Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery. Coggs play an integral part in steampunk, representing the complex mechanical devices that powered the steam engines and machinations of the Victorian era.
A Brief History of Coggs
Coggs, also known as cogs or cog wheels, are gear mechanisms that transmit rotation and torque in a machine. During the Industrial Revolution, cog wheels were essential components in steam engines, mills, clocks, locomotives, and all manner of mechanical apparatuses.
The precision metal work and engineering of coggs enabled the technological innovations that drove the Industrial Revolution.
As steampunk draws inspiration from this historical era, coggs have become a core symbolic element.
“The ticking, whirring, churning and pumping of eccentric machinery powered by steam or bizarre science, often manifested in the presence of a clockwork mechanism”
Symbolic Significance
In steampunk, coggs represent the complex inner workings and machinations that power the retro-futuristic technology. Coggs symbolize:
- Ingenuity – The skilled craft of clockwork and engineering
- Industry – Mechanized mass-production and technological progress
- Movement – Kinetic energy and forward momentum
On a deeper level, the cogg represents steampunk’s view of history as a complex machine with many interconnected and moving parts.
Coggs in Steampunk Design
The cogg motif features heavily across steampunk fashion, decor, and media:
Fashion
- Cogg accessories like cufflinks, watches, monocles, and goggles
- Coggs incorporated into jewelry designs
- Clothing embroidery with cogg patterns
- Heels shaped like coggs
Decor
- Cogg-shaped door handles and light fixtures
- Wall clocks with visible cogg workings
- Furniture with cogg designs carved into woodwork
Media
- Coggs depicted in steampunk illustrations and concept art
- Animated cogg mechanisms in steampunk films
- Plot devices involving clockwork/cogg machines
Steampunk watch featuring prominent cogg design
The Appeal of Coggs in Steampunk Culture
Coggs hold great appeal in steampunk for a number of reasons:
- Nostalgia – Harkens back to old-timey mechanical technology
- Craftsmanship – Admiration for the engineering skill involved
- Aesthetic – Visually striking as a design element
- Kinesthetic – Satisfying clicking and motion of cogg machines
Beyond their nostalgic familiarity, coggs represent the do-it-yourself ingenuity and maker culture at the heart of steampunk.
Aficionados enjoy recreating and tinkering with cogg designs.
Notable Examples of Coggs in Steampunk Works
Coggs play a prominent role across steampunk literature, film, and graphic art:
- In The Difference Engine, Charles Babbage’s cog-driven Analytical Engine helps usher in an information age 100 years early.
- Hayao Miyazaki’s animated film Howl’s Moving Castle features a castle filled with magic powered by steam and elaborate cog mechanisms.
- The characters in The League of Extraordinary Gentleman comic series utilize Jules Verne-esque cog-driven submarines and airships.
- The video game Dishonored depicts a retrofuturistic world run by whale oil and clockwork machinery.
Conclusion
With their intricate moving parts that evoke the technological marvels of Victorian science and industry, coggs are an icon of the steampunk aesthetic. More than just set dressing, they symbolize the DIY spirit, engineering creativity, and progressive ideals at the heart of steampunk culture.
Whenever you spy a ticking cogg machine in a steampunk setting, take a moment to admire the ingenuity it represents.