Weathervane: Deer

Date1875-1900

Possibly by A. B. & W. T. Westervelt (1883-1890)

Possibly by Harris & Co. (1867-ca. 1882)

Possibly by W. A. Snow & Co./W. A. Snow Iron Works (active ca. 1885-ca. 1940)

OriginAmerica

MediumCopper, copper alloy, zinc alloy, lead, paint, and gilding

DimensionsOverall: 25 1/2 x 31 3/4 x 3 3/4in. (64.8 x 80.6 x 9.5cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1962.800.3

DescriptionA full-bodied weathervane in the form of a stag, shown leaping over a landscape element consisting of a log, shrubbery, etc. The stag's front legs are raised and folded sharply, his rear legs stretched out behind with the rear hooves close to the horizontal supporting bar. The animal's neck is arched back, his raised head bearing a full rack of antlers.
Label TextCorporate buy-outs were common among nineteenth-century weather vane manufacturers. When a firm was acquired, its successor often continued to market many of the same designs under a new name. This and the fact that there was no strict law to prevent one maker from simply copying the designs of another make it virtually impossible to accurately attribute or date many commercially-made weather vanes.
Boston's Harris & Co. produced this deer weather vane until going out of business in 1882. By 1885, W. A. Snow & Co. (later, The W. A. Snow Iron Works), also of Boston, had acquired Harris's molds. Snow marketed the deer in its catalogue using the identical illustration from Harris's catalogue. A. B. & W. T. Westervelt of New York City may have pirated the design of this deer from W. A. Snow, for Westervelt sold an identical vane between 1883 and 1890. The landscape element below the deer was optional. Harris, Snow, and Westervelt all asked $40 for the deer as shown and $35 for it without the "bush."
ProvenanceEdith Gregor Halpert, Downtown Gallery, New York, NY.

Exhibition(s)