Historic Weathervane Themes

American Folk Art Legacies

Weathervanes are deeply rooted in American folk art. The following weathervane themes are some of the original themes America chose for its vanes.

Rooster

The rooster gained most of its popularity through the Papal decree that would forever portray them as a symbol of Christ’s betrayal. The biblical account states that Jesus said to Peter, “Verily, I say unto thee, the cock shall not crow, till thou has denied me thrice.”

One of the earliest American rooster weathervanes was crafted by the infamous Shem Drowne in 1721 for the First Church in Cambridge, MA. Weighing in at over 172 pounds and standing over 5’ tall, Drowne’s dramatic rooster is made of copper and has a gleaming glass eye.

Eagle

Although American symbols of patriotism adorned just about everything produced in this country since 1812, there are very few examples of impressive eagle weathervanes surviving. Those that do survive are typically two dimensional cutouts made by untrained and amateur craftsmen. It would take a skilled artisan to design a realistic flat profile of an eagle that would be easily recognizable from other types of birds, hence the increased scarcity and escalating value of the surviving vanes. The most common eagle motif from the 19 th century (and one that is still used to this day) is of an eagle perched on a sphere, feet close together and wings outstretched, ready for flight.

Sea Legends

The Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, Vermont houses some of the earliest surviving sea-themed weathervanes in America. One vane, originally from Newburyport, MA, is a portrayal of the Greek sea god, Titan. Impressively, this is the same subject that adorns the earliest recorded weathervane in existence: the Tower of Winds in Athens.

The museum also houses a dramatic mermaid weathervane crafted by Warren Gould, a 19 th century wood carver from Wayland, MA. A stunning 52” long, the pine mermaid is depicted with long, flowing hair and is holding a mirror, made of polished copper.

Locomotives

The rapid expansion of America was due in part to the extensive development of America’s railroad system. As the railways grew, so did the need for rail stations which, in most areas, became architectural landmarks – uniting towns and serving as meeting places. These newly constructed buildings would naturally be graced by a locomotive weathervane. Locomotive vanes are highly valued and collectors scour all of America for them. The reason? Intricate and meticulous attention to detail is evident in almost all locomotive vanes that survive, indicating that highly skilled craftsmen made these vanes. In fact, in 1893, the J. W. Fiske Company, a premier manufacturer of weathervanes, offered a locomotive vane that cost a whopping $250!

Horses

Horses in the 19 th century were as much a status symbol as cars are in the 21 st. The horse provided a convenient mode of transportation, as well as a means of livelihood and recreation. Horses were used as early as the 18 th century as subjects for primitive and elementary styled vanes, but as time progressed, commercial manufacturers hired highly trained, skilled artists and model-makers to produce life-like reproductions in intricate detail.

Copyright 2006 www.OutdoorDecor.com
Kay Stone, OutdoorDecor.com Staff Writer

Research taken from the following sources:
Klamkin, Charles. “Weathervanes.” New York, 1973, pp. 1-98.