Vintage Whale Weathervane
Located in Houston, TX
This wonderful vintage whale weather vane has a fantastic aged patina. The rustic wooden whale sits on a custom wood base attached by a metal rod with a Directional arrow and scroll ...
Metal
Antique Arts & Crafts Moby Dick "Whale" Copper Metal 37" Weathervane
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Arts & Crafts Moby Dick "Whale" Copper Metal 37" Weathervane. Circa Early 20th Century.
Copper
Mid-20th Century Whale Weathervane
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Originally from the east coast, this weathervane was made in New England which is very famous for their whale watching tours and sites.
Copper, 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.
Iron
Early 20th Century Folk Art Copper Whale Weathervane
Located in Nantucket, MA
Early weathervane in the form of a sperm whale in copper, of hollow body form with raised tail, open mouth and applied eyes.
Copper
Early 20th Century Copper Whale Weathervane on Wooden Stand
Located in Milford, NH
A fine example of a hollow copper whale form weathervane, mounted on a wooden stand, probably dating to the late 19th or early 20th century, in very good overall condition, with grea...
Copper
Sold
H 20 in W 38 in D 4 in
Monumental American Folk Art Copper Whale Weathervane with Verdigris Patina
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Exceptional late 19th-century American Folk Art copper whale weathervane, mounted on modern iron display base.
Copper, Iron
Nantucket Sperm Whale Whirligig
Located in Nantucket, MA
Nantucket Sperm Whale Weather Vane Whirligig, having slender hand-whittled flukes with great graceful curve, and carved teeth. The flukes are free to spin with the wind. Note there i...
Wood
19th Century Original Salmon Painted Whale Weather Vane
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This late 19th century three dimensional original salmon pained sheet iron weather vane is fashioned in the shape of a swimming whale and is a fantastic example of New England folk a...
Sheet Metal, Iron
Whale Weathervane
Located in Summerland, CA
Wooden Two Sided Whale Weathervane Carved pine with original black paint.
Pine
Blue Whale Weathervane
Located in San Francisco, CA
Adorable blue whale weathervane.
Whale Weathervane , Maine 1920's
Located in Los Angeles, CA
a lovely weathervane in the shape of a whale that someone has mounted into a woodblock for display. found in northern maine.
Iron
Circa 1900 Rare Wooden Whale Weathervane
Located in Sheffield, MA
Wooden weathervanes are rare as they tend not to survive. This example with its lichen encrusted surface and essence of whale form is particularly dazzling for the show of teeth.
Copper Running Horse Weathervane, New England
Located in Southampton, NY
Copper Running Horse Weathervane, New England Nice looking running horse weathervane with verdigris patinated copper finish. Head shows further weathering. Mounted on a black painted...
Copper
Early 19th Century Sheet Iron Weathervane. Folk Art
Located in Hudson, NY
This is a very highly animated and extremely well constructed, early 19th century sheet iron weathervane. Please do look at the detailed images. The construction and surface are abso...
Iron
19th Century, Rooster Weathervane, American
By J.W. Fiske & Company
Located in Incline Village, NV
Late 19th century, classic form molded rooster copper weathervane with sheet brass tail and zinc legs, which are supported by the original 13 1/2" copper bar. Weatherane is similar i...
Brass, Copper
19th C Hollow Body Eagle Weather Vane
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine 19th c patinaed eagle weather vane was found in New England. The iron base is a custom made stand. The condition is very good on this early fine with no dents or holes. Won...
Copper, Iron
19th C Original Surface Eagle Weather Vane on Stand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th C original gilded surface full body eagle weather vane with the best undisturbed surface.The base is custom made iron stand.This eagle is attributed to Harris & Company.
Copper, Iron
19th Century 3 Dimensional Copper Rooster Weather Vane
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
19th Century American cast copper full bodied rooster weather vane attributed to Vermont. Green verdigris, patination, traces of old paint and some gilt. This weather vane originally...
Copper
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
Running Horse Weathervane on Display Stand
By L. W. Cushing & Sons
Located in Atlanta, GA
A weathervane in the form of a running horse, that was likely modeled after "Dexter" circa late 19th century on a custom display stand. The full body molded horse has a gilt surface ...
Copper
American Painted Copper Cow Weathervane by Cushing & White
By Cushing and White
Located in Southampton, NY
American Painted Copper Cow Weathervane by Cushing & White. A off-white painted, full bodied, copper dairy cow on a wood stand. A wonderful unusual weathervane and a great scale. Som...
Metal
Eagle Weathervane, ca 1852-1870, Waltham Massachusetts
Located in York County, PA
Eagle weathervane in a beautiful form with great folk presence, possibly made by A.L. JEWELL & CO. (1852-1867) or its predecessor, Cushing & White / L.W. Cushing (1867-1870’s), Walth...
Metal
19th Century Eagle Weathervane, Attributed to Cushing & White
By Cushing and White
Located in Nantucket, MA
Full body molded copper spread wing eagle with cast zinc talons perched on a copper sphere. Great proportions with outstretched wings, showing wonderful detailing to the body and win...
Copper, Zinc
$18,500
H 20 in W 33.5 in D 5.5 in
American Running Horse Weathervane by E.G. Washburne & Co. 19th Century
Located in Norton, MA
A 19th-century American full-bodied running horse weathervane by E. G. Washburne & Co. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this weathervane showcases the remarkable arti...
Bronze, Zinc
Large One-of-a-Kind Hand Carved Mahogany Whale Chandelier
Located in West Hartford, CT
Immerse your space in oceanic grandeur with this extraordinary one-of-a-kind large hand carved wood whale chandelier. This unique lighting fixture combines the rustic charm of hand-c...
Wood
Opened Mouth Barracuda Weather Vane
Located in Sheffield, MA
A fantastic 20th century copper barracuda was a part of a weather vane but now lacking the directional and the post but will make a wonderful sculpture with weathered verdigris patin...
Copper
$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 Century
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.
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.