Folk Art Trade Signs
Antique Mid-19th Century English Signs
Blown Glass
Vintage 1940s English Industrial Signs
Metal
Early 20th Century French Signs
Wood
Vintage 1910s French Victorian Signs
Zinc
Early 20th Century English Signs
Metal
Early 20th Century Unknown Signs
Iron
Mid-20th Century American Signs
Wood
Vintage 1940s American Industrial Signs
Aluminum
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Signs
Plywood
20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Metal
Early 20th Century French Antiquities
Wood
Vintage 1940s American Antiquities
Wood
2010s British Nautical Objects
Wood
Antique 1790s French Folk Art Nautical Objects
Pine
Antique Late 19th Century American Adirondack Weathervanes
Iron
Early 20th Century Antiquities
Iron
Vintage 1920s French Victorian Paintings
Canvas
Vintage 1950s English Folk Art Nautical Objects
Metal
2010s North American Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Vintage 1970s Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Fiberglass
2010s North American Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
2010s North American Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
2010s British Nautical Objects
Wood
2010s North American Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Vintage 1920s Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Walnut
2010s North American Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century American Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
2010s North American Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
2010s North American Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
2010s North American Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
2010s North American Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
2010s North American Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
2010s North American Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
2010s North American Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century American Native American Objects
Wood
2010s North American Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
2010s North American Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
2010s North American Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
2010s North American Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
2010s North American Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Vintage 1950s French Sculptures and Carvings
Fruitwood, Lacquer
Antique 19th Century American Country Wall-mounted Sculptures
Metal
Antique 19th Century British Folk Art Sculptures
Wood
Vintage 1930s Folk Art Figurative Sculptures
Wood
20th Century American Folk Art Wall Mirrors
Iron
Antique 19th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Wood
Antique 19th Century American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Iron
Vintage 1910s Folk Art Figurative Sculptures
Wood
Vintage 1980s American Signs
Wood
20th Century American Signs
Early 20th Century Folk Art Signs
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Industrial Signs
Sheet Metal
20th Century American Signs
Wood, Plaster, Paint
Antique Early 19th Century English Folk Art Signs
Metal
Antique 19th Century English Signs
Glass, Wood
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Wood
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Folk Art Trade Signs For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Folk Art Trade Signs?
Finding the Right Signs for You
Vintage and antique signs are popular collector’s items loved not only for the charm and pops of color they add to a space but also for the unique story each one has to tell. An interesting sign can help set the mood for a room and spark dozens of lively conversations.
Before and during the 18th century, many European peasants and colonists in the Americas couldn’t read, so shopkeepers, in an effort to promote their goods and services, hung trade signs with limited amounts of text.
Indeed, symbols and representational physical objects comprised early-day advertising efforts. In lieu of painted words on a wooden board, trade signs made use of handmade three-dimensional symbols to indicate the function of the shop. The iconic red, white and blue pole could be found outside barbershops, while a figural trade sign mounted to an apothecary’s storefront might be a mortar and pestle sculpted from bronze in order to indicate to passers-by that inside there were apothecary cabinets full of remedies for common ailments and a druggist to carefully dispense them.
As literacy rates improved, signs evolved into rectangular, round or square shapes that featured text. Short and sweet, early iterations were characterized by a mere few words, such as “tavern,” “boarding room” or “apothecary.”
During the 19th century, proprietors endeavored to render their signs more appealing. This meant the introduction of more color, font types and other pictorial representations. After the Civil War ended, logos, branding and advertising became increasingly more important, and the design of signage evolved. Trade signs were still in use during the 20th century, and you will likely find hand-painted tin eyeglasses for an optometrist’s office or an oversize bowling pin that likely had a home in the front window of a bowling alley.
Today, collectors and art aficionados alike collect and display antique and vintage signs. Old signs hearken back to a long-gone era, infusing any interior with warmth and nostalgia.
A vintage sign can help anchor a room — think of decorating with signs as you would arranging any kind of wall art. A large-scale sign in particular can prove a distinguishing feature in a living room or dining room, a focal point so prominent that it might lessen the burden of introducing any additional decorative elements to this particular space. Smaller signs work wonders too — pepper sparsely decorated corners with small colorful signs or add a humorous or graphic element to your gallery-style hang with a small text-based sign or two.
On 1stDibs, find metal, wood and glass antique and vintage signs that span a number of styles, including mid-century modern, industrial and folk art.
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