Weather houses are traditional Bavarian folk art devices which are as useful as they are charming to look at. These little houses are designed in the chalet style and contain a time-honoured piece of engineering known as a hygrometer — meaning these brightly-coloured items can indicate whether it’s damp or bright outside. From their inner workings to their humble beginnings, here is everything you need to know about German weather houses.
WHAT IS A GERMAN WEATHER HOUSE?
The German weather house is an icon of German folk art. Depicting a miniature woodland chalet, it tells you what weather is on the horizon through the movements of male and female figurines. The woman represents fair weather, and the man represents wet weather. So if the woman is peeking out from the house, it means the weather will be good. And if the man is outside, the weather will be bad. But how does this work? Let’s look into the inner workings of the traditional German weather house.
HOW DO WEATHER HOUSES WORK?
Inside the brightly coloured exterior, the traditional German Weather house relies on two simple principles: air pressure and gravity. The figures are connected to a weight inside the house. When the air pressure outside changes, it causes the weight to move up or down. This, in turn, causes the figures to move into or out of the house. So, if the air pressure decreases (as it does before a storm, for example), the man moves out of the house, telling you that bad weather is on its way. Similarly, if the air pressure increases (as it does before fair weather), the woman peers out of the house, telling you that good weather is on its way.
WHERE DID THEY ORIGINATE?
Weather houses have been a tradition in Germany, Austria and Switzerland for centuries. Although the exact date they first emerged remains unknown, it was likely during the late 1700s to early 1800s. Once known for being a classic handmade souvenir made across Bavaria, weather houses have become part of Germany’s folk art culture and continue to be a charming addition to countless homes across Germany and beyond.
WHERE ARE AUTHENTIC WEATHER HOUSES MADE?
The finest authentic weather houses are made today near the Black Forest region, where many are still handmade with the same traditional techniques used for centuries. They are often hand painted and hand carved from high-quality wood, which gives them their authentic folk art style. It is this combination of the Black Forest woodworking skills and traditional painting styles that create the instantly-recognisable wall-hanging chalets.
Credited to:https://www.cuckooclocks.com/
