Tag Archives: grasshoppers

Composed of two halves of hammered copper soldered together, weathervanes draw attention to the roof of your home or building. These copper and brass shapes have a long history, however. While used primarily for décor in the present, weathervanes were needed to indicate the direction of the wind. Over time, this practical use was compounded with design, and the shapes of certain weathervanes became associated with specific establishments or businesses.

In the present, weathervanes come in all shapes and sizes. Roosters, grasshoppers, and horses are some of the traditional designs. Roosters, once called “weather cocks,” were associated with the Catholic Church for several centuries. In the ninth century, the Pope decreed that all churches display weather cocks to symbolize the events taking place after the last supper. (more…)