Ethan Allen Copper
Antique 1880s American Folk Art Weathervanes
Copper
Antique Late 19th Century American Adirondack Weathervanes
Copper
Antique Late 19th Century American American Classical Weathervanes
Copper
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1970s French Space Age Architectural Elements
Metal, Aluminum
20th Century American Adirondack Weathervanes
Copper, Iron
Vintage 1950s American Decoys
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century American Adirondack Quilts and Blankets
Cotton
Late 20th Century Planters, Cachepots and Jardinières
Bronze
Antique 1890s American Folk Art Carnival Art
Metal
Antique 19th Century French Victorian Antiquities
Iron
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Antique 19th Century American American Classical Weathervanes
Copper, Iron
20th Century Greek Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Antique 1850s American Folk Art Ceramics
Pottery
Antique 1890s American Country Weathervanes
Sheet Metal
Vintage 1940s American Folk Art Carnival Art
Canvas, Wood, Paint
Antique 1860s American Weathervanes
Metal
Antique Late 19th Century American Adirondack Weathervanes
Copper
Antique Mid-19th Century French Weathervanes
Copper
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century American Folk Art Weathervanes
Copper, Iron
Antique 19th Century Folk Art Weathervanes
Copper, Zinc
Antique 19th Century American Weathervanes
Copper
Antique 19th Century American Folk Art Wall-mounted Sculptures
Copper
20th Century American Weathervanes
Antique 19th Century American Weathervanes
Antique 19th Century American Folk Art Weathervanes
Antique Late 19th Century American Folk Art Weathervanes
Copper
Antique Late 19th Century American Weathervanes
Metal
Antique 19th Century American Weathervanes
Copper, Zinc
Antique 19th Century American Weathervanes
Antique Late 19th Century North American Folk Art Weathervanes
Copper
Finding the Right weathervanes for You
Whether it’s mounted on a mantel or hung flat against a wall in the living room or entryway, antique and vintage weathervanes can prove a striking decorative touch in your home.
Weathervanes are instruments that indicate wind direction. They are also referred to as wind vanes, wind gauges or weathercocks, but regardless of what we call them, most weathervanes will perform in the same way.
Weathervanes typically consist of a gravity-centered rotating horizontal arrow or other structure that is mounted on a stationary vertical axis. When the wind blows, the horizontal piece moves freely, rotating to indicate the wind’s direction as well as its speed. Andronicus, a Greek astronomer, crafted one of the earliest iterations of the weathervane in approximately 48 B.C. His bronze design featured the head and torso of a man but the tail of a fish. Later, weathervanes could be seen atop church steeples and towers throughout Europe. The oldest weathervane is Italian in origin and assumes the silhouette of a rooster. It is a copper weathervane, said to have originated between 820 and 830 A.D. and can be found in the Museo di Santa Giulia in Brescia, Italy.
Today, antique and vintage weathervanes are collectible sculptural works in any interior. They are celebrated for their place in the rich tradition of American folk art as well as their technological innovation.
Over the course of the 19th century, as the popularity of and demand for weathervanes broadened in the United States, blacksmiths, farmers and other tradesmen created weathervanes in the forms of cows, horses and other animals for barns in rural farmland. Commercial manufacturers in major cities took to producing all manner of weathervanes that were marketed in mail-order catalogs of the era.
When decorating with weathervanes, if you’ve decided against mounting your cast-iron painted horse weathervane on your mantel to complement your farmhouse-style decor, there are other options. You could repurpose your vintage weathervane as a provocative lighting fixture and hang it above your dining-room table, or dot the walls of your mudroom with weathervanes where they might double as racks for coats or other outerwear. Create a gallery-style hang as a focal point in your living room, grouping weathervanes that share a single theme or material. Because weathervanes have taken on many forms over the years, you’re likely to find a style that best fits your personality.
If positioned outdoors, a painted or varnished wood weathervane will resist harsh weather conditions, while copper weathervanes will resist erosion and usually come at an affordable price.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of antique and vintage weathervanes and other folk art today.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 15, 2024Ethan Allen furniture is more than 90 years old. Brothers-in-law Nat Ancell and Ted Baumritter founded the company in Beecher Falls, Vermont, in 1932. Initially, the company manufactured housewares and then branched out into furniture making after buying out a bankrupt furniture maker in 1936. Ancell and Baumritter named their first furniture line, Ethan Allen, after a Revolutionary War leader from Vermont. Shop a range of Ethan Allen furniture on 1stDibs.
- Is Ethan Allen a luxury brand?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 13, 2024Yes, Ethan Allen is a luxury brand. The American furniture maker provides customers with the ability to create custom-designed pieces built to suit their needs and preferences, fitting the definition of luxury. Ethan Allen produces its furniture out of fine materials under strict craftsmanship standards to ensure quality. Shop a collection of Ethan Allen furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, Ethan Allen owns and operates eight different manufacturing facilities where it produces its own furniture. Six of those facilities are located in the United States and one is in Mexico with another one residing in the Honduras. Shop a collection of Ethan Allen furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022No, not all Ethan Allen furniture is made in the USA as of January 2022. The furniture company produces pieces at five factories in the U.S., as well as at factories based in Honduras, Mexico and East Asia. Find a collection of Ethan Allen furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Yes, most Ethan Allen tables are made at least partially out of real wood. Early pieces tend to feature solid wood, but more modern tables may combine wood veneers with engineered wood. Shop a variety of Ethan Allen tables on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024Yes, Ethan Allen is high-end furniture. The term “high-end” describes furniture that features fine materials and expert craftsmanship. Ethan Allen furniture fits this definition, especially when you consider the brand's vintage pieces, which were hand-built out of carefully selected American hardwoods. On 1stDibs, find a range of Ethan Allen furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 15, 2024Yes, Ethan Allen sofas are generally of good quality. The most durable sofas produced by the American furniture maker are typically those that feature solid hardwood frames and eight-way hand-tied spring systems. Most vintage pieces and some contemporary ones include these features. Shop a collection of Ethan Allen furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Yes, Ethan Allen furniture is still made as of December 2021. The company operates manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Mexico and Honduras and has more than 300 retail showrooms. On 1stDibs, you can find a range of Ethan Allen furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 7, 2024Yes, some Ethan Allen furniture is solid wood. The American furniture company uses both solid wood and solid wood veneers to produce its pieces. In recent years, the furniture maker has also begun to use reclaimed solid wood to make some of its occasional tables and casegoods. Find a variety of Ethan Allen furniture on 1stDibs.
Read More
A Giant Wedding Cake Has Us Looking at Portuguese Tiles in a New Light
At Waddesdon Manor, artist Joana Vasconcelos has installed a three-tiered patisserie inspired by the narrative tile work of her homeland. We take a look at the cake sculpture and how Portuguese tiles have been used in architecture from the 17th century to today.
Why Jules Chéret Was the King of the Modern Poster
The streets of fin-de-siècle Paris were set aglow with colorful poster ads, thanks to the printing techniques invented by Jules Chéret. Now, the Milwaukee Art Museum is celebrating this undersung talent in America's first solo show dedicated his exuberant works.
Why the American Flag Has Had So Many Different Star Patterns
Expert Jeff Bridgman explains the history and meaning behind the twinkling constellations that have graced Old Glory.
Peggy Guggenheim Loved Modernism, but She Also Collected Tribal Art
The iconoclastic style setter displayed African and Oceanic art, as well as works by indigenous peoples of the Americas, alongside pieces by such major modernists as Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock.
The 13-Star American Flag Had More Variations Than You’d Think
Perfect for July 4th weekend, a new show at Philadelphia's Museum of the American Revolution displays an array of antique red, white and blue flags.
Tramp Art, America’s Most Misunderstood Art Form, Is Trending in Interiors
Designers are beginning to see this enigmatic form of folk art in a whole new light.