The flag weathervane is a unique exhibit made at the Nevyansk plant in the first quarter of the 18th century. The purpose of a weathervane is to show the direction of the wind. This function is performed by a metal plate, which rotates around a vertical axis in the direction of the wind. The weathervane is made in the shape of a flag, hence the name — a flag weathervane. The flag features the Demidov family coat of arms. For almost three centuries, this flag weathervane crowned the Demidov Leaning Tower of Nevyansk.
The flag weathervane is 178 centimeters long and 73 centimeters wide. It was made from the famous Demidov iron of the “Old Sable” brand, which was first produced at the Nevyansk plant in the early 18th century. Traces of rolling are visible on the surface. It is possible that the workpiece was forged with hammers before it was put under the rolling press. The weathervane was secured on the tower spire using the top and bottom forged brackets that were riveted to the rod. The flag weathervane was made of bloomery iron with a carbon content of up to 0.05% by hot rolling with subsequent cutting of an openwork pattern while the workpiece was still hot.
The openwork pattern of the weathervane features the Demidov family coat of arms. The knightly armor stands for valor; the three ore mining vines symbolize prospecting tools for discovering iron ore deposits, and the mining hammer on the shield symbolizes the increasing number of metallurgical plants.
The founder of the mining dynasty, Nikita Demidov, was granted personal nobility of the Russian Empire “for faithful service and special diligence and zeal in the production of copper and iron factories” on September 21, 1720, by decree of Tsar Peter I. Nikita Demidov’s sons Akinfiy, Grigoriy and Nikita were awarded a diploma of hereditary nobility to confirm that their father had received personal nobility.
The weathervane was removed from the top of the Tower of Nevyansk during restoration in the 1970s. Then it was kept in the Museum of the History of the Nevyansk Plant, and in the early 2000s it was transferred to the Nevyansk State Historical and Architectural Museum. Nowadays, there is an exact copy of the original 18th-century flag weathervane at the top of the Demidov Leaning Tower of Nevyansk.
