Weathervanes

In former times weathervanes played a crucial role in the life of the farm. Knowing which way the wind was blowing gave you a chance at predicting whether those clouds on the horizon would be coming your way or heading elsewhere. Today, of course, we just turn on our television sets and wait for the weatherman to explain the satellite picture to us. What's left of weathervanes is the romance. They provide a stately look that harkens back to the past. If your home doesn't have a weathervane, you might be considering enhancing the look by adding one.

Overview

A weathervane is a simple device in concept. Mounted on a weatherproof pole are a fixed set of directional indicators and a swiveling pointer. The directional indicators generally have a large N, S, W, and E at the appropriate ends to note the direction of the compass. The swiveling pointer is pushed about by the wind so that it always indicates the direction in which the wind is blowing.

Weathervane Materials

Weathervanes can distinguish themselves by their looks through the sort of metal that is used. The supporting shaft below and the spindle above are usually steel. The rest of the apparatus can be copper (polished or with a patina), brass, or some other metal. The letters can be ornate or simple as can the pointer and the ball on which the arrow swivels.

Weathervane Art

But the real place that weathervanes distinguish themselves is in the type of figure that rests on top. A rooster is a traditional figure that can make your weathervane and whole house seem like something out of a storybook. Other birds are also popular. You can get birds at rest or birds in flight. You can get birds that are just about to take off and birds that have just landed. One weathervane may have an eagle swooping down to catch a fish. Another may have a blue heron (perhaps made of copper with a green patina) stretching its thin legs behind it as it spreads its wings in flight. Hawks, ospreys, doves, gulls, ducks, and geese are also possibilities.

If birds aren't to your taste, there are plenty of other animals to choose from. The humble pig makes a good topper to your weathervane as well. In fact, if you want to add a little whimsy and humor to the mix, you can even have a pig with wings. Other animals include a moose, a deer, a rabbit, a horse, a dog, or even a dolphin.

Animals are just the beginning, of course. You can get airplanes and ships as well. A biplane or a Viking boat might look especially nice. You can get a statuette of a golfer, a couple of hearts, or a small lighthouse atop your weathervane.

If none of those ideas appeals to you, you can work with the weathervane maker to find something you like. Most weathervanes are custom made by craftsmen who enjoy showing off their talent and helping people realize their creative visions.

Whatever you get, think about the placement and the size of your weathervane to make sure you get your money's worth. If it's going to be put far away on top of a roof, you want it to be large enough to be seen from down below. For a smaller building such as a gazebo or a garage, you can get a medium-sized vane. And for a birdhouse or birdfeeder, you can find the smallest size and add it as an accent on top. Whatever size you get, if you want it to work, make sure that it is unshielded from the wind in all directions.