Fiske Weathervane
Antique 1870s American Folk Art Weathervanes
Copper, Iron, Zinc, Gold Leaf
Antique Late 19th Century American Folk Art Weathervanes
Brass, Copper
Recent Sales
Antique Late 19th Century American Folk Art Weathervanes
Copper, Zinc
Antique 19th Century Folk Art Weathervanes
Copper, Zinc
Antique 19th Century American Folk Art Weathervanes
Copper, Zinc
Antique 1870s American Folk Art Weathervanes
Gold, Copper, Iron
Antique 1880s American Folk Art Weathervanes
Copper, Iron, Zinc
Antique Late 19th Century American Folk Art Weathervanes
Copper, Zinc
Antique 19th Century Weathervanes
Antique Late 19th Century American American Classical Weathervanes
Copper
Antique 19th Century Weathervanes
Antique 19th Century American Weathervanes
Antique Late 19th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Copper
Antique 1890s American Folk Art Weathervanes
Copper, Zinc
Antique Late 19th Century American Folk Art Weathervanes
Copper
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Weathervanes
Copper
Antique Late 19th Century American Weathervanes
Antique 19th Century American Adirondack Weathervanes
Copper, Iron
Antique 1890s American American Classical Mounted Objects
Copper, Zinc
Vintage 1950s American Weathervanes
Antique 19th Century American Weathervanes
Antique 19th Century American Weathervanes
Antique 19th Century American Weathervanes
Copper
Antique 19th Century American Weathervanes
Vintage 1950s American Weathervanes
Copper
Antique 19th Century American Weathervanes
Copper, Zinc
People Also Browsed
2010s South African Minimalist Night Stands
Wood
Antique 19th Century American Adirondack Pottery
Pottery
20th Century American Weathervanes
Copper
Antique Early 1900s Czech Art Nouveau Vases
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Sofas
Linen, Velvet
Antique Late 18th Century Danish Baroque Console Tables
Pine, Paint
Antique Late 18th Century English Chippendale Tea Caddies
Brass
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Farm Tables
Oak
Antique 1780s French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Brass, Steel
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Table Mirrors
Silver Plate
Antique 19th Century German Folk Art Sculptures
Wrought Iron
Antique 17th Century Italian Religious Items
Wood
20th Century Philippine Spanish Colonial Paintings and Screens
Shell, Hardwood
Vintage 1960s French Art Deco Signs
Plaster
Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Glass
Glass
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Country Wardrobes and Armoires
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.