Antique Fish Weathervane
Late 19th Century Antique Fish Weathervane
Copper, Gold Leaf
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Fish Weathervane
Pine
Recent Sales
Early 20th Century American Antique Fish Weathervane
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Fish Weathervane
Copper
Early 20th Century Dutch Antique Fish Weathervane
Tôle
Early 20th Century American Antique Fish Weathervane
19th Century American Antique Fish Weathervane
Copper
Early 20th Century American Antique Fish Weathervane
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Antique Fish Weathervane
Pine
Early 20th Century Folk Art Antique Fish Weathervane
Copper, Gold Leaf
19th Century American Antique Fish Weathervane
Early 20th Century American Antique Fish Weathervane
19th Century American Antique Fish Weathervane
Early 1900s American Folk Art Antique Fish Weathervane
Sheet Metal
19th Century American Antique Fish Weathervane
Copper, Zinc
19th Century American Adirondack Antique Fish Weathervane
Copper, Iron
Early 20th Century American Antique Fish Weathervane
Early 20th Century American Adirondack Antique Fish Weathervane
Copper, Iron
19th Century American Adirondack Antique Fish Weathervane
Copper
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Fish Weathervane
Wood
19th Century American Adirondack Antique Fish Weathervane
Copper, Iron
Late 19th Century American Adirondack Antique Fish Weathervane
Copper
19th Century American Antique Fish Weathervane
19th Century American Antique Fish Weathervane
Tin
19th Century American Folk Art Antique Fish Weathervane
Wood
19th Century American Antique Fish Weathervane
Copper
19th Century American Folk Art Antique Fish Weathervane
19th Century Antique Fish Weathervane
19th Century American Antique Fish Weathervane
19th Century American Antique Fish Weathervane
Early 20th Century American Antique Fish Weathervane
People Also Browsed
18th Century French Antique Fish Weathervane
Stone, Limestone
2010s British Scandinavian Modern Antique Fish Weathervane
Mohair, Oak
Early 19th Century French Primitive Antique Fish Weathervane
Copper, Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Rustic Antique Fish Weathervane
Wood
2010s Antique Fish Weathervane
Metal
1980s Antique Fish Weathervane
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Antique Fish Weathervane
Ash
1990s Brazilian Antique Fish Weathervane
Wood
1970s American Hollywood Regency Antique Fish Weathervane
Rattan, Glass
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Antique Fish Weathervane
Oak, Fabric
2010s American Antique Fish Weathervane
Upholstery, Oak
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Fish Weathervane
Metal
1970s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Antique Fish Weathervane
Iron
Late 19th Century German Black Forest Antique Fish Weathervane
Walnut
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Fish Weathervane
Iron
1790s American Country Antique Fish Weathervane
Pine
Antique Fish Weathervane For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Antique Fish Weathervane?
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.
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.