Copper Horse Weather Vanes
Mid-20th Century American Weathervanes
Copper
Vintage 1920s American Weathervanes
Copper
Early 20th Century American Weathervanes
Copper
Antique 19th Century American Weathervanes
Iron
Antique 19th Century American Weathervanes
Copper
Antique 19th Century American Weathervanes
Copper
Antique 19th Century American Weathervanes
Metal
Antique 1860s American American Craftsman Weathervanes
Copper, Zinc
Recent Sales
20th Century American Adirondack Weathervanes
Copper, Iron
Antique 19th Century American Weathervanes
Copper, Iron
Early 20th Century American Weathervanes
Aluminum, Copper, Iron
Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Weathervanes
Copper, Steel
Antique 1870s French Louis Philippe Weathervanes
Copper, Iron
Antique 19th Century American Weathervanes
Copper, Tin
20th Century American Animal Sculptures
Copper, Iron
Early 20th Century American Rustic Mounted Objects
Copper, Wrought Iron
Antique 1890s American Folk Art Weathervanes
Copper, Wrought Iron
Antique 19th Century American Folk Art Weathervanes
Copper, Iron
Antique 19th Century American Folk Art Wall-mounted Sculptures
Copper
Antique 19th Century American Adirondack Weathervanes
Copper
Antique 1890s American Weathervanes
Copper
Antique Late 19th Century American American Classical Statues
Copper
Early 20th Century American Weathervanes
Copper
Antique 19th Century American Adirondack Weathervanes
Copper, Iron
Antique 19th Century American Adirondack Weathervanes
Copper
Antique 19th Century American Folk Art Weathervanes
Copper, Iron
Antique Early 19th Century American Country Weathervanes
Copper
Antique Late 19th Century American Adirondack Weathervanes
Copper
Antique 19th Century American Weathervanes
Copper, Zinc
Early 20th Century American Country Weathervanes
Copper
20th Century American Weathervanes
Copper
20th Century Weathervanes
Copper
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers an...
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Sofas
Linen, Velvet
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Cabinets
Pine
2010s Italian Benches
Wood
Antique Early 1900s Swedish Toys
Pine, Paint
Antique 19th Century American Adirondack Pottery
Pottery
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Table Mirrors
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Alabaster
Mid-20th Century French Industrial Wall Lights and Sconces
Enamel, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Colombian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights a...
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century European Regency Tea Caddies
Ivory, Tortoise Shell
Vintage 1970s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Fireplaces and Mantels
Iron
Mid-20th Century Realist Landscape Paintings
Oil
2010s Italian Other Dressers
Wood
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Game Boards
Wood, Paint
Copper Horse Weather Vanes For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Copper Horse Weather Vanes?
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.