Rare 19th-Century Iron Serpent Weathervane, American Folk Art, Ca. 1850–1880

Details

Description

Some pieces are rare. This is mythic. Forged in the 19th century and steeped in sea-serpent legend, this survivor feels … Read more Some pieces are rare. This is mythic. Forged in the 19th century and steeped in sea-serpent legend, this survivor feels torn from the pages of American folklore itself—a one-in-a-million artifact so scarce it borders on fantasy, the kind that turns collectors into storytellers for life.

This extraordinary serpent weathervane—an authentic 19th-century American folk-art survivor—captures the imagination like few others. Measuring a dramatic 32 inches in length with a looping, stylized silhouette, it was hand-cut from heavy-gauge iron and mounted to serve atop a barn or cupola, its sinuous form turning with the wind for over a century.

Unlike common roosters, horses, and arrows, serpent weathervanes are exceptionally scarce, with only a handful known in museum and private collections (including the American Folk Art Museum’s famed 1850 sea-serpent vane). This example, with its original black-painted surface now beautifully crazed and weathered with craquelure and mild sporadic rust spots from decades of exposure, exudes authenticity and 19th-century character.

Folk-art scholars note that serpent vanes likely drew inspiration from New England’s legendary sea-serpent sightings of the early 1800s and Revolutionary-era “Don’t Tread on Me” imagery—symbols of vigilance, maritime lore, and American identity. Its graphic silhouette would have been instantly recognizable against the sky, serving both practical and symbolic roles atop its original building.

Now mounted on a custom black steel base, this vane reads as both a functional artifact and a sculptural work of art—a rare survivor from the golden age of American weathervanes.

Highlights
32" length × 11" height; hand-cut heavy-gauge iron construction
Iron Serpent Weathervane, ca. 1850–1880
Rare American folk-art form; few documented examples exist
Original black-painted surface with authentic crackled patina
Historic mounting brackets intact; custom black steel base included
Exceptional condition for age; no restorations or replacements

Provenance: Likely New England area See less