Weathervanes

The weathervane is more than just a beautifully functional ornament. Throughout history and across the globe, it has served as an enduring and timeless symbol of our dependence upon the wind and weather.

For centuries, wherever people settled, their reliance upon the weathervane (also wind vane) has been as basic to them as grinding wheat for bread. At the end of each day, and with the dawning of the next, people have looked to the sky and studied the direction of their weathervanes. They have plowed and sown, reaped and stored, worked and played, trusting the good directions of the wind that drove their fate.

Derived from the Old English word fane, meaning "flag" or "banner", the weathervane was part of ancient cultures as early as 48 B.C., when a life-size figure of the Greek god Triton was hoisted atop the Tower of the Winds in Athens.

With the discovery of the New World, weathervanes were proudly displayed from the high steeples of newly populated towns and cities as our ancestors blended cultures and traditions to create America. At first, colonists reproduced the traditional figures of their native countries. But with the passage of time, their weathervanes evolved to reflect the environment and character of this budding country. New Englanders, for example, used symbols of their new frontier, such as fish, seagulls, and ships. As American pioneers moved westward, farmers designed and crafted their own figureheads, including farm animals and Native American themes.”
-- Good Directions

Over time, weathervanes have became coveted works of decorative art, admired as much for their craftsmanship as for their practicality. We understand that most people buying weathervanes today are not trying to study the wind to discover the best times to grind wheat, but we do believe they do still carry with them a beautiful sense of awe and tradition. They look elegant in the garden, and spectacular on rooftops. They also make great retirement gifts! We hope you enjoy the selection of unique weathervane designs that we offer. May favorable winds forever blow your way.

More Weathervane Facts, Fables, & Rhymes!

• The word 'vane' comes from the Anglo-Saxon word 'fane' meaning 'flag'.
• The weathervane is one of the oldest weather tools.
• The north wind doeth blow, and we shall have snow.
• When the wind is from the east, it’s not good for man nor beast.
• The term "weathervane" has been used as a slang word for a politician who has frequent changes of opinion.
• When clouds look like rocks and towers, the earth will have many showers.
• A cow with its tail to the west makes weather the best.
  A cow with its tail to the east makes weather the least.
  (Traditional New England weather rhyme)
• Weathervanes are sometimes referred to as: weathercocks, windvanes, and aerovanes.
• Most common misspellings include weathervain, weathervein, and wettervane.
• The largest weathervane appears to be a retired and perfectly balanced 20m long, Douglas DC-3 airplane sitting on a carefully designed pedestal alongside the runway at Whitehorse Airport in Yukon. From what we can tell, it has not yet been officially recognized, with the Guiness World Record for largest weathervane still being held by an enormous Weather Vane resting atop the Tio Pepe facility in Jerez, Spain. The "Ella Ellenwoon" Schooner resting in downtown Monague, MI is quite outstanding as well!


• If you remember nothing else: a weathervane, or weathercock, always points into the wind.
  When looking at a weathervane, the wind is coming from the direction in which it is pointed.

Stop blowing aimlessly in the wind, take home a weathervane today!