How to Buy Antique Weathervanes

Antique weathervanes trace the history of weather vanes back thousands of years, and buying one of these antique weathervanes may be high on the list of antique collectors, but you have to be careful of what you take to be authentically antique.

The oldest antique weathervanes known date back to 48 BC (The Tower of Winds in Athens, Greece), and many others date back to the first century BC. In the United States, the oldest of the antique weathervanes was said to be made by Shem Drowne, a Bostonian in 1716. He also made a large copper one, which was installed on Boston's North Church. Needless to say, antique weathervanes are very old.

Because of their age, antique weathervanes are in very high demand, and that's why some make replicas to sell to those who are not wary of their antique dealer. However, it is very hard to duplicate handcrafted antique weathervanes, such as those made by A.L. Jewell, J.W. Fiske, E.G. Washburne, Cushing and White. These master craftsmen made some of the most popular antique weathervanes. Difficulty won't bar everyone from trying to duplicate antique weathervanes, though, and that's why some spend hours coating weathervanes in animal manure, putting them in dirt and salt water, and burying them for a couple of months. Chemicals like acetic acid, potassium sulfide and sulfate will have the same effect.

As long as you know what to look out for when you're shopping for antique weathervanes, you can find some very interesting, valuable pieces. One such antique weather vane was made by Thomas Jefferson. It had a shaft that went through the roof, then an indicator inside the house to show the wind speed. That way, no one had to go out into the cold to check on the weather. There are also iron antique weathervanes that can be placed in all sorts of locations, such as on the lawn, on a tabletop or on fences.

Some specific guidelines apply when you're determining the authenticity of antique weathervanes. First of all, antique weathervanes were not painted, they were covered with thin metal sheets, and might have part of the gilt border still intact. Instead of looking shiny, antique weathervanes would have a burnished appearance.

Some of the oldest antique weathervanes were used for target practice, and they would have bullet holes in them. Inside these holes, you should find dust if you're observing truly antique weathervanes. Try shaking to find out. In reality, there's no definite way to find out whether you've really found antique weathervanes, but the more experience you get working around and observing antiques, the less likely you are to get pulled in by a fake.

Since there's such a high demand for antique weathervanes, you can expect antique dealers to charge you in any way possible, although many also do discounts every now and then. Generally, arrows, directional shapes, gold globes, mounting brackets, or any other accessory is going to add to the price of the item, or be charged separately. Also consider taxes and shipping, the latter if you're not in-store, and find out what payment options are available. Check out what others are saying about a dealer's antique weathervanes before you buy them.

Both online or on-site purchases of antique weathervanes are possible. The exact prices will vary between different locations, along with the specific properties of the piece - its age, condition, material, value to the owner, etc. Check various locations to find the best price. Antique weathervanes are popular items, and you need to be careful to get only the authentic antiques by looking out for obvious signs of imitation.