Hot Air Balloon Weathervane

With more than two decades of weathervane making under our belts, we have heard lots of wonderful stories about why customers select a particular weathervane design to display at their home or business. One of our favorite stories involves this Hot Air Balloon Weather Vane design.

It was commissioned by a woman who is terrified of heights but absolutely loves hot air balloons and everything associated with them! She travels throughout the United States and internationally to participate in festivals and other similar events. Because of her fear of heights, her role is as a balloon ‘chaser’ rather than a pilot or passenger.

A balloon ‘chaser’ helps with the launching of the balloons and chases them to their final destinations without ever going up in one. That is why she asked to be depicted on the ground assisting with the launch rather than in the actual balloon. Her favorite balloon was two toned with chevron markings. She requested alternating bands of optional gold leaf on the balloon’s surface to create the two tone effect shown here. The gold leaf will maintain a bright contrast as the copper sections of the sculpture piece weather first a rich chocolate brown before eventually develop a lovely green patina.

Because our artisans craft each weather vane to order, if you have a favorite balloon design, or prefer to be depicted soaring through the skies instead of launching the balloon, just send us photos and we would be happy to work with you to create a weathervane that reflects your passion.

The hot air balloon is the oldest successful human-carrying flight technology. On November 21, 1783, in Annonay, France, the first untethered and manned balloon flight was made by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d’Arlandes in a hot air balloon created on December 14, 1782 by the Montgolfier brothers. The excitement generated by this first flight inspired Jules Verne to write his classic novel, ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’.