Running Horse
unknown American, Running Horse, 19th century, sheet metal, Museum Purchase: Children's Museum Fund, public domain, 44.3
This work is not currently on view.
- Title
Running Horse
- Artist
- Date
19th century
- Medium
sheet metal
- Dimensions (H x W x D)
20 7/8 in x 40 11/16 in
- Collection Area
American Art
- Category
Sculpture
- Object Type
sculpture
- Culture
American
- Credit Line
Museum Purchase: Children's Museum Fund
- Accession Number
44.3
- Copyright
public domain
- Terms
This weathervane sculpture was made in Pennsylvania and, mounted on a rooftop, served to indicate wind direction and absorb lightning. During the 19th century, weathervanes were often mass-produced, although many were still individually made by farmers and blacksmiths. They usually depicted famous race horses, the farm’s signature animal, or horses from popular Currier & Ives prints. Maker’s marks or signatures seldom appear on these objects.
Weathervanes were designed with even weight distribution on either side of the center of rotation, with a pointer moving freely on the axis. The horse runs into the wind with its tail out behind gauging the current’s direction. The rough modeling and proportions of this work suggest that the maker was not academically trained. Because weathervanes were typically mounted far above the ground, their silhouettes are particularly bold, providing optimal visual impact from below.
