ARE MORE THAN JUST INDICATORS OF WIND DIRECTION.
THEY CAN BE STUNNING WORKS OF ART.
>> WE WONDERED HOW THE EXPERTS AT SKINNER DEFINED FOLK ART.
>> THIS IS A REALLY FOLKY PIECE OF SILK WARE, MADE BY A GIRL IN
SCHOOL.
THIS CAME IN TODAY, LORD KNOWS HOW MANY NOR’EASTER’S THIS THING
HAS ENDURED.
PEOPLE LOVE THIS SORT OF THING BECAUSE IT IS IN GREAT
CONDITION.
>> EVERY DAY IS A FIND IN THE REVOLVING INVENTORY OF TREASURES
COMPANIES WAREHOUSE.
STEVEN FLETCHER IS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND HEADS THE
AMERICANA DEPARTMENT.
STEPHEN: WHAT IS FOLK ART?
THAT UMBRELLA CAN ENCOMPASS LOTS OF THINGS THAT ARE NOT
NECESSARILY FOLK ARTS, BUT THEY APPEALED TO THE FOLK ART
AESTHETIC.
CAROUSEL FIGURES, FOR EXAMPLE, FULL CART COLLECTORS ARE VERY
ATTRACTED TO THEM, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM WERE MADE BY
BIG COMPANIES.
IT IS NOT FOLK ART, BUT IT APPEALS TO FOLK ART ENTHUSIASTS.
IF YOU WERE TO ASK ME WHAT IS FOLK ARTS, I THINK IT TENDS TO
BE PAINTING, OBJECTS THAT WERE MADE BY PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE
HAD LIMITED EXPOSURE TO A TEACHER.
>> LACK OF FORMER TRENDING -- TRAINING CAN STILL COMMAND A
HEFTY PRICE.
THIS PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG BOY AT $15,000 TO $20,000.
>> THAT PORTRAIT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A MASTERPIECE.
HANDSOME KID, THE LOVING DOGMA, THE BRIGHT PAINTED WINTER CHAIR,
THAT BROUGHT AROUND $900,000.
WE HAVE SEEN DEVELOPING INTEREST IN FOLK ART AND ALSO THE TASTE
OF FOLK ART COLLECTORS BECOME MORE REFINED BECAUSE THEY LEARN
MORE.
IT CHANGES BEFORE OUR EYES, LITERALLY, FROM AUCTION TO
AUCTION.
>> AND OBJECT TO OBJECT.
>> THIS IS REMARKABLY GOOD SHAPE.
AND ON THE BACK, A HISTORY OF THE PIECE.
THAT IS THE SORT OF THING THAT GETS PEOPLE INTERESTED IN FOLK
ARTS.
IT IS A LOVELY OBJECT.
>> LOOK UP.
WEATHERVANE’S ARE THE FOLK ART ICONS OF NEW ENGLAND.
THIS ROOSTER OR WHETHER -- WEATHER COCK REPLACED TO THE
ORIGINAL NOW RESIDING IN THE MUSEUM OF OLD NEWBURY.
>> THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE TO HAVE, THE ARTIST WHO
CREATED IT WAS THE FIRST DOCUMENTED WEATHERVANE MAKER IN
THE -- IN NEW ENGLAND.
THIS HISTORICAL WORKTOP TO CHURCHES IN 2013, WHEN IT WAS
DEEMED TOO FRAGILE FOR THE ELEMENTS.
MADELINE: WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE IT, IT WAS A BIG DEAL.
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE TREASURE TO HAVE.
>> THE REPLICA WAS HANDCRAFTED IN GROVELAND BY LEE WEBER.
SHE AND HER HUSBAND OWN THOUGH NEW ENGLAND WEATHERVANE SHOP.
IT YIELDS EYE-CATCHING COPPER CREATIONS.
WEATHERVANES WITH A LINEAGE.
>> WHAT YOU HAVE IS THE SUM TOTAL OF FROM 1852 TODAY OF ALL
OF THE REALLY INTERESTING WEATHERVANE MOLDS.
>> MUSEUM QUALITY NAMES SUCH AS E.G. WASHBURN.
>> THIS WAS THE SAME DEER MADE IN 1860.
IT IS A SAME PROCESS.
SAME COPPER, SAME TUBING, AND THAT IS DONE THE SAME WAY.
>> THE SAME DEAR SEEN IN THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS.
>> THIS IS THE FATHER OF ALL THE DEER, RIGHT HERE.
THEY WERE MADE FROM THIS MOLD.
>> HOW THESE HISTORIC TREASURES LANDED HERE IS ROOTED IN THE
WEBER FAMILY ANTIQUE BUSINESS AND THIS MAN, RALPH WAINER.
>> HE WENT ON A SIX-MONTH ROAD TRIP AND DID NOT BUY ONE.
NO ONE WOULD SELL HIM A WEATHERVANE.
HE SAID TO MY GRANDFATHER, LET’S TAKE THE ANTIQUE ONES YOU HAVE
IN THE SHOP DOWN TO M.I.T., WHICH HE WAS A STUDENT OF, AND
WE WILL REVERSE ENGINEER IT.
WE WILL MAKE IT.
THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN IN MY GRANDFATHER’S SHOP.
THAT IS WHEN THEY DECIDED TO REVERSE ENGINEER THEM.
>> BRAINARD -- RAYNARD HAD AN OFFER TO BUY OUT E.G. WASHBURN.
FAST FORWARD, AND HE BOUGHT THE MOLDS.
>> HE CAME HOME AND SAID DO YOU WANT TO DO THIS?
AND I SAID, WE DON’T KNOW HOW.
>> TODAY SHE TURNS OUT TO WEATHERVANE’S, OLD AND NEW, MANY
CUSTOM DESIGNS.
>> IT IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING WHAT PEOPLE WANT.
WE GET A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ASK ABOUT THE GRASSHOPPER, BUT IT IS
THE SAME DESIGNER.
>> WE HAD A REQUEST FOR A LOUIS VUITTON SHOE WITH A RED SOLE, A
CAR -- >> BUT IT IS HISTORY THAT
DISTINGUISHES THESE WEATHERVANE’S.
WHEN OUR HANDS ARE TIRED AND DONE ENOUGH, WE WILL SELL IT ON
AND HOPEFULLY SOMEONE WILL BUY IT, AND KEEP THE ART GOING.
YOU DON’T WANT TO LOSE IT.
SHAYNA: WE ARE TOLD THE ONLY OTHER COLLECTION OF WEATHERVANE
MOLDS IS IN THE SMITHSONIAN.
NOW, THE FAMILY IS LOOKING FOR THE NEXT GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL
WITH A PASSION FOR WEATHERVANE’S.
THEY WANT THE MOLDS TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A WO