History of a rooftop weathervane – from a tool to a piece of decoration
The rooftop weathervane was originally developed for farmers who needed to know about weather changes. They usually indicated the change of wind direction. Weathervanes were also used by Vikings on their ships to help them forecast the weather. Rooftop weathervane become very fast decorative element, it was used in this way in Greece and pre-Christian Rome as a decoration of the villas of wealthy landowners.
Early history of the rooftop weathervane:
For centuries people have been using many forms of the rooftop weathervane to gauge wind direction.
They were certainly used in Ancient Greece and Rome and later by Vikings. In medieval Europe rooftop weathervanes in shape of a cock were mounted on roofs of every church
This weathervane was intended as a reminder of Jesus’ prophecy that the cock would not crow the morning after the Last Supper, until the disciple Peter had denounced Him three times.
The rooftop weathervane in the US:
First documented rooftop weathervane maker in America, Deacon Shem Drowne, created the famous grasshopper vane atop Boston’s Faneuil Hall in 1742, as well as the banner for Boston’s Old North Church in 1740, the rooster now on First Church in Cambridge , and the large copper Indian for Boston’s Province House in 1716.
In the early 1800′s, Americans favored weathervanes in patriotic designs, including the Goddess of Liberty, and Federal Eagle. By the middle of century they change the fashion for vanes of famous racing horses, modeled after the popular Currier and Ives prints.
In the 19th century, there were many weathervane manufacturers mass-producing vanes in dozens of designs like the rooster, grasshopper and whitetail deer below.
Bright Copper & Brass
Rooster Table Weathervane
Bright Copper Grasshopper
Weathervane
Bright Copper Whitetail
Deer Weathervane
Victorian buildings had fancy rooftop weathervanes and elaborate metalwork embellishing almost every inch of roof space. After 1900, the movement to a simpler style of architecture was reflected in the silhouette weather vane, which often depicted sporting scenes or figures of a humorous nature.
Original weathervanes and contemporary copies:
There is still possibility to buy on the auction original rooftop weathervane. You may get one also buying old house. For those who don’t have enough money or time to spend on searching of an original weathervane, the market offers variety of contemporary copies of famous rooftop weathervanes.
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