Seated Dog Weathervane
Artist: Unknown
On display
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.
Details
- Artist
- Unknown
- Title
- Seated Dog Weathervane
- Date
- About 1880
- Medium
- Iron
- Dimensions
- H: 62cm
- Reference
- CVCSC:0175.F
- Collection
- Folk Art