The Silver Swan - Bowes Museum
Probably the most amazing object at the Bowes Museum is the Silver Swan.
The Swan was made in 1774, it is thought for the Emperor Qianlong of China, but he changed his mind before delivery. It was first recorded as a crowd puller in the Mechanical Museum of James Cox, a London jeweller and 18th century entrepreneur.
It appeared at various Paris exhibitions and was bought by John Bowes in 1972 for £200.
Unfortunately it wasn't working at the time of our visit.
thebowesmuseum.org.uk/the-silver-swan-story/
www.youtube.com/watch?v=A13F4avZZdo
The Bowes Museum is a rather eccentric and quite amazing museum in Barnard Castle in England.
The museum is the vision of a pioneering woman, Joséphine Bowes and her husband John.
The Silver Swan - Bowes Museum
Probably the most amazing object at the Bowes Museum is the Silver Swan.
The Swan was made in 1774, it is thought for the Emperor Qianlong of China, but he changed his mind before delivery. It was first recorded as a crowd puller in the Mechanical Museum of James Cox, a London jeweller and 18th century entrepreneur.
It appeared at various Paris exhibitions and was bought by John Bowes in 1972 for £200.
Unfortunately it wasn't working at the time of our visit.
thebowesmuseum.org.uk/the-silver-swan-story/
www.youtube.com/watch?v=A13F4avZZdo
The Bowes Museum is a rather eccentric and quite amazing museum in Barnard Castle in England.
The museum is the vision of a pioneering woman, Joséphine Bowes and her husband John.