19th Century Eagle Silhouette Copper-Washed Iron Weathervane

Details

Description

Mid-19th-century eagles like this almost never surface intact. Hand-forged, copper-washed, and weathered to perfection, it stands as a once-in-a-lifetime convergence … Read more Mid-19th-century eagles like this almost never surface intact. Hand-forged, copper-washed, and weathered to perfection, it stands as a once-in-a-lifetime convergence of rarity, age, and American folk-art pride.

This early American eagle weathervane—an authentic mid-19th-century folk-art survivor—embodies the patriotic spirit and craftsmanship of pre-Civil War New England. Measuring approximately 25 inches in length, it was hand-cut from heavy-gauge sheet iron, reinforced with interior iron braces, and finished with a thin copper wash—a decorative treatment that has aged to a striking surface mix of verdigris, rust, and weathered iron tones after more than a century of exposure.

Few mid-19th-century eagle silhouette vanes survive today with their original copper wash and untouched patina intact, making this example a rare convergence of age, craftsmanship, and patriotic symbolism. Its combination of early hand-forged construction, Civil War-era iconography, and authentic surface preservation places it among the more desirable forms of American folk-art weathervanes.

Before the era of mass-produced repoussé copper vanes from workshops like Fiske and Cushing & White, early silhouettes like this were forged by regional blacksmiths and itinerant tinsmiths, often serving as both functional wind indicators and symbolic emblems of American identity. The eagle, with spread wings and downward gaze, was among the most popular motifs, reflecting the patriotic fervor of the 1840s–1860s and the growing sense of national pride surrounding events like the Mexican–American War and the Civil War era.

Its original copper wash—applied to give the iron surface the appearance of costly solid copper—has largely weathered, leaving traces of verdigris patina along cracks and edges, while the forged iron braces on the reverse remain intact, showing early construction techniques predating the adoption of machine welding in the late 19th century. Now mounted on a custom black steel base, this vane presents equally well as folk sculpture and architectural artifact, a rare and authentic survivor from the golden age of American weathervanes.

Highlights
25" length × 19" height; hand-cut heavy-gauge iron silhouette with copper wash
Eagle Weathervane, ca. 1850–1865; pre-dates mass-produced repoussé copper forms
Original surface with weathered verdigris and iron patina, untouched and uncleaned
Reinforced with early hand-forged iron braces; no modern welds or repairs
Mounted on a custom black steel display base; exceptional wall or tabletop presentation
Rare patriotic motif linked to mid-19th-century American identity
Provenance: Likely New England origin; private collection See less