American Weathervanes: The Art of the Winds

This groundbreaking study reveals the remarkable beauty, historical significance, and technical virtuosity of American vanes fashioned between the late seventeenth and early twentieth centuries and is lavishly illustrated with masterworks from prominent private and public collections.

This major American art form has been an enduring part of the landscape since Colonial days. America’s first documented vane maker, Shem Drowne of Boston, crafted the iconic golden grasshopper that has topped the city’s Faneuil Hall since 1743. Farmers made roosters, cows, and horses for their barns. As the tradition and public demand expanded, so did the diversity of forms. Today, weathervanes hold a well-established place in the canon of American folk art. American Weathervanes celebrates this artistry and is the most up-to-date and authoritative work on this subject.