subject: Finding Antique-Style Weathervanes for Your Home [print this page] Finding Antique-Style Weathervanes for Your Home
Now more decorative than practical, weathervanes are pieces of outdoor dcor or collectable items. If you want to combine the two, the classic look with a sturdy and modern design, is it possible to find antique-style weathervanes? Made in a variety of shapes, modern weathervanes mimic popular designs of yore and are crafted to withstand the outdoors. Although an antique is attractive, it is not durable enough to hold up to water, UV rays, and snow.
The first step to having an antique-style weathervane is going with a classic image. Roosters, for example, date back to the ninth century and are associated with the Catholic Church. At the time, the Pope decreed that all churches must display a "weathercock," a rooster-shaped weathervane, as a symbol of the Last Supper. This symbolism lasted up through the 20th century.
Much like roosters were associated with churches, other animal shapes were attached to specific businesses. A pig-shaped weathervane, for instance, was likely atop a butcher, and a horse shape atop the town stable.
Horse weathervanes, however, became popular around the turn of the 20th century and reflected two trends of the time: popular racehorses and design. For the latter, horse weathervanes from the Victorian period were detailed, and weathervanes that came after had silhouette shapes. In either instance, the horses were not only locked in a running or prancing image, but they were shaped after popular racing animals.
In the present and the past, nautical images have been mainstay weathervane shapes. Those from the 19th century, however, reflected the industries of the time, such as whaling and fishing. Modern nautical weathervanes, however, depict sea creatures, such as dolphins, or mermaids. Boats, on the other hand, never seem to go out of style, and while flat images of vessels are still common, older boat-shaped weathervanes were also three dimensional.
Aside from the shape, another aspect to consider is the finish. Some weathervanes are made with an aged look, having a bluish-green finish applied to the copper initially. Polished copper, while bright initially, fades naturally over time. Having this look will make the weathervane appear more like an antique.
Other aspects of older weathervanes, however, are not possible with modern designs. Many older shapes, for example, were made out of zinc, which can rust when left outdoors. Shapes at the time, additionally, might have had a lightning rod attached, and because homes are now equipped with this feature, adding them to weathervanes is unnecessary.
