Pig Weather Vane c. 1937

Salvatore Borrazzo likely made this pig weather vane from copper, employing techniques of repoussé and chasing to give form to the sheet metal. Copper weather vanes like this one were once common atop barns and farmhouses. As a practical object, it told farmers which way the wind was blowing. But it's also folksy and charming; the pig is realistically rendered, a stout figure with a curly tail. To create this sculpture, Borrazzo would have hammered the copper from the reverse, creating a raised relief, then worked on the front to refine the details. Such metalworking requires patience and skill. Beyond its beauty, a weather vane like this connects to wider economies. Copper mining, refining, and fabrication all imply networks of labor and trade. In this light, even a humble pig weather vane becomes a testament to human industry and ingenuity. It reminds us that even the simplest objects have complex histories embedded in their making.