She is a toy of the wind, The master of the house's business card and the high school of metalwork: the weathervane. For a long time more likely to be seen on church towers, she returns to the rooftops. We visited a weather vane manufacturer.
The old barn is full of animals: dogs of all breeds, cats, fishes, pigs, the visitor recognizes a large number of horses and, of course, also a few splendid cocks. However, the whole bestiary remains silent. what you hear here, is not barking, neighing or crowing, but the sound of a screeching saw, with which all these animal types silhouette-like iron, Messing- oder Kupferplatten geschnitten und so erst zum Leben erweckt werden. They crown the weather vanes as a decorative motif, which Reinhard Knirsch produces with his six employees.
The classic weathercock is still one of the most popular motifs, but everything, what to draw, we can also build it as a weathervane", says the trained restorer Knirsch. The old weather vanes, found at auctions, had done it to him so much, that the idea came up soon after, to make this unique roof decoration for the houses of our time.
Today you can choose your weather vane from hundreds of motifs in the huge archive at Meister Knirsch, there are still about 250 Standard motifs from the large stork to the classic rooster to the small boat are available. Of course, the metalheads also like to cut the customers' creations out of their records, however, the necessary template must then be supplied.
Everything, what you need to attach the weather vane, also Tragrohr, Threaded rod and support tube clamps, is of course included. However, assembly according to Master Knirsch's assembly instructions remains the responsibility of the customer.
Weather vanes with symbolic character
Even in ancient times, people observed the weather with the help of wind or weather vanes. The figures, sometimes also pennants, that sway in the wind, allowed predictions, which were of enormous importance to farmers and seafarers. The classic weathercock, on the other hand, was more of a symbol of vigilance and a herald of the approaching day. In the Middle Ages, the rooster was often attached to the top of a church tower, although it was actually a pagan symbol. Apart from its function as a weathervane, it appears there as a sign of Christ's victory over the hostile darkness and as a terror to evil spirits.
Most other weather vanes of the time, on the other hand, often depicted wind gods, who should be appeased with this kind of appreciation.
Nowadays it has become common, immortalize yourself on the roof of your own house.
That can be in the form of a monogram, a hobby you love or practice, mostly manual trades. The prices for weather vanes are quite moderate, considering, that they usually last for generations. For a horse or the classic rooster you have to, depending on the version 150 to 250 spend euros.