Details | |
| Artist | Unknown |
| Title | Seated Dog Weathervane |
| Date | About 1880 |
| Medium | Iron |
| Dimensions | H: 62cm |
| Reference | CVCSC:0175.F |
| Collection | British Folk Art |
| License this work | |
The weathervane was an important factor for the famer and the sailor, making the weathervane a significant instrument in pre-technological society. Rural and sea-faring communities needed to be aware of the wind direction to protect their crops and ships. The weathervane - its name deriving from the old English fana, meaning flag or banner - was also an expression of the blacksmith’s art. Weathervanes could take many different forms including cocks (which carried a religious significance); other birds, such as swan or doves; fish (a good shape to catch the wind); and, inevitably, ships. They were often made of beaten iron, in this case painted white and in the unusual shape of a seated terrier.
Seated Dog Weathervane About 1880 © Compton Verney
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