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Revision as of 18:33, 7 November 2006
A barnstar (more properly barn star) is a decorative piece in the shape of a five point star used to adorn the barn as most commonly seen originally in German farming communities. Having no real integrity to the structure they were used for their general appeal as a shape and were even considered lucky as would be a horseshoe mounted over a doorway. They were also meant to represent the mark of the builder by incorporating them into the structure, but they became more frequently used for aesthetic purposes and were added to the building after construction was complete. Artisans would deliberately fashion barn stars from metal and allow them to rust before putting them on sale.
They were seen in the United States duiring the 1700's and as late as 1870 in Pennsylvania. Their popularity increased greatly following the American Civil War. Their regular use preceded that time, however, and stars were commonplace on large buildings, particularly factories, in pre-war Richmond, Virginia.
Barn stars are seen not only on barns, but on many older buildings, often of brick. A long steel rod is passed entirely through the building; a star on either side is threaded onto the ends of the rod and they are tightened. This helps to keep the structure from collapsing. A heavily starred building should be examined for failure of the mortar, and may require tuckpointing or more drastic repairs.
Today, in the Pennsylvania Dutch area, barnstars are known as hex signs but no rods go through the center. Some hex signs still incorporate the star.