19th century Weathervane
The rooster is a universal symbol of the sun, as it’s crowing announces the approach of a new day. This Gallic rooster perched on a large wooden ball emits a vibrant appeal for universal vigilance. Since interpretation of the rooster motif during the 19th century was as varied as the craftsmen in each locality, there was a wide range of artistic treatment in the basic weathervane. Each farmer and carpenter designed his own weathercock on the basis of what he saw. Depending on the creativity of the maker, the rooster appeared as graceful and stylized, or crude and naïve. Handcrafted from a heart pine beam salvaged from a barn located in Bath, NY circa 1890. The head and neck are handcrafted from a thick floor plank board used to drive the farmer’s live stock into the barn from a day in the fields. The tail section is cut and cold worked from a piece of metal roofing. The feet are heated and formed on an anvil from brass rod and are mounted on a large 6-inch wooden ball that the rooster perches on. Red, and gray buttermilk paint is applied to piece in numerous layers to stimulate a time worn appearance. The large wooden ball is gold gilded. Piece is hallmarked and placed on a metal museum mount for display.

48 L by 55 H by 4 D