The Public Paperfolding History Project

Main Index Page

x

Ducks, Swans and Geese
 
This page attempts to record what is known about the origin and history of folded Paper Ducks and Swans. Please contact me if you know any of this information is incorrect or if you have any other information that should be added. Thank you.

**********

1956 - Harbin's Swan

'Paper Magic' by Robert Harbin, which was published by Oldbourne in London in 1956 contains diagrams for Harbin's Swan.

**********

1957

A very basic swan appears in 'Origami: Book One' by Florence Sakade, which was published by the Charles E Tuttle Company in Rutland, Vermont and Tokyo in 1957.

**********

1959

This swan appears in 'How to Make Origami' by Isao Honda, which was published by Toto Shuppan Co. Ltd in Japan. by McDowell Obolensky of New York in the USA and by Museum Press Ltd of London in England, in 1959.

**********

1959

A Goose is pictured, but not explained, in 'How to Make Origami' by Isao Honda, which was published by Toto Shuppan Co. Ltd in Japan. by McDowell Obolensky of New York in the USA and by Museum Press Ltd of London in England, in 1959.

**********

1964

A design for a 'Water Fowl' appears in 'Secrets of Origami', by Robert Harbin, which was published by Oldbourne Book Company in London in 1964, where it is also said to be Japanese.

***

The same book contains a method for folding a simple Swan attributed to Florence Temko. The origin of the Swan is not given

**********

**********

1968

A design for a 'Swan' appears in 'Your Book of Paperfolding' by Vanessa and Eric de Maré, which was published by Faber and Faber in London in 1968, where it was is attributed to Florence Temko, USA. This attribution seems to be a misunderstanding of information in Harbin's 'Secrets of Origami' which attributed a way of folding this design (rather than the design itself) to Florence Temko. Note also that Vanessa Mare's diagrams do not explain the folding method attributed to Florence Temko in Harbin's book.

**********