Copper is a traditional and popular material among all other materials used to build weather vanes. Master craftsmen of yesteryear who used to build weather vanes with carved wood, wanted to reproduce and preserve their works. So, many of them turned to copper as an alternative among all metals to make weather vanes, since it is quite malleable.
The intricate details in the design and rendering of various shapes reflected the expertise of the craftsman. His skill was visible in these innovatively designed, hand-cast, carved copper weather vanes. Such copper weather vanes were made by tinkers by hammering the metal into the desired shape or shaping it with cast iron moulds. The individual pieces were then cut out by hand and soldered into one complete figure.
Copper weather vanes can be designed according to various ethnic or modern styles, each with a different look and appeal. Additional built-in copper is required to enrich the appearance and add volume to the figure. In the case of a figurine, such as a cow, it can have up to twenty-seven pieces, which are hammered separately and then integrated to build the weather vane. Other metals, such as brass, are often used to accentuate parts of these copper paddles to enhance their appearance.
Copper weather vanes are considered an essential part of American folk art, and some craftsmen still follow the traditional ways of making them. Antique copper weather vanes are also collected and kept as prized possessions. They are very popular for their burnished and ethnic appearance enriched by different finishing procedures.
Various distributors and manufacturers of copper weather vanes are available online. Various items are displayed on their websites. Most of these copper palettes can be purchased by ordering online or by visiting retail stores. Price lists are also displayed and sometimes compared to market rates. Description of the design and materials used, generally accompany the photographs of these copper weather vanes.