Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

Black Swan, Cygnis atratus, Photo Bomb

« Prev Item Next Item »

Overview

The black swan, Cygnis atratus, features frequently in Western Australian military heraldry and insignia. This model of the black swan however is a photo bombing prop which can be found lurking in various media images of Museum events and activities.

Historical information

Before 1969, Western Australia sometimes used a motto of "Cygnis insignis", which means "distinguished for swans", being a Latin pun on the swan emblem (cygnis being Latin for "swan"). 'Insignis' can also mean "remarkable", "outstanding" or "conspicuous" – all adjectives pointing to the long-standing association between Western Australia and the emblematic black swan. The official coat of arms of Western Australia was granted by a royal warrant of Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, dated 17 March 1969. The Black Swan, Cygnus atratus, was proclaimed the bird emblem of Western Australia on 25 July
1973. Atratus means ‘dressed in black’.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-55-943

Inscriptions and markings

Photobombing is the act of purposely putting oneself or an object into the view of a photograph, often in order to play a practical joke on the photographer or the subjects. In the sense of unintended or initially unnoticed people in the background of spoiled photographs, photobombs have existed for much of the history of photography. In 2014, "photobomb" was named Word of the Year by the Collins English Dictionary after several photos of celebrities photobombing at awards ceremonies had gone viral.

Links to additional resources

1st Infantry Regiment Colour

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

Organisation Details
View Collection
Item Feedback