Weathervanes as Decorative Accents for Your Home

Installing a weathervane to your home can be an interesting way to add a visual accent while also giving a nod to a time gone past. Weathervanes used to be a common sight on most buildings, including churches, farm houses, city offices, and residences. These days, you will most often find a weathervane on a home or old-style farm house as a more of a decorative effect than a necessary weather instrument.

Weathervanes as decorative accents: Past decorative uses

A weathervane consists of a vertical pillar with a metal spinner that turns as the wind blows. Antique weathervanes are becoming popular as a unique way to decorate your home and a subtle way to set it apart from the neighboring houses. In the past, weathervanes were used as a sign of wealth or as a way to designate that the inhabitants of a building were affiliated with a certain group. In the 13th century, weathervanes were often used on Catholic churches as a symbol of Peter's betrayal. As the use of weathervanes caught on, most of the tallest buildings in a town sported their own uniquely designed weathervane. One common theme for residential weathervanes was the family's coat of arms.

Weathervanes as decorative accents: Use as weather instruments

Of course, weathervanes also have their practical use of indicating which way the wind is blowing. This is not as important in modern life, but used to be of grave concern in past times. The weathervane is believed to have been developed by the Vikings as far back as the 9th century. On a ship, knowing which direction the wind is blowing can be crucial information when plotting a course across the ocean.

Weathervanes as decorative accents: Early American designs

As the weathervane made its way to America, the first designs were similar to those that had been popular back in Britain. These initial weathervanes were generally made in foreign countries and can be quite a valuable find for an antique collector lucky enough to come upon one of these 17th century artifacts. The American style gradually took over weathervane design just as it did with much of the rest of the culture. Rather than the standard arrow or rooster weathervane design, the builders of the day began to use Western themes like horses, ships, or even cowboys and Indians. The Revolutionary War brought a new wave of popularity for weathervanes shaped like eagles, the American bird of freedom. Modern weathervanes can be found in a wide variety of shapes, from traditional designs to pop culture references and cartoon characters.