg4ZGKYIkjg
The Silver Swan is an automaton dating from the 18th Century and is housed in the Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, Teesdale, County Durham, England. It was acquired by John Bowes, the museum's founder from a Parisian jeweler in 1872.
Are you joining us for the Silver Swan Study Week? Starting on Tuesday 5 October, visitors will be able to watch a group of specialist conservators and curators dismantle the Silver Swan as the Museum explores the mechanical condition of this iconic object, ahead of creating a conservation plan for its preservation. There will be daily Q&As in the gallery, as well as Zoom panel discussions that you can join in from the comfort of your own home. Find out all the upcoming #SwanStudyWeek events here: http://bit.ly/EventsAtTBM
#SilverSwan #SwanStudyWeek #Conservation #MuseumConservation #MuseumObjects #BehindtheScenes #Automaton #18thcenturyrobot #JohnJosephMerlin #AutumnatTheBowesMuseum #EscapeTheEveryday #TheBowesMuseum #VisitTheBowesMuseum #BarnardCastle #Teesdale #CountyDurham #VisitCountyDurham #ThisIsDurham #Durham2025 #October2021
How well do you know the Silver Swan? Our in-house swan doctor Matthew Read has some secrets he'd like to share. Join us each Wednesday at 10.00 to learn more about this beautiful 18th century robot.
Do you have any questions? Comment below.
Your Support Means Everything: bit.ly/SupportTBM
Follow us:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBowesMuseum
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebowesmus...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBowesMuse...
#SilverSwan #TheBowesMuseum #JohnandJosephineBowes #BowesCollection #18centuryrobot #automaton
in 2021, the Bowes Swan Automaton was subject to a week-long programme of study in order to establish a wider understanding of arguably the world's best operational eighteenth century object of its kind. This documentary was commissioned by The Bowes Museum and made by Howell Film
Read our peer-reviewed article here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19455224.2023.2202411
www.clockmaker-conservator.co.uk
www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk
www.howellfilm.co.uk
#clock #repair #automaton #heritage #film #museum #dynamic #Swan #SilverSwan
In the 'Robots' exhibition in the Science Museum. Only plays once a day at 10.25am. Three separate clockwork mechanisms. Used to be in the Cox's Mechanical Museum in London.
The Silver Swan was bought by the Museum’s founders over 240 years ago – find out more about this remarkable working automaton from specialist Matthew Read here.
Do you have any questions? Comment below.
Your Support Means Everything: bit.ly/SupportTBM
Follow us:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBowesMuseum
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebowesmus...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBowesMuse.
#SilverSwan #TheBowesMuseum #JohnandJosephineBowes #BowesCollection #18centuryrobot #automaton
Watch a demonstration of Queen Marie Antoinette's Automaton playing one of eight melodies it can perform.
Subscribe for new content from the Met: https://www.youtube.com/user/metmuseu...
David Roentgen (1743--1807) took his royal patron by surprise when he delivered this beautiful automaton to King Louis XVI for his queen, Marie Antoinette, in 1784. The cabinetry for this piece is very much a neoclassical masterwork, and the mechanism behind it is truly extraordinary: the figure strikes the strings in perfect rhythm with two small metal hammers held in her hands, which move with great precision.
This object is from Musée des arts et métiers de Paris and is on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in the exhibition Extravagant Inventions: The Princely Furniture of the Roentgens:
View a full documentary on this object: http://www.cerimes.fr/le-catalogue/la-joueuse-de-tympanon.html
The Silver Swan is a fictional character appearing in DC Comics publications and related media. A major adversary of Wonder Woman, the Swan possesses the superhuman ability to fly, as well as to generate a destructive sonic cry. She first appeared in 1982 in Wonder Woman #288 (volume 1), written by Roy Thomas and illustrated by Gene Colan. Since then, the character has undergone several updates as comic book continuities have evolved and shifted. Indeed, there have been three different Silver Swans since the character's debut, including Helen Alexandros, the original Silver Swan; Valerie Beaudry, the second Silver Swan, debuting in 1988 in Wonder Woman #15 (volume 2); and Vanessa Kapatelis, the third Silver Swan, debuting in 2001 in Wonder Woman #171 (volume 2). The backstories of all three characters are inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale The Ugly Duckling; similar to the tale's titular protagonist, Alexandros, Beaudry and Kapetelis all believe they are undesirable or unwanted, only to find themselves transformed into extraordinarily beautiful (and vengeful) super-powered women.