Rare Wooden Pike Weathervane
Located in Sheffield, MA
It is unusual for wooden weathervanes of this vintage even to have survived. This elegant example
Antique 19th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Wood
Rare Wooden Pike Weathervane
Located in Sheffield, MA
It is unusual for wooden weathervanes of this vintage even to have survived. This elegant example
Wood
Paint Decorated Early Wooden Whaler Weathervane
Located in Hadley, MA
weathervane, depicted blowing his horn, indicating sighting of a whale. Cut from a single pine board
Pine
Metal weathervane
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Antique metal weathervane. Old wooden base added later. Note that measurements below are for the
Metal
Antique Hand Made Weathervane
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique hand made iron weathervane with wooden center. Base W 42"
Iron
19th Century Wooden Boat Weathervane
Located in Pease pottage, West Sussex
Late 19th century wooden weathervane, believed to be Dutch, depicting a painted, naively carved
Wood
Swordfish Weathervane, 20th Century
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large-scale wooden weathervane from Chappaquiddick Massachusetts. Some old paint remaining. Almost
Wood
Folk Art Wooden Rooster Weathervane
Located in Milford, NH
Folk art wooden rooster weathervane with great paint and form. Circa 1890-1920. Mounted on a nice
Metal
HOMEMADE WOODEN FISH WEATHERVANE WITH GREAT SILVERED PATINATION
Located in York County, PA
Wooden fish weathervane with beautiful form and even better patina. Pine with a silvered surface
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
Copper
Unusual Late 18th Century Wooden Coq de Clocher Weathervane
Located in Pease pottage, West Sussex
Extraordinary, rare late 18th century small, sculptural coq de clocher or weathervane. Heavily
Wood
Carved Wooden Pheasant
Located in Dallas, TX
a carved wooden pheasant sculpture after an original weather vane found on a house in Western
Metal
Sold
H 10.63 in W 12.6 in D 3.94 in
18th Century Iron Weather-Vane with European Eagle Emblem on Wooden Stand
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
a later 19th century black painted wooden stand.
Iron
Carved Wooden Fish Weathervane
Located in Nantucket, MA
Wooden fish weathervane, hollow carved made of Pine and carved incised fins with a grey weathered
Pine
18th Century Iron Weathervane
Located in Houston, TX
18th century iron weathervane with wooden base.
Iron
Sold
H 17 in W 27.5 in D 3 in
J. W. Fiske Attributed Large Horse Weathervane on Base with Attractive Patina
By J.W. Fiske & Company
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
. The horse is mounted on a long ebonized wooden base. The weathervane dates to the late 19th century.
Copper
Diminutive Wooden Rearing Horse Weathervane
Located in Sheffield, MA
One of a kind, rare wooden weathervane with striking form and beautiful surface.
Galloping Horse Weathervane
Located in Summerland, CA
Double-sided wooden weathervane stained red with applied tin patches.
Tin
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
Rare Early Hand Carved Rooster Weathervane
Located in Sheffield, MA
A one of a kind, beautifully carved wooden weathervane with fine detailing of the eyes, wattle
Wood
Wooden Horse Weathervane
Located in New York, NY
Wooden Horse Weathervane in old paint. From a private Rhode Island collection
Wood
Wooden Fish Weathervane
Located in Damariscotta, ME
This is a handmade wooden fish weathervane painted gray with red metal fins. It is mounted on a
Wooden Fish Weathervane
Located in New York, NY
Old handmade fish weathervane with open mouth filled with unusual metal teeth. The weathered wood
Wood
Wooden Rooster Weathervane
Located in Summerland, CA
Circa 1880s. Oak Elaborately carved rooster vane with original traces of polychrome. Some brace repair on one side. Purchased at the Los Angeles Antiques Show at the Ambassad...
Oak
Wooden Running Horse Weathervane
Located in Sheffield, MA
Dynamic, hand carved wooden horse weathervane with original post and hand forged hardware
Airplane Weathervane
Located in Summerland, CA
Wooden Airplane Weathervane Joined pieces of wood with traces of original polychrome
Wood
Whale Weathervane
Located in Summerland, CA
Wooden Two Sided Whale Weathervane Carved pine with original black paint. Tail is two
Pine
Very Early Arrow and Ball Weathervane Fragment
Located in Sheffield, MA
Very charming and diminutive arrow weathervane on painted wooden ball.
Remnant of Early Wooden Bull Weathervane
Located in Sheffield, MA
Strong, elemental bull form which porbably served as a small weathervane on an out building
Wood
Stylish Antique Sailboat Weathervane
Located in Chicago, IL
Stylish antique sailboat weathervane on wooden stand.
Wood
Arrow Weathervane With Cutout Hearts
Located in New York, NY
Wooden arrow or banner weathervane with double hearts cutouts. Pennsylvania, ex. Herbert Hemphill
Wood
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.