$12,500
H 18.75 in W 14 in D 3.5 in
American Gilt Copper & Cast Iron Full Bodied Rooster Weathervane, circa 1880
Located in Charleston, SC
American gilt copper and cast iron full bodied rooster weathervane mounted on stand, Late 19th
Copper, Iron
Cast Iron Rooster Weathervane
Located in New York, NY
The large size Rochester Iron Works cast iron rooster weathervane retaining its old painted surface.
Iron, Sheet Metal
19th Century Painted Cast Iron Rooster Windmill Weight
Located in San Francisco, CA
19th century painted cast iron rooster windmill weight Rare antique windmill weight. Ample
Iron
Cast Iron 'Barnacle Eye' Rooster Windmill Weight
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Wonderful example of a late 19th century 'Barnacle Eye' rooster windmill weight manufactured by the
Iron
$18,000
H 49.75 in W 26.5 in D 18.25 in
American Copper Full Bodied Pig Directional Weathervane on Stand, circa 1880
Located in Charleston, SC
American Copper full bodied pig directional weathervane resting on squared iron stand, late 19th century.
Copper, Iron, Zinc
$20,000
H 32.5 in W 31.5 in D 14.5 in
American Gilt Copper Full Bodied Horse Directional Weathervane, Fiske, C. 1870
By J.W. Fiske & Company
Located in Charleston, SC
American gilt copper full bodied running horse directional weathervane with two gilt circular spheres resting on squared iron stand, J.W. Fiske, late 19th century.
Copper, Iron, Zinc, Gold Leaf
19th Century 3 Dimensional Bass Weather Vane
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
19th Century Bass form copper three dimensional weather vane with later wood base. Has a bullet hole as might be expected as most early weather vanes have. Bass 15"H x 26"L; 26" x 7"...
Copper
$16,000
H 32.5 in W 33.25 in D 4 in
American Gilt Copper Three Masted Ship Weathervane Mounted on Stand, circa 1890
Located in Charleston, SC
American gilt copper three masted ship weathervane with flags mounted on stand, late 19th century. Measures: 8" square at base.
Copper, Iron
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.