When we visited Glamis Castle (childhood home of the Queen Mother who was a Bowes Lyon) a couple of months ago it led to us planning a visit to The Bowes Museum which was set up by relatives of hers.
The museum’s most famous artefact is a pure silver automaton swan which dates from 1772, it’s a replica of a female mute swan. If you just want to see her moving you can skip to 4.50 on the You Tube video below. The swan catches a silver fish and eats it, but of course swans don’t eat fish as they are vegetarians! The silver work is amazing though.
You can read more about the museum here.
I love how there is a crowd just waiting for the the set time to see the swan. It’s pretty, and amazing that it’s from 1772 and in such great working condition.
Stefanie,
And you can just hear one woman saying at the end of the movement – Is that it?! They did take it apart to refurb it fairly recently, I just think it’s amazing that in 1772 someone managed to make it.