19th-Century Flat Sheet-Iron Running Horse Weathervane, American Folk Art, Ca. 1870–1900

Details

Description

Some pieces survive time. This one defies it. Forged in the pre-catalog era and carrying a century of weather in … Read more Some pieces survive time. This one defies it. Forged in the pre-catalog era and carrying a century of weather in every line of its oxidized patina, it stands as one of the rarest, most authentic echoes of early American folk art—a silhouette as bold today as the day it was cut by hand. This is a conversation piece!

An early, blacksmith-made survivor from the pre-catalog era of American weathervanes. Hand-cut from flat sheet iron with a mortised vertical spine and forged collar, this running horse predates the later repoussé copper models popularized by major workshops. The silhouette reads boldly from across a room, and—unusually for iron—it remains structurally complete with its original rod.

The surface shows an untouched, century-old oxidized patina in graphite gray with russet highlights and scattered pitting—exactly the kind of honest age that serious Americana collectors prize. Ear may not be fully apparent (difficult to verify due to surface rust & patina). No intrusive repairs or repaint. Early iron vanes were routinely scrapped or lost to weather, making authentic examples in this condition genuinely scarce and especially desirable for a focused folk-art collection.

Highlights
38” wide by 17” height
Rare flat sheet-iron horse vane, ca. 1870–1900
Pre-catalog, small-shop/blacksmith construction; mortised spine & forged collar
Original vertical rod present; silhouette fully intact (ear included)
Superb, untouched oxidized patina—no overcleaning, no repaint
Scarce survival of an inherently fragile medium; museum-worthy display presence

Condition: Stable, naturally weathered patina with expected pitting and minor edge wear; structurally complete; no repaint or repairs.

Provenance: Northeastern United States, ca. 1870–1900. See less