I have a 19th century weathervane that was on my Victorian house built in 1881 in Newton MA. The weathervane is of a running horse and I would like to find out more information about my weathervane to determine its value. I took it to a local auction house and was told it was zinc. However it has oxidized
and is green. When copper oxidizes it turns green so I think my weathervane must be copper. How can I find out what material my weathervane is? Could it be a combination of zinc and copper? It also appears to be hollow. I have the entire weathervane including the NSEW directions and the post it was mounted on. I put a modern weathervane in its place when I had it taken down.
See enclosed photo.
Joann
Joann, I spent some time doing searches on the material properties of copper and zinc, as well as any articles in antiques journals and magazines which are about weathervanes. Your research agrees with mine, as far as the material being copper. However, it was not uncommon for the head of the piece to be made of zinc. I don't see a difference in the oxidation of the horse from the head to the body, although there is a seam where the head was attached.
The 'running horse' or race horse motif was very popular in the late 19th century, and there are many examples still available on the antiques scene. However, the quality and detail of your horse is outstanding, so its value should be greater than most. I think you will find that the dollar value at auction will vary considerably according to region, auction house, and type of bidders present. If the weathervane is well-advertised prior to the auction, then collectors will be there and ready to bid. If not, you may find few interested in bidding on it that day.
According to this excellent web site, The Weather Vane Home Page, also known as Denninger's Weather Vanes & Finials:
"There are only two basic rules that must be followed when designing a weather vane: 1.) The ornament must have unequal area on either side of center. 2.) The ornament must have equal mass on either side of center." This enables the prevailing wind to catch the wider part of the vane, while the heavier weighted side will swing from the wind's force.
The form of your horse vane is called "swell-bodied", as opposed to a flat sheet of metal (like a silhouette). Denninger's explains what the process of making a 3-dimensional weather vane includes:
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