Running Horse Weather Vane
c. 1860
Medium
Copper, lead or zinc, and gilding
Dimensions
43.2 × 69.2 × 5.1 cm (17 1/16 × 27 1/4 × 2 1/16 in.)
Classification
weathervane
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
188559
Art Historical Context
Created around 1860 by Alvin L. Jewell, this Running Horse Weather Vane captures the spirit of mid-19th-century American craftsmanship. As a functional yet decorative object, it would have perched atop a barn or public building, its dynamic pose indicating wind direction while delighting passersby with its sense of motion and vitality. The horse, a symbol of speed and rural life, reflects the era’s fascination with both agriculture and emerging transportation. Crafted from copper with lead or zinc accents and finished in gilding, the weathervane combines durability with visual brilliance. The...