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For over two centuries, the collection of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg has housed a unique exhibit that never fails to delight the public. This is the amazing Peacock Clock, created in the 1770s.
For over two centuries, the collection of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg has housed a unique exhibit that never fails to delight the public. This is the amazing Peacock Clock, created in the 1770s.
The creator of this complex mechanism is the famous English master James Cox. Even during his lifetime, he gained great fame as an inventor of unique automatons, and the "Peacock" became one of his most famous creations.
The clock is not only a skillful mechanism but also a true work of art, designed as an entertaining toy, which was fashionable for its time. The entire composition is housed in a large glass case and represents a scene with several figures.
When the special mechanisms are wound, the figures come to life, creating a whole performance. The main elements of the composition are:
| Element | Function |
| Slot in the mushroom | Displays Roman and Arabic numerals for hours and minutes |
| Dragonfly figure | Serves as the second hand |
The main clock face is cleverly hidden from view. It is concealed in the cap of a large mushroom growing at the foot of an oak tree. Through a special slot in the cap, dials with Roman and Arabic numerals indicating the hours and minutes are visible.
The second hand, played by a small dragonfly figure perched on top of the mushroom, deserves special attention.
The Peacock Clock was commissioned by Prince Potemkin-Tavrichesky for the Hermitage of Empress Catherine the Great. In 1781, it was delivered to St. Petersburg, but in a disassembled state, which posed a serious problem for its assembly.
It was not until 1794 that the talented Russian mechanic Ivan Petrovich Kulibin managed to assemble the complex mechanism and "bring it back to life." Three years later, in 1797, the clock was moved from the Tauride Palace to the Small Hermitage building, where it remains to this day.
To create this automaton, James Cox used four independent mechanisms. Three of them set the figures in motion, while the fourth is the clock itself, ensuring the passage of time.
The Hermitage's Peacock Clock is of special value as it is the only large-scale, operational mechanism by James Cox that has survived to our time. Every Wednesday in the Pavilion Hall, the magical birds come to life, delighting visitors.
