Weathervanes – American Folk ArtWeathervanes – American Folk ArtOn Thursday, January 27th, 2011 at 5:44 am, No Comments »
Weathervanes – American Folk Art Weathervanes – American Folk Art Why Submit Articles? 0 && $.browser.msie ) { Register Email Home Page > Home Improvement > Weathervanes – American Folk Art Weathervanes – American Folk Art Posted: Aug 27, 2008 |Comments: 0 ]]> Weathercock, weathercock, up in the sky, What can you see from your perch so high? To farmers or to anyone working outside, the weather has always been a very important element. It taught our forefathers to sense impending storms, to hunt from down wind, and to make fires safely. Before the days of “weather reports” the weather vane was more important then the clock is to workers today. Weather vanes and the wind was a true indicator of weather patterns. Because of this weathervanes became indispensable to the pioneers. The first weathervanes were made of wood, with an arrow or pointing hand that had north-south directions indicated on them. The wood would rot, so the pioneers got creative and covered the wood with copper sheeting to give the weathervane a longer life. This made the weathervane too heavy, and it did not swing properly. By definition, a weathervane is a figure that turns freely on a vertical rod and always points into the wind. Weathervane is derived from the word “fane,” which means flag or banner in Anglo-Saxon. The Greeks erected the first recorded weathervane about 48BC. It honored the Greek god Triton, as they believed the winds had divine powers. It had 8 sides that were carved representing the winds. Even then, they knew wind was a true indicator of weather patterns. In the ninth century a pope supposedly decreed that every church have a cock on its steeple, a reminder of when Peter denied Christ three times; a reminder that each person would deny Jesus in some way. The Quakers and Puritans thought weathercocks were graven images, so it wasn’t until the eighteenth century that weathervanes became popular in the United States. At this time many churches adopted either rooster or swallow-tailed vanes. In 1742, the most famous weathervane in the United States was made in Boston. Shaped like a grasshopper, complete with glass eyes. Just think, if that grasshopper could speak—what a historian it would be. It has survived earthquakes, fires, and the Boston Massacre. Thomas Jefferson with his creative spirit attached the weathervane on Monticello to a pointer in the ceiling of the room directly below. While sitting inside he could till the direction of the wind. ”The Dove of Peace,” a dove weathervane, was commissioned by George Washington for his estate at Mount Vernon. He commissioned the weathervane commemorating the end of the Revolutionary War. Weathervane usually feature the interest of the owner; from chicken, horses, pigs, and other livestock for farmers, to deer or water foul for the hunter to sporting scenes or figures of a humorous nature. Weathervanes show off ones personality. Weathervanes are both plain and fancy, some highly artistic and some humorous, or just an arrow pointing into the wind. Weathervanes are making a come back, the fanciful designs that reflect the personality of the owners. Placed on top cupolas, weathervanes are giving homes a look to make them stand out from the crowd. http://prairierosecountry.com Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/weathervanes-american-folk-art-538159.html” (ArticlesBase SC #538159) Liked this article? Click here to publish it on your website or blog, it’s free and easy! Elda Titus - Cupolas bring a bit of country to your estate by providing exterior building ornamentation with traditional early American architectural accents. Cupolas decorate exterior roof tops of houses, garages, commercial buildings,and gazebos.Distinguish your home and business. http://prairierosecountry.com ]]> Questions and Answers Ask our experts your Home Improvement related questions here… 200 Characters left Rate this Article vote(s) Feedback Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/weathervanes-american-folk-art-538159.html Article Tags: Latest Home Improvement Articles Cupolas are making a comeback—not only for barns, but for homes, garages, commercial buildings, and gazebos. Although they are ornamental, cupolas are also very functional by circulating air and providing an inexpensive light source. Cupolas bring back a bit of country to your estate by providing warmth and charm, with traditional early American architecture. Installed on rooftops, they create an asymmetrical appeal that allows the outside buildings to look there absolute best. By: Home Improvement> Kitchen Cabinets Design – Some Helpful Information on Updating the Look Have you been giving some thought to updating the look and design of your kitchen cabinets? There are numerous stores that specialize in the redesigning of older kitchen cabinets and/or the making of brand new ones. By: Crystal Chandeliers: Tips about Discovering the Proper Chandeliers for Your Home chandelier that offers off a vibrant glow if it will likely be your primary supply of lighting. You may select a more somber lighting if you can be using it for atmosphere only By: Should I Get My New Home Inspected? As a home buyer you should always get a new home inspected.Getting a brand new home inspected may be more crucial than having an older home inspected. By: A programmable thermostat can be one of the few smart items that will save you some money and creates comfort in the process. Depending on the size of your dwelling, they will often save you as much as fifty dollars per month on your power expenses. By: Springtails manage to get their name because of the forked tail, at the end of their abdominal area which will be curved below their very own body. This helps these tiny pests to spring frontward kind of like a small flea, hence the name Springtails. By: Do You Want to Know More About Radon Tests? Radon is an unwanted naturally developing radioactive gas which is found in various areas across the nation. The issue with radon is the fact that it may be present inside of the house you happen to be purchasing, but the only course of action to discover it is to test for it. By: Hot Remodeling Trends For 2011 Hot Remodeling Trends for 2011 Another year is over and once again we all made that list of New Year’s resolutions that wealways swear this year we really will keep. If making some changes around your home found its way onto that list then here are some of the remodeling trends that are expected to heat up in 2011. By: PEX; short for cross-linked polyethylene has turned into an affordable product of choice for many building contractors and plumbers. This has been used in the United States since the 1980′s for a lot of purposes such as basic plumbing and even hydronic floor heating systems. By: 10 Facts about Choosing the Right Cupola Cupolas have enchanted us throughout the centuries, and capture the beauty and serenity of the past. They add class, sophistication, or a little country charm to the roof of your buildings. By: Cupolas, Well Proportioned, Create Curb Appeal When thinking of purchasing a cupola, one needs to be careful not to purchase without thought of size and the architectural style of the building it will be perched upon. One wants the cupola to add balance to create the appearance that it was not just add on, but to create an asymmetrical appeal that gives your buildings to look their absolute bests. By: Home Improvement> Creating first Impressions, Cupolas add Curb Appeal Today, wood cupolas are popular for homes, garages, professional buildings and many other structures, creating a new bold look. Cupolas are the small structure often seen on the rooftops, having the appearance of a miniature gazebo. By: Home and Family> Universal Symbols—five Intertwined Rings For The Olympics & Steeples For A Place Of Worship No matter where you live on this great earth—when one sees the five intertwined rings we think of the Olympics. And wherever we live in this world and see steeples we observe it as a place to worship. So how did these symbols become universal? By: Universal Symbolsfive Intertwined Rings For The Olympics Symbols are objects or pictures that represent a much larger idea. Symbols have played a significant role throughout history in how ideas become and influence our culture. It has been said that symbols represent and communicate who we are and what we value as a society. No matter where you live… By: Business> How To Get Country Style Curb Appeal With A Cupola Create a country motif with charm, elegance and stateliness to an otherwise ordinary looking structure. Outdoor decorating has become a great way to improve the value of your home or business. Because it is the first thing people see when they drive up. By: How Domes became a Symbol of Government In the United States, the dome has become an architectural icon of choice for government buildings. Their stateliness adds beauty that fits the grandeur of most capitol buildings, a status-marking identification. By: How the United States Capitol Cupola Became a Symbol of Democracy One of the most famous landmarks of the United States is the United States Capitol with the cupola or dome that graces its roofline. The Capitol dome, with its pure white sandstone is radiant-a symbol of democracy and strength. A breathtaking site when illuminated at night it is a fitting… By: Add new Comment Your Name: * Your Email: Comment Body: *
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