THE ANGEL GABRIEL

Cast in the 19th century, probably New England.

Allan and Penny Katz, Woodbridge, Connecticut;
Hill Gallery, Birmingham, Michigan;
Private Collector, Indiana;
Gene King, Monroe Center, Illinois;
Private Collector, Ohio;
New England weathervane maker

Areas of weathered verdigris, traces of gilding, and light brushing of brown paint.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The Gabriel Weathervane, also known as "Fame," is considered the most desirable and rare form in the iconography of American weathervanes. This figure embodies the magic of the Heavens and the highest personification of human fantasy.

The specifics of the sculptural figure declare its unique and original interpretation, one that transcends the category of weathervanes.  The beautiful weathered surface,  combined with  the artist's aesthetic decisions, create a serendipity of nature and man, further extending the elegance and mystery of this masterful and rare American weathervane.

Weathervanes depicting the trumpeting Angel Gabriel, which combined Biblical references to the Annunciation and the Last Judgment, topped a number of antebellum New England churches. Most early "Gabriel vanes" were flat silhouettes, cut from sheets of iron or copper; this vane’s powerful three-dimensional form and exquisite patina set it apart.

As recorded in Luke 1:26, Gabriel was the angel “sent from God” to inform the Virgin Mary that she “shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS…And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” While trumpeting angels are mentioned in the Bible, Gabriel is not identified as one of them, and the first English mention of Gabriel blowing a trumpet is in John Milton’s Paradise Lost.