Weathervane manufacturers periodically introduced fresh, timely designs to remain competitive and to encourage new business. The inspiration for this vane was clearly the Statue of Liberty, which was a fairly recent addition to the New York skyline. The French-made statue was dedicated in 1886 and created a vast outpouring of excitement and national pride. Undeterred by the fact that the figure has insufficient horizontal elements to be turned effectively by the wind, weathervane makers capitalized on the figure’s popularity. To counteract the deficiency, firms mounted the lady on an arrow having a weighted point and broad feathers. Several companies probably made similar vanes, but only two are known to have illustrated the design in their catalogues: the J. L. Mott Iron Works of New York City and Chicago and J. W. Fisk of New York City.