American Full Bodied German Shepherd Directional Weathervane
Located in Norton, MA
American Full Bodied German Shepherd Directional Weathervane on the Metal Stand American Bronze full bodied German Shepherd directional weathervane with two circular spheres resting...
Metal, Bronze
A Large American Full Bodied Horse Directional Weathervane, C. 1870s
Located in Norton, MA
A Large American Full Bodied Horse Directional Weathervane, C. 1870s on the Metal Stand American Bronze full bodied running horse directional weathervane with two circular spheres r...
Metal, Bronze
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
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.
Copper, Iron, Zinc, Gold Leaf
Large Antique Early American Banner Weathervane
Located in Forney, TX
A large and remarkable 4' long early PA American scrollwork bannerette weathervane / wind directional. Pennsylvania, first half of the 19th century, cut sheet metal, copper tubing,...
Metal, Copper, Zinc
Antique American Figural Painted Copper Horse Weatherwane with Cast Directional
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
The full bodied horse is quite detailed on both sides and swings freely on the post as does the N,S,E,W directional letters and the entire weathervane has been painted black some tim...
Copper, Iron
Unavailable
H 55.75 in W 21 in D 20 in
18th Century French Wrought Iron Wolf Head Weathervane in Stone Base
Located in Woodbury, CT
It features a swivelling 18th century hand-wrought iron wolf's head weathervane without directionals and a stem decorated with a profusion of riveted, hand-wrought iron flowers, moun...
Limestone, Wrought Iron
Red Cupola Top with Weathervane Directional
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Traces of gold gilding on directional. Please see close-ups of the weathervane directional.
Sheet Metal
Early Whale Weathervane Directional Hand Made
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
This is and example of an early American Antique weather vane Sperm whale. Hand made by a skilled black smith the details are amazing. The directions are accented by sharp pointed ir...
Iron
Huge 19th Century Iron Directional Weathervane Arrow
Located in Pease pottage, West Sussex
Simply Huge Wrought Iron Weathervane Directional Arrow. Untouched, naturally worn surface.
Iron
19th Century Iron Wind Directional Weathervane
Located in Surrey, BC
Handmade forged metal Directional weathervane, with full provenance available with condition report.
Iron
American Patinated Copper Full Bodied Heron Directional Weathervane
Located in Chicago, IL
American full bodied patinated copper stork or heron directional weathervane. Sitting a top a contemporary iron stand.
Copper, Steel, Tin
Antique Wrought Iron Directional Weathervane, circa 1900-1930
Located in San Francisco, CA
About: A wrought iron Directional weathervane with bullet riddled plate that spins at the top.
Wrought Iron, Iron
American Copper Full Bodied Squirrel Directional Weathervane, Circa 1880
Located in Charleston, SC
American copper full bodied squirrel weathervane grasping an acorn with the original Directional and two circular spheres resting on an squared iron base, Late 19th century.
Copper, Iron
19thc Sailboat Weathervane W/ Original Directionals From N.e.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
THIS FOLKY AND WORN SAILBOAT WEATHERVANE HAS THE ORIGINAL IRON DIRECTIONALS .THIS RUSTIC TIN & IRON SAILBOAT WAS FOUND IN NEW ENGLAND.PROBABLY CAPE COD IT HAS A RUSTY WORN SURFACE LI...
Tin, Iron
English Hunter and Dog Hunt Directional Weathervane on Metal Base
Located in Houston, TX
English hunter and dog hunt directional weathervane on metal base featuring a hunter in a shooting position with his hunt dog by his side.
Metal, Brass, Iron
Sold
H 52 in W 24 in L 52 in
Early 20th Century, Stork Weathervane with Original Directionals on Stand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fun crazy shore bird has a wonderful aged surface and its original patinated directionals. This great weather vane has the original iron rod of which could be mounted on a roof ...
Copper
Sold
H 30 in W 55 in D 3.5 in
19th Century Molded Copper Hollow Body Rooster Weathervane on Directional Arrow
Located in Milford, NH
A fine example of a molded copper hollow body rooster weathervane on directional arrow, mounted on a weathered wooden display base, with nice detail on the arrow feathers and body st...
Copper
19THC EAGLE WEATHERVANE W/ GREAT ORIGINAL SURFACE
Located in Los Angeles, CA
FULL BODY COPPER EAGLE WEATHERVANE WITH THE ORIGINAL DIRECTIONALS IS ON A CUSTOM MADE CAST IRON MOUNT.
Copper, Iron
19th Century Copper Eagle Weathervane on Custom Steel Stand
Located in San Francisco, CA
Monumental verdigris weathervane with fully spread eagle and bronze directional sign.
Bronze, Copper
Early 20th Century Diminutive Tin Cat Weathervane on Original Base
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is such a unusual figurative tin cat weathervane with the original Directional's and base.
Metal
French Copper Horse Directional Weather Vane. Circa 1870
Located in Charleston, SC
French copper horse directional weather vane on stand. Late 19th Century
Copper, Iron
Sold
H 56.25 in W 47.5 in D 10 in
American Full Bodied Copper Eagle Directional Weather Vane, Circa 1883
By L. W. Cushing & Sons
Located in Charleston, SC
American full bodied copper weather vane with eagle perched on globe, pointer, directional, and resting on wrought iron rectangular stand, Late 19th Century. Attributed to L.W. Cushi...
Copper, Wrought Iron
Sold
H 71 in W 36 in D 20 in
American Copper Full Bodied Horse Weather Vane with Directional on Stand, C 1890
Located in Charleston, SC
American Copper full bodied running horse weather vane with original central supporting wrought iron rod, rotating zinc directional, copper spheres, and resting on hand made iron sta...
Copper, Wrought Iron
Blue Painted Sheet Iron Pennant with White Star on Stand
Located in Milford, NH
Probably used as a wind directional on a weathervane, dating to the early 20th century in good overall condition, with light surface rust visible, other minor imperfections and wear ...
Iron, Sheet Metal
Large Antique Copper Weathervane
Located in Ongar, GB
A large early 20th century copper directional arrow weathervane which has a beautiful natural verdigris.
Copper
Vintage Copper Dog Weathervane on Iron Base
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Charming vintage copper dog that originally was attached to weathervane directional. It looks like a lab but it could be another type of retriever.
Copper, Iron
American Copper Trotting Horse Weathervane with Directionals
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
A full bodied copper weathervane with moving directional. No base is included.
Copper
Antique Copper Pig and Directionals Weathervane Set
Located in Dekalb, IL
Antique figural weather vane with directionals. This piece features a large figural pig topper constructed from copper.
Copper
Sold
H 35.5 in W 29.5 in D 24 in
American Copper and Zinc Egret Directional Weathervane Mounted on Stand, C. 1870
Located in Charleston, SC
American copper egret weathervane with a zinc directional, double copper sphere's, and mounted on squared iron stand.
Copper, Iron, Zinc
Rooster WeatherVane on Display Stand
Located in Atlanta, GA
An antique rooster weathervane with complete directional arrows on a wood stand display from late 19th to early 20th century.
Metal
Banner Red Glass Arrow Weathervane, circa 1880
Located in Incline Village, NV
Diminutive arrow directional banner weathervane with original red glass inserted in an iron frame perimeter, with a cast iron arrow design on each corner.
Iron
19th Century Cast Iron Pig Weather Vane with Directionals
By Massachusetts Iron Works
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This amazing tabletop weather vane has the original Victorian cast iron base and directional. The black original grungy painted surface is in great state of preservation.
Iron
Early 20th Century Miniature Horse Weather Vane and Directionals
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This folky horse weather vane is a wonderful patinaed tabletop size from a cupula on a barn. It has the original wood base from the barn roof. This small horse is a very rare scale a...
Copper
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.
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.
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.
Expert Jeff Bridgman explains the history and meaning behind the twinkling constellations that have graced Old Glory.
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.
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.
Designers are beginning to see this enigmatic form of folk art in a whole new light.