Roof Cupola - From Necessity To Decoration
Many items throughout the ages have found their ways from being an actual tool to a form of décor. As history would have it, the roof cupola is one of these items. Many historians believe that the origins of the roof cupola dates back to the Greco-Roman era, as the sea became the more desired routes for trading, and enemy attacks by those that sought to rule these routes without opposition. The watchtower was common even before this time, but it is believed that the cupola is a descendant of the watchtower, enabling the sentry to carry out their occupation from the comfort of their own homes.
The cupola found its way with the early settlers of North America, first in the northeastern parts of this then young country. Well known is the fact that importing and exporting were major components in the building of this nation. Also known is how lucrative a business whaling and fishing became, and it was then that the roof cupola became a necessity atop most homes near the sea ports, commonly called to this day, The Widow’s Walk. It was in these cupolas that families could gather to watch
Sometime during the seventeenth century and into the eighteenth century, the roof cupola became a very popular feature of many new homes that were quite the distance from the eastern seaboard. Many of these homes, built with a Victorian persuasion, were designed with a cupola, giving birth to the decorative cupola rather than being considered out of necessity. Especially in the northwestern quadrants of Pennsylvania, many people that have come across a newfound wealth in the lumber and oil businesses were sure to have their homes built with a cupola in the blueprints. To find a home of this era without a cupola was nearly impossible. If a cupola was not found on the main house itself, it was sure to be found on top of the carriage house, with a very decorative weather vane accentuating the apex.
From the common watchtower of the Greco-Roman Empire to the decorative Widow’s Walk, the roof cupola has made its mark, and can now be found not only on the roofs of homes and carriage houses, but also on the roofs of gazebos, garages and barns. This makes it obvious as to the many different sizes the roof cupola can be built, but this says nothing about the many shapes and materials the roof cupola can be built in. The most popular to date are the octagonal redwood cupolas with a copper roof, of course with a nifty weather vane to bring the look of this structure of covetousness to its fullness. Many are built circular, hexagonal, and even square for those that enjoy the simpler of designs. Many are built entirely of copper for those with the more exquisite of tastes, but are also made of the more humble of materials such as cedar shake, plastic, and even fiberglass. In many cases, people will add new shudders to their homes to attempt to beautify it, but none come close to the awe-inspiring effects a roof cupola can achieve.
Jennifer Akre, owner of many unique home and garden design sites specializing in furniture and accessories, gives comments and product information on weathervanes and weather vanes. Find quality information before you purchase. Enhance the spirit of your home. Shop today - Click: copper weathervanes.
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