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When David Ferro began working for a friend selling sheds and weathervanes almost 30 years ago, little did he realize that one day he’d become of one of world’s foremost creators of exquisite copper architectural ornaments that homeowners and professionals are proud to adorn their roofs.

The Bristol resident, who studied at the Rhode Island School Design and pursued classes in blacksmithing, painting, stained glass, and drawing, started creating weathervanes in 1990 and opened his studio in the Cutler Mills in 2010. In addition to making weathervanes, Ferro and his two-member staff also repair and specialize in the restoration of the historical pieces.

“I start by working with the client to create a design specific to their vision of the weathervane,” the artist begins. “My knowledge directs how the piece is balanced for weight and wind resistance.”

Ferro adds that once he has a working drawing, the piece is started by transferring the full-size design to a copper sheet. Strategic parts of the design are cut from the sheet by hand. An array of different hammers and surfaces are used to stretch and texture the copper into shape.

“Each piece is hand-sculpted without the use of molds,” Ferro continues. “The finished parts are then hand-soldered together to complete the form.”

According to Ferro, he’s designed and created weatherBrian J. Lo ney

vanes that have been shipped across the globe.

Most are common designs but recently the studio created a four-foot replica of the HMS Bounty to top the cupola on the building in England where the original ship was built.

“I also made a stylized rooster for the editor of a prominent newspaper in Istanbul, Turkey,” Ferro notes, adding that the studio has also created weathervanes for Disney World and Universal Studios.

“A couple of years ago we were involved in the restoration of an entire historic ranch in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania where we re-created nine historic weathervanes and a dozen finials for the buildings there,” he shares.

According to Ferro, some of the most popular designs include several types of boats, animals, aquatic-themed weathervanes, horses, cats, trucks and airplanes, plants and insects, sports and culture, and dogs.

“We create more than 40 breeds, ranging from Labradors and Golden Retrievers to Giant schnauzers, Gordon

Setters, and English Bulldogs,” he emphasizes, adding that he recently created a weathervane depicting a Norwich Terrier that

Jason Ferro & Co

er, Jon Vieira, DavidFerro, KitMcCaughey, Tyler Paquette

is four custom weathervanes created for a client.

“The trend is running dogs,” he says. Tail inds

Dartmouth resident Jon Vieira reached out to Ferro about 10 years ago when the talented artist and musician learned that Ferro was searching for an apprentice.

“The learning curve was really large, and it came with much frustration at first, but weathervane that I made. You can tell that I have a fascination with wings.”

Vieira adds, “When you purchase a weathervane from us, whether through our catalog, or if you work on a custom design with us, you’re getting a one-ofa-kind piece. Let’s say you pick from our vast catalog – you’re still getting something created free-hand, so it’s not mass produced in a mold, or stamped out in a factory. We are an art studio first, so

We are an art studio first, so every piece that is made here is very time consuming, and we’re extremely picky with our standard of quality

once I started completing these pieces, I fell more and more in love with how I could manipulate this flat copper sheet into whatever shapes I wanted,” Vieira shares. “That feeling has never gone away, and I don’t have any plans to stop, as I’d consider myself blessed to make a living doing this until I retire.”

During his prodigious career, Vieira has created many animal weathervanes, including ospreys, wolves, eagles, foxes, and horses.

“I’ve made all kinds of sculptures of them from simple silhouettes, to fully three-dimensional pieces, which are all free hand sculpted, and not made from molds,” Vieira says. “Birds are my absolute favorite animals to make. Something about their grace and being a weathervane, they fit right at home, way up there! If I could pick only a couple favorites, it would absolutely be a fully 3-D mother and baby owl, and a pegasus every piece that is made here is very time consuming, and we’re extremely picky with our standard of quality. Like any art that’s created by hand, you’re getting something that’s engineered to last, always to be one-of-a-kind, and which will hopefully grow in value through the years.

The studio’s newest employee, Michael Barnes, has enjoyed working as an artist and tattoo artist for several years.

“I love it,” he says of his new position. “This is one of the best things that has happened to me.”

For more information, visit their website at ferroweathervanes.com or email ferrovanes@gmail.com.

Brian J. Lo ney is a freelance writer based in Swansea. He is the author of “Unconditional Love: Pet Tales to Warm the Heart”, which is available in local bookstores.

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