A Magnificent 250-Year-Old Silver Swan | Antiques Roadshow

[@AnnParke-g1s]

I remember as a 10 year old girl being absolutely mesmerized by the swan now at 55 what a delight to see again this time on utube back home in NZ

[@ralucadudescu]

That "swan in the lake" silver mechanical sculpture is absolutely astonishing!

[@ednamitchell9821]

That was one of the very best and most beautiful things ever shown on tv

[@marypasco2213]

That SWAN is absolutely STUNNING! ❤️

[@sforza209]

The entire swan is made out of pure silver.

[@DiddlyPenguin]

The swan is amazing. Human ingenuity is fantastic at times.

[@Valkonnen]

We STILL have it with modern animatronics. Same mechanisms, but operated electrically instead of by winding manually. It still takes the identical ingenuity to figure out now to make such things move.

[@tonygoodheart2442]

A 250 Year old Musical Masterpiece Swan, Grandma would've really loved that!

[@AndrewDaley-lr9qg]

Ive seen this working several times as a child. I will never forget it.

[@JodyLSumrall]

I bet it was truly magical in person. How lucky you are.

[@jakebe4915]

I live near ponds with many Canadian geese so this swan blew me away. Bravo....

[@stephenkoetz4159]

😳😳😳😳 holy cow that swan is unbelievable

[@peterfromgw4615]

I recall seeing this swan in the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle back when I visited in 1997. I was fascinated by this automaton then and still am now. It was by chance I saw this as the only reason I was in Barnard Castle was due to my son’s touring cricket team having a game with the local grammar school. Grüße aus Australien. Tschüss.

[@b.j.hackney8553]

I am totally gob smacked. Fabulous piece of art. ❤

[@LynyrdSkynyrdFan]

Best thing ever on American or British roadshow. Stunning and just fascinating

[@OverkilledUnderdog]

Swan is just exquisite. What would be the value of that masterpiece today i wonder!!😮

[@swanlake4483]

Most beautiful thing…I have never seen such beauty.

[@janeceeastwood8035]

I think this might be the most amazing and beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Thank you for the privilege.

[@purplestareye]

Well...now that is extravagant!

[@stevensalty853]

Wow ❤

[@lyndadevine513]

Beautiful elegant swan.💛

[@DanielGriffin-hc4tw]

Gorgeous ❤

[@lindabutler5631]

😅I saw this beautiful swan at the museum last year. It is certainly amazing.

[@SheilaMore-l4v]

That is a beautiful swan and fish🥰🥰💕

[@Annetteettenna]

Also der Schwan ist ja wahnsinn ....was es alles für schöne Sachen auf der Welt❤

[@kategwynne4658]

That blew my mind. Such beauty.

[@sforza209]

How did that guy not understand the clock maker reference in regard to the swan? It’s an automaton and all the running gear is the same type of work a clock maker would do. Just because it doesn’t have a clock in it doesn’t mean it’s not clockmaker work.

[@PuNkY_y_y]

THIS is why it's so cool to be a great ape

[@RollaArtis]

A pity it's now just a remnant - the swan was originally in a magnificent glazed display case like the Peacock in the Hermitage. The Swan was surrrounded with further 'waterfalls' and a backdrop of mirrors but all this was removed sometime in the 19th century, probably to make it more saleable.

[@KittynFranky7643]

Thanks for that little bit of extra info, it must of been magnificent.

[@ah7910]

NONSENSE COMMENT ALERT! “Just a remnant”… It is still working and still on display. It may not have the waterfall and backdrop of mirrors it originally had, but it STILL functioning what you see in this video is still (after a recent restoration in 2024) on display at the Bowes Museum, how on earth would any sane person consider this elaborate miracle of artistry a mere “remnant”. Go and see it, it’s miraculous.

[@RollaArtis]

@@ah7910 When the majority of the original display is now missing, it can only be regarded as a remnant. But nevertheless, the Swan bit at the centre is very nice, shame the rest hasn't been restored (yet).

[@mayhannah2906]

Fabulous

[@MovieSceneDeepDive]

That is terrifyingly beautiful

[@DanielF-ty3sb]

👻

[@ВИНТАЖНАЯЖЕМЧУЖИНАКАНАДЫ.БИЖУТ]

Amazing 🥰🤩🦢

[@user-mg1pb2cn8k]

I am 75 and saw a Swan like this a very long time ago, in the museum, but remember it differently. I thought it's wings moved. Sort of shook. Am I remembering a different Swan? Can anyone help ?

[@lauiresmallwood885]

Exquisite

[@pollywaffledoodah3057]

I am depressed and irritated by all these people commenting on here, asking how much this divinely beautiful swan is worth! Why don't you calculating people understand? This beautiful silver swan is beyond price, beyond mere, grubby money! It is a sublime work of art, and was made because the silversmith was a genius who loved to create beauty to delight the world! Just as real, live swans are equally as graceful and beautiful, but I suppose that those obsessed with money, would never even notice those elegant birds gliding along on a pond - because they're not worth any money! I pity greedy people who look at the world with dollar signs in their eyes.

[@richardcranium4335]

Needs MORE COWBELL!

[@DanielF-ty3sb]

Hahaha! 🤣

[@Daphattack]

Enter Will Ferrell 😂

[@rashadharris-v9v]

BBC and moving silver swans? This has strong 60s 007 vibes to it. Possible "gold finger" sequel "silver hand" lol 🥈 👌

[@msstarlight4770]

Is the swan coated with something so the silver doesn't tarnish? I wonder what it would be worth today.

[@zargonfuture4046]

I'd say priceless as it's one of a kind and it is absolutely superb.. but then priceless is to a few out there just a number they need to match or better sadly. Let's hope this magnificent work of art is around for a very very long time.

[@msstarlight4770]

@zargonfuture4046 I really hope it's always on display, and cherished, it deserves it. I've not seen anything like it, before. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

[@evonne315]

I'm not polishing it.

[@msstarlight4770]

@@evonne315 Oh, no way! I'm not cleaning it, either! 👍🙂👍

[@viking1236]

@@msstarlight4770yes it is on display in the museum. It’s just beeen restored. It’s run every day at one o clock for visitors. When I was a child you could feed it a coin and watch it perform. Unfortunately it was so popular it was overused and suffered some damage.

[@corgeousgeorge]

Did that thing catch one of the fish? that's incredible. Didn't need fuel to do it either. Just a hand crank and ingenuity!

[@inlangford]

NEAT!!

[@suzettecalleja3122]

There is a beautiful one in St Petersburg Russia at the Hermitage museum ❤

[@ВИНТАЖНАЯЖЕМЧУЖИНАКАНАДЫ.БИЖУТ]

👍✅Yes

[@Cheesemaker-o2v]

I saw the Hermitage peacock clock (another James Cox model) whilst on a holiday there but don’t remember a swan. I’m also from the town where this silver swan is based. I’ve enjoyed the best of both worlds.

[@davidmanley9437]

The swan is very. Cool

[@LowBudgetGamer-o6l]

I really want to see how that swan works.

[@camillealatorre9817]

Lo que mi papá habría pagado por tenerlo ❤

[@rickwallace2091]

I find the articulation and movement of the swan a bit frightening, strange I know, but it’s so beautifully crafted,

[@Hannari-xt6nr]

Meanwhile 400 years ago Japan made automatons which can actually write calligraphy or using a bow and throw and arrow and hit a bull's eye a few feet away. Or one automaton which can deliver a cup of tea to a guest and then when the cup is empty, bring it back to the host . 400 years ago.

[@JodySerber]

What museum is this in?

[@harryplummer6356]

The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle.

[@rodneyhamilton182]

Barnard Castle is in North Yorkshire, England.

[@raea3588]

@@rodneyhamilton182 Barnard Castle, County Durham in Pennines North East England.

[@MichellePruitt75]

How is that even possible?

[@gailbreslin5441]

Hey, What was the evaluation price of the swan?🤷‍♀

[@karldelavigne8134]

As it's in a museum collection, the value wasn't up for discussion.

[@gailbreslin5441]

@@karldelavigne8134 Understood, but still disappointing.

[@raea3588]

I have friends who live just up the street from the Bowes Museum. I've always loved hearing their stories of visiting this swan and the many other treasures inside. The history of how the museum came to be is so incredible on it's own I'm surprised no film has come of it. 🦢

[@Hannah-rj4yf]

❤

[@MrMjolnir69]

Wow. That's ridiculous. He's a eating a fish too. Da Vinci made his own versions btw.

[@Tjs736]

Surely it’s a way of teaching musical notes not the alphabet. Even in Australia we use an alphabet that goes beyond G

[@masonlynch6268]

How much was the swan worth is my question , that thing was amazing.

[@bellaanis7157]

🦢

[@NubianGoat]

I'm guessing this piece is worth about 40,000 to 60,000 pounds with only misunderstood 111 made. Good condition. It would be a nice collectable the swan.

[@00Kuja00]

Wow 150 pounds! :O

[@Chr.U.Cas1622]

If you show all those old clips, the very least you could do is telling the viewers about the current value. This video is from 25 ! years ago. The value isn't current at all. Best regards, luck and health in particular.

[@laurasohn8332]

An 18th century animatronic...

[@ThatOpalGuy]

Has musk claimed credit for making this?

[@bradprice8040]

Those are some old ass leftovers.

[@brendontompa-clinch2306]

Is nobody going to say it? 😅

[@mmayer1558]

I pronounce swan like it rhymes with man.

[@laurakurkowski4413]

There’s something odd in the proportions of those puffed wings. Maybe it’s the camera angle. 🌰 🌰

[@johnm9845]

Scandalous.Tell them you want your 20 quid back.

[@metoo6599]

Big deal i saw a singing rat at Chuck e cheese pizzeria

[@christineabercrombie7316]

Oh cool it doesn't match the real one. 💯

[@ah7910]

WHAT? It IS the original. There is only one in existence and it is still continually maintained at the Bowes Museum.

[@thebrideoffrankenstein2415]

I want this 🦢 it's absolutely magnificent 😍

[@jessicasmith7102]

❤🦢OMG, what a joyful automaton.🦢❤️

[@aiolos0053]

Moi j'ai hyoga du cygne avec l'armure d'or 😅

[@chrissettles4127]

Great video

[@nobodysanything2330]

🦢