We were recently approached by a team of architects working on a prestigious country house project. The homeowners were looking to add a charming yet practical detail to the roofline: a traditional weather vane. It’s a classic feature, and on days when the British weather can’t quite make up its mind, a very useful one too!
Also known as a weathercock or wind vane, they are functional and can also be decorative. The wind blows the larger area at the back of the wind vane so that the front pivots and points to the direction the wind is coming from.
They are often in the shape of a cockerel, an arrow, ships or horses or can be plain and purely functional for scientific reasons. Our design uses a unique arrow and flag design along with the traditional points of the compass underneath.
The architects sent us a location diagram and dimensions, and we began developing a bespoke solution. It was important for the weather vane to look as though it had been in place for 100 years, weathered beautifully by time and the elements. It was to be made from copper, and aged to a rich, characterful patina that would sit naturally in its country setting.
To bring this traditional weather vane to life, we drew on centuries-old blacksmithing skills combined with expert metal craftsmanship. The entire piece was made from copper, a classic choice for weather vanes due to its durability and the beautiful patina it develops with age.
Many of the components were hand-forged using traditional blacksmithing techniques. The decorative elements, including the flag, were shaped to evoke a sense of fluid movement, as though caught mid-motion by the wind. To achieve this, the flag was hand-made and its edges hand-rolled and finished using time-honoured methods. The balls were hand-spun, the cone was hand-rolled and finished, and the letters were individually hand-cut and refined. Even the finer decorative details were hand-wrought in copper using blacksmithing tools and techniques.
Once assembled, the entire piece was hand-patinated to replicate the rich, aged character of a piece that had weathered the elements for over a century, ensuring it felt entirely at home atop a historic property.
Our team of craftspeople are masters in hand patination. For this piece, we aged the copper until it achieved the deep bronze and green hues you would expect on an antique weather vane. The contrast between the darkened surface and the soft pink tones of raw copper beneath creates a sense of history and permanence, even in a newly made object.
This piece was not all about looks, it also had to function perfectly. We designed the weather vane entirely from scratch, including the internal mechanism that allows it to move freely with the wind.
The secret lies in a carefully engineered bearing: a hidden ball balanced on a pointed pin, enclosed within a copper tube. The entire structure is supported by its own weight, allowing it to pivot smoothly and respond to even the most gentle breeze.
The result is a beautifully crafted, fully operational weather vane that looks entirely at home atop its country house setting. It’s a testament to the power of craftsmanship, where beauty, engineering, and tradition come together to create something quietly exceptional.
Get in touch with us to discuss your ideas. We’d love to help you bring them to life.
