The weathervane, a fixture of the 19th-century American landscape, was placed high atop a house, barn, public building, or place of business. Indicating the direction of the wind, it provided information critical to farmers, sailors, and merchants alike, as their livelihood and well-being depended on the cycles of nature. Weathervanes made in the first half of the 19th century were unique and handmade. However, in 1852, Alvin L. Jewell established the first commercial weathervane factory in Waltham, Massachusetts. His copper weathervanes were made in iron molds in two or more parts. After the metal was molded, the various component parts were soldered together. In response to the increasing demand for weathervanes, several other factories opened in the late 19th century. Weathervanes were produced in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and subjects, from animals (stags, birds, cows, horses, and pigs) to people (Native Americans, soldiers, and sportsmen) and objects (trains and horse-drawn carriages). This handsomeleaping stag is a fine example of a late 19th-century weathervane.
