The idea for this model came from the Brothers' Grim tale The Six Swans. In the story, six brothers are transformed into swans by a witch's spell but their sister escapes. To free her brothers, the sister must make a coat of nettles for each of the six brothers within three years without ever speaking a single word or making a single sound. Unfortunately, the girl fails to fully complete her task. She finishes the first five coats, but cannot make the final sleeve of the sixth coat so when all the brothers are returned to their human form, the youngest retains a swan wing in place of one arm.