Bowes Museum Silver Swan performing again after fours years

Visitors to the museum in Barnard Castle can again be mesmerized daily by the Silver Swan's majestic movements as she swims, prims and feeds herself on a flowing glass stream accompanied by music at 2pm.

The intricate restoration and conservation project was carried out by experts from the Cumbria Clock Company, assisted by clocks interns from West Dean College in Sussex and Birmingham School of Jewellery alongside the Museum's in-house conservation team.

Students from the conservation course at Lincoln University also observed and were able to add to their learning from the restoration process.

The Silver Swan is a solid silver replica of a female swan and hailed as one of the finest examples of 18th century automata in the world.

An automaton is a clockwork designed to replicate real life. It was made in the workshop of James Cox in London and was first shown in his museum in 1773. It has three clockwork mechanisms and contains more than 2,000 moving parts, with several thousand in its whole.

Visitors have been able to observe much of the restoration and conservation work being carried out in the Silver Swan gallery.

Keith Scobie-Youngs, the Director of the Cumbria Clock Company said: "It's been a real privilege to work on such a historic object as the Silver Swan that means such a great deal to so many people.

"It's been incredible to get an insight into the workings of the clockmakers of the past and see how so many of the skills they possessed are still relevant today and to have been able to pass on that knowledge to a new generation of clockmakers and horologists has been incredibly humbling."

Victoria Franka was appointed as the Silver Swan artist in residence while the conservation work was taking place.

The multidisciplinary mixed media artist, led 10 workshops throughout her residency where she shared her skills and expertise with visitors.

The work she created, which includes two macrame wall hangings, a 3D printed wallhanging and a zoetrope (spinning animation) can also been seen in the Silver Swan gallery.

The project was funded by a grant of £146,324 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, money from The Friends of The Bowes Museum, The Leche Trust, The Aurelius Charitable Trust, The Circles of Art and the generosity of people who gave £20,375.00 to a Crowdfunding Campaign as well as private donors.

Visitors will be able to enjoy the Silver Swan performing daily at 2pm. The Museum is open from 10am to 5pm daily.