Builder Series - Cow Weathervane
24"

Weather Vanes date back to the Greek Empire. Ornamental weather vanes could be found on the wealthy villas of pre-Christian Rome and providing wind direction on Viking ships. The flags that flew from medieval towers are probably the precursors of today’s weather vanes: the word ‘vane’ is derived from ‘fane’, an Anglo Saxon word for ‘flag’. The first documented weather vane maker in the American colonies designed and produced the weather vanes atop Faneuil Hall and Old North Church in Boston.

The standard model will have an ornamental design on the top of its rotating rod, with directional indicators mounted below. The rule is that the ornamental wind indicator must have different area on either side of the center, but have equal mass on each side of center.

Weather vane designs are as various as their maker’s imaginations over hundreds of years. Fanciful arrows are a basic design, as are representations of waving banners done in metal. Animals such as horses, roosters, cows and other farm denizens are popular ornamental themes. There is a whole avian category depicting an assortment of birds, at rest and in flight. And there are the nautical designs, which includes designs with yachts, schooners, ocean liners and just silhouetted sailors turning on the center rods.

For some weather vanes the directional wind indicators are silhouettes, some hand-hammered textured designs with profile and depth. Most are worked in metal: copper, iron, steel and brass can all play a role. Some of today’s handmade weather vanes are assembled with brass center rods, crafted copper directional figures and stainless steel directional compass lettering below the wind indicator.

Weather vanes are a useful architectural design element which has, over the centuries, provided an almost unlimited opportunity for artistic and whimsical ornamentation.

If you are not interested in a “traditional” weathervane, there are many styles from which to choose. For example, if you have a passion for pigs, you can purchase a pig weathervane. If you are not fond of pigs, there are always dog weathervanes or horse weathervanes. If you like horses, horse weathervanes come in a variety of patterns, including bucking broncos, horses pulling carriages, and horses with cowboys throwing lassos. The bottom line is that there is going to be a weathervane style out there that will fit your fancy.

Hand crafted copper weathervanes used to be very popular. When manufacturing started to become industrialized during the 19th century, that all changed. While copper weathervanes are still available today, they are generally mass produced from molds. However, there are still craftsmen who make copper weathervanes the old fashioned way. Regardless of whether your weathervane is manufactured or hand crafted, your weathervane will add a little bit of “you” to your home.