Antique Weathervanes Worth Millions To Collectors

Antique Weathervanes Worth Millions To Collectors FARM HOME Novelty Items 32-1-5 It's hard to believe, but old weathervanes are selling for millions of dollars to rich collectors looking for genuine "folk art". Prices have gone up so astronomically in recent months that thieves are using helicopters to steal the potentially pricey weathervanes right off barn roofs. Here's an example: From 1882 to 1971, a 5-ft. long copper weathervane topped the train station depot in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. When the station was sold, the seller had one condition: he wanted to keep the weathervane, which was in the shape of a steam locomotive. He took it down and later sold it for a minimal amount to a local dealer. After passing through the hands of numerous art dealers over the years, the weathervane recently sold to Pennsylvania art dealer Todd Prickett for an amazing $1,216,000. Here's another one: The Lexington, Mass., Historical Society owned a weathervane for many years that dated back to 1910. The copper vane, in the shape of an early automobile, leaned against an old bed in a storage room for years. No one paid any attention to it until the Historical Society decided last year to sell part of its collection to raise money for renovations. They thought the weathervane might bring $30,000 or so. But on November 4, 2007, it sold for an astounding $941,000 to Jerry Lauren, brother of the famous fashion designer. Other recent examples include a mid 1800's Goddess of Liberty weathervane bought last year for $1,080,000 by Boston art dealer Stephen Score; an 1883 gilt-copper grasshopper weathervane also sold to Score last year for $520,000; and the most amazing of all, collector Jerry Lauren paid $5.84 million in late 2006 for a 5-ft. tall Indian Chief weathervane that had been expected to sell for no more than $150,000. With values like these, it's not surprising that weathervanes have become targets of rural thieves. News reports have cited helicopter thefts in recent years. In Burlington, Vermont, thieves stole a 150-year-old weathervane and replaced it with a cheap replica. When the owners realized the original was no longer on top of their barn, they had no clue as to when the theft had taken place. If you don't have a million dollar weathervane on any of your farm buildings, you might want to think about putting up a fancy weathervane now. Who knows, it might be worth a few million someday to your great, great, great grandchildren. Ken and Lizanne Jensen at West Coast Weather Vanes in Santa Cruz, Calif., make and sell custom weathervanes, some of which sell for as much as $20,000. They have a huge variety of stock weathervanes, which can be seen at their website (www.westcoastweathervanes.com; ph 800 762-8736).

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