Whirligigs, Weathervanes, and Windmill Weights

Folk art, antiques, and outsider art

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Gardener whirligig
Gardener whirligig
Whirligig with African-American figure
Whirligig with African-American figure
Whirligig
Jointed Dancer Whirligig
Whirligig
Whimsical Sawyer Whirligig
Woodpecker whirligig
Woodpecker whirligig
Airplane whirligig
Airplane whirligig
Woodcutter whirligig
One of two whirligigs
by the same maker
Doorknob weathervane
Doorknob weathervane
whirligig
Airplane whirligig
Horse weathervane
Wooden horse weathervane
Whirligig figures
Whirligig figures
Folky arrow weathervane
Folky hand made metal
arrow weathervane
Metal rooster
Large metal
rooster weathervane
Painted blade
Painted Whirligig Blade

Painted bladeThis is a wonderfully painted old hand fashioned wood blade - likely used on a whirligig at one time. The color and design are both unusual and highly decorative. This piece was probably made around the 1940's, and is now mounted on a new base and stand. It could also be removed and hung on a wall. The blade is about 17" long by 3 5/8" wide by 3/4"thick. On the stand it is 22 1/4" high when vertical. The price is $110.00. Inventory Code: TOKW.   Painted blade ... Closeup ... More views ... Side and back views ... More closeups ... Closeup from back ... With a soda can for scale.

Gardener whirligigHere is a nice folky whirligig from Maine. Made about the 1940's, it has unusual construction with a small 4-bladed fan on top. When it turns the gardener's arms and hoe go back and forth. This piece is hand made from pine, plywood, and metal. It is mounted on a wood base which originally may have been either a hat form or a foundry mold. It has an old and oxidized surface with nice paint and good color. There is some paint loss and rust on the blade. The condition is very good. The whirligig is about 27" high to the top of the blades, including the base. It is 39" long and 3" wide. The blade is about 9" in diameter, while the base is about 11" across. The price is $475.00. Inventory Code: THAC.   See a slideshow of several views [386k] ... Gardener whirligig ... The other side ... Another angle ... Closeup of man ... Closeup of tail ... Man, one side ... Man, other side ... Two back views ... Two front views ... Closeup of the propeller ... From above ... Video of the action [589k].

Whirligig with African-American figureThis is a unique and wonderfully folky whirligig, with good color, form, and action. It is relatively small, yet also very intricate; and has a balance and sensibility rarely found. The carved man has great character, detail, and presence. Unlike how a lot of African-American men are depicted, this person has a quiet dignity. The whirligig is hand crafted and constructed from found objects, old automobile parts, and individually made pieces. When wind turns the blade, the man turns the crank. The wood uprights are painted good old dark green which adds a nice touch of color. The body of the man is brown with white eyes and teeth. The eyes and nose are old very small round tacks. The mouth was carved. His hair is some sort of material, maybe even tree resin, that has gotten very hard. He has only one of his ears - which is made from a tack. On the front of his body are two smaller tacks for buttons and a hole above them, which probably contained a third at one time. His legs and arms are metal. The entire whirligig was later mounted on an old block of wood. The whirligig itself is about 19" long by 16" high from the wood base. It is about 13 1/2" to the top of the man's head. Including the base the entire piece is slightly under 20" high. Other than the particulars noted above, it really is in excellent old still working condition. This whirligig was likely made in the very early 20th century, around 1910 to 1920. The price is $1400.00. Inventory Code: TROW.   See a slideshow of several views [712k] ... Whirligig with African-American figure ... Closeup of the man ... Front view ... Closeup from front ... Another overall view ... Closeup ... Blade end view ... Closeup of the blade ... From behind ... Closeup of the man ... Another closeup of the man ... Closeup from the side ... Back view ... Two closeups of the back ... Another closeup of the back ... Another overall view from behind ... From above ... Closeup from above ... Another closeup from above ... Closeup of the tail ... The other side of the tail ... Closeup of the base ... Another closeup of the base ... With a soda can for scale ... Video of the action (1.7Mb).

Metal roosterThis is a very folky one-of-a-kind rooster weathervane made from galvanized sheet metal. The rooster was hand cut from two pieces and put together. It then was bolted with supports to part of a ventilator from a silo or barn, which had a shaft with a hole put inside so the entire piece could rotate in the wind. The word "Rock" is painted on one side of the tail in subtle, silver-gray paint. This unusual piece came from the Midwest, likely Iowa, and was probably made in the 1940's or 50's. Being metal, there is some little rust, oxidation, and outside wear, but it is in generally very good condition. The body of the rooster is 23" long by 19" high. As mounted, it is 26 1/2" long by 28 1/4" high by 13 1/2" wide. We still have the ventilator, and it can be easily reassembled if you prefer it mounted that way. The price is $475.00. Inventory Code: AKOT.   See a slideshow of several views [518k] ... Metal rooster ... The other side ... Another angle ... Closeup ... Closeup, other side ... Closeup of head ... Closeup of tail, with "Rock" ... Closeup of body ... Closeup of head, other side ... Tail, other side ... Body, other side ... Front and back views ... Closeup from the front ... Closeup of the base ... Mounted on the ventilator ... Front view, on ventilator ... With a soda can for scale.

WhirligigThis is a one-of-a-kind whirligig which combines the action of a dancing jointed man with a spinning propeller and moving "dance floor". The base the dancer stands on goes up and down as the blades turn causing his legs, arms, and body to move. Made from wood, sheet metal, and odds and ends of hardware, including a spring, hand carved, and "make do" parts, it has a funky and unusual look. The man is carved from pine, has a top hat, and a face with nose, smile and other features. The sides are decorated with reflectors. It was originally clamped to something on top of a barn in Indiana. Now it is mounted on a base so that it is free-standing. It was probably made in the 1950's, and is in very good, used and weathered condition - although the front of one foot is long missing. Overall height with the base and original pole is 35". The whirligig itself is 21" long by 16" high by 5 1/2" wide, with an 18 1/2" propeller. The man stands 10 1/2" high. The price is $350.00. Inventory Code: AROH.   Dancer whirligig ... Another angle ... Closeup ... Front view ... Side view ... The other side ... Closeup of the front ... Closeup of the side ... Closeup of the back ... Another closeup ... Closeup of the mechanism ... Side view, including the pole and base ... Back view.

WhirligigThis is a whimsical whirligig of a man sawing wood. It has nice paint, and there are fun details, like a large screw bent into his pipe, and the pencilled in face. The mechanism was removed at some time, and then replaced with an old doorknob. The man is missing one leg. His coat and hat are dark blue. The propeller is red and white, with a light blue center. The paint is mostly strong, with a little weathering from outdoor use. The overall length is 26". The man stands 13 1/4" tall, on a base 4 1/4" wide, and the propeller is 22" in diameter. It is about 40 to 50 years old. The price is $195.00. Inventory Code: AAHC.   Image ... One side ... The other side ... Closeup of the man ... Another view ... Front view.

Whirligig figuresHere are two carved, jointed, and painted wrestlers. They raise, lower, and go back and forth. The men are made from pine, while their arms are galvanized lightweight metal. They are mounted on an old plywood base on which are the mechanical remnants of the rest of the whirligig. It appears that this is the original base, and what is missing is the blade and some of the linkage. This funky and folky piece is probably no more recent than the 1940's. The paint is partially worn, but what remains is still fairly strong and not flaking. The men are 10" high while "sitting", and are 10" long and about 4" wide. They are mounted on a metal base with slots to allow some travel. The overall size is 26" long, 7" wide, and 12" high. The price is $1100.00. Inventory Code: AOPH.   Carved wrestlers ... Side view ... Same side, with figures moved ... Second closeup ... Third closeup.

Airplane whirligigThis is a folky, primitive airplane whirligig. It is made from wood, painted red, with weathering from outdoor use. The airplane is probably from the 1940's or 50's, but the plywood wing is a more recent replacement. It measures 27" long by 24" wide by about 7" high, with a 12" propeller. As mounted on the base, it is 21 1/4" high. The price is $125.00. Inventory Code: TARW.   Airplane whirligig ... Another angle ... Side view ... The other side ... Front view ... Back view ... Closeup of front ... Closeup of tail ... Closeup of prop ... Another closeup ... From above ... With a soda can for scale.

Here are two amusing woodchopper whirligigs by the same maker. They were both found in a barn in New Hampshire. They are both about the same size. There are some small differences in the blades, thickness of the wood, and other elements. They were probably made around the same time, likely 1960's or 70's. They are now mounted on new bases and stands. Their paint is good and solid, and the colors are nice. Both work, and with the exception of a few little details, as noted below, are in extremely good condition. It is unusual to find a pair like this.

Woodcutter whirligigThis first whirligig has thicker wood for the man's body and tree. It is 5/8" pine. The arms, legs, and blade are thinner pine, about 1/4" thick. The overall length is 16" and the width across the blades is about 14". Standing, the man is 9 1/2" tall. The tree is 3" high. On the base this piece is about 21" high. The front of the right foot is broken off and one of the blades has a tiny split with a little nail in it to keep it solid. The axe was fashioned from pine. The price is $225.00. Inventory Code: TRPA.   Woodcutter whirligig ... The other side ... Axe raised ... Other side, axe raised ... Closeup of the man ... Closeup, other side ... From the front ... Closeup of the blade ... Another front view ... Back view ... From above ... With a soda can for scale.
Both whirligigs ... Both, axes lowered ... Another view of both.

Second woodcutter whirligigThe man and tree of the second whirligig are made from thinner pine, with plywood arms. The axe on this one was also cut and carved from pine, but is a little thinner. The paint on this piece has a bit of wear and has one or two small flakes present. This man stands 9 3/4" when upright, and the tree is 2 7/8" high. The pine blade is painted with horizontal stripes. The front of the woodcutter's cap is missing, and the front of his right foot was replaced some time ago. The length of this whirligig is about 15 1/2" while the blades are about 14" across. It is 20 1/2" high when the man stands up. The price is $225.00. Inventory Code: TRPT.   Second woodcutter whirligig ... The other side ... Axe raised ... Closeup of the wood cutter ... Closeup, other side ... Closeup from front ... Front view ... Closeup of the blade ... Back view ... From above ... With a soda can for scale.
Both whirligigs ... Both, axes lowered ... Another view of both.

Doorknob weathervaneThis whimsical metal weathervane arrow was hand made on a doorknob base. It is 24" long by 5" high, the point is 2" wide. It was most likely made in the 1940's or 50's. It has weathered green paint over remnants of red, and is in excellent condition. The price is $175.00. Inventory Code: AWTT.   Doorknob weathervane ... The other side, upside down ... Closeup of point ... Closeup of tail.

photoThis airplane whirligig has wonderful colors and form. It has a wood body, metal found objects for the blade, wings, and tail, and plastic wheels and pilot. The wood base was added more recently. The plane itself is 26" long, 15 1/2" wide, and 13 1/2" high; with the base it is 24 1/2" high. There may once have been something else attached over the tail. Probably about 40 years old, it is in very good, weathered condition. The price is $325.00. Inventory Code: ATAT.   Image ... From behind/side ... Front ... The colors don't show as well in the rest of the photos, but they will show you other angles. The other side ... Back view ... From above ... Overall, including base.

Horse weathervaneA nice wooden horse weathervane in weathered gray and black paint on both sides. An old spark plug was added to the front of the arrow to make it balance. It is 44 1/2" long by 16" high. The horse is cut from 1/2" plywood; the arrow is solid wood 1 1/2" thick. There is a metal plate with a hole for the pivot underneath. From Indiana, c. 1940's, it is in very good condition with a few very minor chips. The price is $295.00. Inventory Code: ASHS.   Horse weathervane ... The other side ... Closeup of the horse ... Closeup of the horse, other side ... Closeup of the arrow and sparkplug ... Closeup of the arrow, other side ... From above ... From below.

Folky arrow weathervaneThis is a very folky hand made weathervane arrow. It was made from sheet metal and iron tubing, with wire reinforcement. The tip and tail of the arrow were cut by hand, and the edges folded over to fasten the two halves together. It has a good, dark, oxidized, unpainted surface. The weathervane is from the first half of the 20th century, mounted on a wood and metal base. It measures 20 1/2" long by 10" high; as mounted it is 16 1/2" high by 6" wide. It is in excellent used and weathered condition. The price is $175.00. Inventory Code: TCWR-A.   Folky arrow weathervane ... Closeups ... The other side, overall ... From front and back ... Closeup of the point ... Closeup of the tail ... From above.

Woodpecker whirligigThis is a really nice and folky old whirligig. It includes a tree and woodpecker, both cut from plywood. They are mounted to a piece of 1" thick pine. The wood propeller blades were also fashioned from pine. When the blades turn, the bird goes up and down. This assemblage is in very good, old, working condition. It was likely made about the 1940's or 50's and shows wear and some old repaint consistent with that. This older piece is mounted on a new base and stand. Overall, the height of the whirligig including the base is about 26 1/2" to the top of the tree. It is 21 1/2" long, the woodpecker is about 10 1/4" long and 5" high, and the blades are about 14 1/2" in diameter. The price is $295.00. Inventory Code: TWPK.   See a slideshow of several views [300k] ... Woodpecker whirligig ... The other side ... Closeup of the bird ... The bird, other side ... End view ... The other end ... Closeup of propeller ... Closeup of tree ... Closeup of the mechanism ... From above ... From below ... With a soda can for scale ... Video of the action (2.6Mb).

 

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