Weather Vane from the Past until Now

address signs

Almost everything that we use in the modern age has a counterpart during the ancient days. The discoveries started in pre historic era and have just been improved to look better, to be user friendly and to be able to work accurately and efficiently. There is no doubt that people never stops to discover new valuable things and keep on thinking fresh ideas that can be more of help in the future.

On the other hand, let’s try to discuss what has changed from the past until now when it comes to weather vane’s design. It has been said that the earliest recorded weather vane was to honor the Greek god Triton. This was built by the astronomer Andronicus in 48 B.C. and has been believed to be 4 to 8 ft. long with the head and torso of a man and a tail of a fish.

In the 9th century, archaeologists have discovered bronze Viking weather vanes which had an unusual quadrant animal shape or creatures from Norse fable usually placed in Viking ships. However, in the 9th century A.D., the pope announced that every church in Europe should display a cock on its dome or steeple, a reminder that the cock would not crow after Last Supper until Peter denied him for 3 times. From that story, weather vanes in cock shapes have topped church domes and steeples for centuries.

Later on, Normandy and Germany which are the predecessor of modern weather vanes started to create weather vanes in various shapes like the famous grasshopper, dove of peace, the legendary racing horse and the Goddess of Liberty.

 In the last decades of the 19th century during the Victorian era, buildings and infrastructures were embellished with fancy and exaggerated weather vanes in almost every inch of roof space. But after 1900, simple yet charming styles of architecture were dominant contrasting the designs of the previous period.

address plaques

These days, weather vane makers continue to enhance the antique vanes and discover impressive creations that continue to evolve as each decade passes. It is interesting to know what creative arts will be offered in the future most especially to the accessories that are usually displayed in our house and office like the address plaques, outdoor wall clocks and mailboxes.