Rooster Weathervane

J. Howard (Jonathan Howard, b. 1806) and Company (active 1850-1868), West Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Cast Zinc body, sheet copper tail, full body molded copper legs with pressed sheet copper spur feet.
Over-all in excellent condition, retaining traces of early sizing and old ocher yellow-paint, now dried and oxidized. Feet with minor touch-ups to surface.
J. Howard & Co. was one of the earliest factory weathervane makers during the mid 19th century. The Howard factory was a small endeavor which was owned and operated by Charles Howard (1817-1907) and J. Howard (Jonathan 1806-1889) and for a brief period his son, John Williams Howard (1836-1865). J. Howard & Co. weathervanes were almost exclusively cast using zinc for the front end of the piece, hallowed copper, and sheet copper. In 1868 the company was purchased by H.L. Washburn & Company. Howard vanes are regarded as some of the most beautiful of the factory-made weathervanes of the 19th century.
This piece is notable for its great form (well delineated cast body and tail) and exceptional surface.