Vintage Metal Letters
Early 20th Century Decorative Art
Wood
20th Century American Signs
20th Century American Signs
Metal
20th Century American Signs
Glass, Wood
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Enamel
20th Century American Signs
Sheet Metal
20th Century American Signs
Wood
Vintage 1940s American Signs
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century English Victorian Signs
Pine
Vintage 1950s American Signs
Aluminum
Vintage 1950s American Signs
Late 20th Century American Signs
Antique 19th Century French Decorative Art
Wood
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Signs
Metal
Early 20th Century Signs
Paint, Wood
20th Century American Signs
Sheet Metal
Early 20th Century American Signs
Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Signs
Metal
Vintage 1940s American Signs
Brass
Late 20th Century American Modern Wall-mounted Sculptures
Early 20th Century American Signs
20th Century American Signs
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Signs
Aluminum, Steel
Vintage 1950s American Signs
Mid-20th Century Belgian Industrial Signs
Iron
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Signs
Wood, Paint
Antique 19th Century American Signs
Vintage 1950s American Signs
Antique 19th Century American Architectural Elements
Gold Leaf
20th Century American Signs
Antique 19th Century American Signs
1990s American Modern Wall-mounted Sculptures
Metal
Early 20th Century American Decorative Art
20th Century French Decorative Art
Metal
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Signs
Plastic
20th Century American Signs
Vintage 1930s American Signs
Tin
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Signs
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Signs
Plastic
Vintage 1950s American Signs
Tin
Vintage 1930s American Signs
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Signs
Steel
Vintage 1950s American Folk Art Paintings
Glass
Vintage 1940s American Signs
Metal
Antique Early 1900s American Industrial Signs
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Signs
Steel
Early 20th Century American Signs
Steel
Vintage 1930s Signs
20th Century American Signs
Vintage 1930s American Signs
Wood
Antique 19th Century American Mid-Century Modern Signs
Metal
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Signs
Metal
Vintage 1930s American Decorative Art
Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Signs
Tin
Early 20th Century American Signs
Iron
Vintage 1950s American Folk Art Signs
Steel
Antique 19th Century American Signs
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Vintage Metal Letters For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Vintage Metal Letters?
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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