Copper Weather Vane

Copper is the material of choice for constructing a weather vane. Because copper is a relatively soft metal and is easily worked and handled, it is commonly used to form the basic elements of the weathervane. The directional, finial and rod may be made of brass, but the featured design is almost always constructed of copper.

A copper weather vane when purchased is the bright copper color which one would expect. The finish will be shiny. Once the copper weather vane is exposed to the weather, it develops a patina. The patina consists of a mixture of copper carbonate and sulfate called brochanite. In coastal areas, copper chlorides are predominant, but variations in the patina can lead to colors ranging from greenish to blue-gray.

Over the course of a few weeks, the surface of the copper weather vane tarnishes to a uniform brown color. As time passes, the color grows darker until after five to ten years the patina is a green coating. In more rural areas, the patina may take as much as twenty years to appear. Some less-than-scrupulous people attempt to artificially age copper weather vanes in order to make them appear to be antique, but artificial patinas are rarely as successful as the original.

Some well known copper weather vane makers in early American history included: L W Cushing, J W Fiske, A L Jewell & Co, Harris & Co and E G Washburne & Co. Their creations topped houses, churches and public buildings in post Revolutionary War years. Some of these copper weather vanes are still extant, and are still valued for the beauty, creativity and workmanship. It’s because of the scarcity and cost of the original designs of copper weather vanes that modern craftsmen began the creation and manufacture of these objects of American Folk Art. Reproductions are much in demand, as are the unique and creative products of today’s craftsmen.

Because many of these copper weather vanes are hand-crafted, there will be slight variations in appearance and detailing. For those creations made using a mold into which copper is poured or pounded, the variations are less apparent.

While antique copper weather vanes are still in existence and still sold on venues such as online auctions; many are handled through special auction sales and can fetch extremely high prices. Five of the top-money sales of antique copper weather vanes brought prices ranging from $60,000 to $770,000