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Signs For Sale
Holstein Milk Painted Metal Trade Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This folky original painted hand made Holsteins Milk metal farm trade sign has the original chain for hanging.It has spots that has paint loss and mino...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Metal
$956 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century Folk Art Upholstery Trade Sign
Located in San Francisco, CA
Wonderful 19th century hand painted folk art upholstery trade sign. Double sided wooden trade sign for an old upholstery shop in San Francisco.
A rare piece of San Francisco history...
Category
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Wood
C1940 Advertising Sign "Nassau" Stainless Frame
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fantastic advertising sign from possibly a travel agency or transit system c1940. Excellent vintage condition with just the right amount of wear. Stainless border and mounting hardwa...
Category
1940s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Stainless Steel
White Neon BOUTIQUE Sign in Lucite Box, 1990s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic vintage handmade neon sign spelling the word BOUTIQUE. Perfect for a store or restaurant or walk-in closet! White neon lettering encased in a Lucite box. All neon is white,...
Category
1990s American Signs
Materials
Glass, Acrylic
J. Alden Weir Hand Made Studio Sign Branchville Connecticut
Located in New Windsor, NY
Recently purchased from a multi-generational Ridgefield, CT estate of the former President of Ridgefield Savings Bank. Our esteemed and avid collector found time in his off hours in Post World War II Connecticut to scour the countryside for just about anything that struck his fancy. He had an enormous passion for model trains, porcelain figurines and pattern Depression Era glass...
Category
Late 19th Century American Late Victorian Antique Signs
Materials
Iron
$2,240 Sale Price
20% Off
Advertising Tin Sign "The Delaware Insurance Company of Philadelphia" Circa 1885
By The Delaware Insurance Company of Philadelphia
Located in Incline Village, NV
This is a very rare and early (circa 1885) tin advertising sign, commissioned by the Delaware Insurance Company, located and founded in Philadelphia in 1835. It was probably made by noted late 19th century sign maker, Sentenne & Green, of New York City, established in the 1870's. With an Indian motif, the sign features a Native American Indian, front and center, decorated in a brown and green headdress; with red, cream and aqua clothing and a large gold medallion...
Category
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Tin
1920
s -30
s Hand Painted "DRUGS" wood sign
Located in Buffalo, NY
1920's -30's Hand Painted "DRUGS" wood sign ... Great old sign,, Tons of character,, Retains original finish / patina..
Category
1920s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Wood, Paint
Bull Head Trade Sign
Located in Coeur d
Alene, ID
19th Century bull head advertisement trade sign used in a hardware or butcher shop. Retains a majority of its original paint in colors of black and white. This early molded cast meta...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Signs
Materials
Metal
$5,175
Eat or Tea Large Scale 1950s American Porcelain Enameled Steel Letters Sign
Located in Pound Ridge, NY
Superb large scale American 1950s porcelain enameled metal letters, over 24" high, originally used as exterior signage from Chicago. EAT or TEA or ETA or ATE, 3 individual heavy gauges pressed and folded cold-rolled steel letters...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
Antique Restaurant Menu Chalk Board, circa 1920
s
Located in Chappaqua, NY
Antique Restaurant Menu Chalk Board, circa 1920's. Charming hand-painted frame surrounds a lined chalk board. Reminiscent of French Bistro signs.
Category
1920s Art Deco Vintage Signs
Materials
Wood
Antique Folk Art Sign Copper Folk Art
Located in Munich, DE
This unusual ornamental copper plate was used to write information on it, possibly the menue for a restaurant. We can see traces of writing.
The beautifull carving shows birds, leav...
Category
1860s European Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Copper
Mid Century Barber Shop Sign
Located in Nantucket, MA
Early Vintage Barber Shop Sign, circa late 1950s to early 1960s, a hand-painted sheet metal sign with old prices for old hair cuts. The sign remains in very good condition with only ...
Category
1950s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Sheet Metal
Giant Double Sided Wood Peach Trade Sign from California Farm
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great wooden trade sign from a California farm. Giant peach with graphics on both sides. Sign reads 'Hamilton's Tree Ripened Peaches 1/2 Mile' on on...
Category
1980s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Wood
Vintage Illuminated Letter A , 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial illuminated facade letter A was made in Italy during the 1970s and comes from an old advertising banner. It features a black bakelite body and a white plexigl...
Category
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Bakelite, Plexiglass
"De Laval" Tin Advertising Sign, American, circa 1905, Near Mint
Located in Incline Village, NV
Having started in Sweden, the company opened up in America in 1888 as the "De Laval Cream Separator Company" in New York City, with a production plant ...
Category
Early 1900s American Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Tin
19th Century Cast Iron Shoemaker’s Trade Sign
Located in London, GB
19th century cast iron shoemaker’s trade sign
A highly decorative example of a late 19th century cast iron French shoemakers shop trade sign. Hand crafted from a hand cut iron metal...
Category
1880s French Early Victorian Antique Signs
Materials
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century Folk Art Zinc Barbers Pole Trade Sign
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century folk art zinc barbers pole trade sign.
An early 20th century hand crafted zinc barbers pole trade sign. Hand painted and of naïve construction. Lots of characte...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Folk Art Signs
Materials
Zinc
Vintage DRUGS Street Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage DRUGS street sign with white background and black lettering. Interesting piece of transportation history. No drugs zone, with increased penalties. Probably used close to a school zone...
Category
1970s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Steel
Manual Entrance Bell in wrought iron, Tyrolean Craftsmanship from 1950s
By Vienna School of Arts and Crafts
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Manual entrance bell in wrought iron, Tyrolean craftsmanship from 1950
The wrought iron structure is a classic stylized dragon figure, very common in the Austrian Alto TIrolo area.
...
Category
1950s Austrian Art Nouveau Vintage Signs
Materials
Wrought Iron, Bronze
Vintage Iron Dog Black Painted Lawn Sign Dont Eat My Dog Why Would You Do That
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Fantastic patina on this vintage garden yard dog sign. Certainly a piece that would make a statement in any yard or garden.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Metal, Iron
20th Century, Original Painted Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This original painted black and white trade sign reads Reserved for district. This cool one sided sign was probably from a old vintage court house.
Category
20th Century American Country Signs
Materials
Wood
$716 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Blue Illuminated Letter Y, 1980s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial blue illuminated letter Y was made in Netherlands during the 1980s and comes from the old advertising banner. I featuers a grey iron b...
Category
1980s Dutch Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Iron
Vintage Illuminated Letter P , 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial illuminated facade letter P was made in Italy during the 1970s and comes from an old advertising banner. It features a black bakelite body and a white plexigl...
Category
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Bakelite, Plexiglass
20th Century Original Painted Machine Quilting Street Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This double sided sheet metal with iron frame sandwich board reads : WE DO MACHINE QUILTING and it is on both sides. This is a all original painted doub...
Category
20th Century American Rustic Signs
Materials
Metal
$1,516 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage
IN USE
Illuminated Sign, 1980s England
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Slender "IN USE" lighted box sign dating from the 1980s. Likely used outside of rooms containing X-Ray machines. The box is made of a white powder coated...
Category
1980s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
California ROADSIDE BUSINESS Freeway Sign, 1950s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Take a trip drown memory lane with this 1950s California freeway sign. Taken down from Nothern California decades ago, the sign features a black background with white lettering and c...
Category
1950s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Aluminum, Steel
Magnavox Television Factory TV Sign, circa 1950s
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Incredible giant TV sign that graced the circa 1950s . Magnavox TV factory in Utah. Just under 11 feet tall. Mounted on original heavy iron pole. Original whit...
Category
1950s American Steampunk Vintage Signs
Materials
Iron, Sheet Metal
Vintage Swiss Two Sided Train Signal Sign
Located in San Diego, CA
Super cool and hard to find vintage Swiss two sided train signal sign, circa 1940s. The sign is made of metal and painted yellow with the number "5" in bl...
Category
Mid-20th Century Swiss Signs
Materials
Metal
$400 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Ingersoll Watches Adverting Trade Sign, circa 1900
Located in San Francisco, CA
Antique double sided trade sign for Ingersoll Watches in the shape of a pocket watch.
Excellent old sign in original condition.
American, late 19th-ear...
Category
Early 20th Century American Other Signs
Materials
Metal
"Health Chiropractic, " Rare Art Deco Metal Trade Sign for Chiropractor
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This classic example of trade signage featuring a nude male angel figure with outspread wings was cast in aluminium and painted a shade of off-white. It has...
Category
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Signs
Materials
Aluminum
$1,350 Sale Price
25% Off
19th Century Barber
s Pole Hand Carved Hand Painted
Located in San Francisco, CA
19th century barber's pole hand carved hand painted
Antique barber's pole
5.5" diameter x 42" high
The support measures 9" wide x 34" high
Good antique condition
The...
Category
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Wood
Antique Arts
Crafts Oak Pharmacy Apothecary Bronze Mortar
Pestle Wall Plaque
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Arts & Crafts Oak Pharmacy Apothecary Bronze Mortar & Pestle Wall Plaque. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements: 18" H x 12.5" W x 1" D.
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Arts and Crafts Signs
Materials
Bronze
C1945 Cast Aluminum Trade Sign Form of a Key Keil Charlestown N.H. Keys Made
By Keil Company
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous cast aluminum trade sign circa 1945 depicting a actual key in red and silver. Perfect casting which retains its true color and material. Keil from Charlestown N.H. cast into...
Category
1940s American Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Aluminum
"In The Shade of The Old Apple Tree" Tin Advertising Sign, American, circa 1906
Located in Incline Village, NV
Outstanding example of this iconic and highly sought after tin advertising sign made by the Shonk Company, Chicago, Illinois, circa 1906. The subject matter depicts a farm scene with...
Category
Early 1900s American Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Tin
A large wooden wrench, a trade sign of mwchanic’s shop, United States early 30’s
Located in Milan, IT
Trade sign of a mechanic's shop depicting a large wooden wrench with the mechanic's telephone numbers and address written on both sides. United States of America circa 1930.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Signs
Materials
Wood
Signed Snap Wyatt Sideshow Banner
By Snap Wyatt
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic "Plenty For Two" sideshow banner painted by Snap Wyatt. Great manageable size.
Category
1950s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Iron
Tradesign in the Form of a Brick Storehouse
Located in Greenwich, CT
An advertising device or tradesign in the form of a brick storehouse, with ten arched windows or pigeonholes to display merchandise, constructed as a roofed box mounted on wheels, fo...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Signs
Materials
Wood
1930
s / 40
s Hand Painted " RADIO SERVICE" SHOP/STORE sIGN..
Located in Buffalo, NY
1930's / 40's Hand Painted " RADIO SERVICE" SHOP/STORE sIGN.. .Great graphics. font..
Category
1940s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Wood
Giant Bayer Pill Pop Art
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Monumental vintage Bayer pill in cream plaster/ceramic. 7" diameter. Likely used as a store display. Whimsical desktop object or paperweight. Black felted bottom. Great piece of art ...
Category
1970s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Plaster, Paint
$750 / set
Massive Hand Painted High School Track and Field Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage track and field sign from the early 1970s. Hand painted red sign with yellow lettering. Taken down from a California high school. Horizontal wo...
Category
1970s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Wood, Paint
Antique Double Sided French Hairdresser Sign
Located in Ongar, GB
A beautiful early 20th century double sided French hairdresser shop sign with lovely old weathered paint. Such a great looking piece and very decorative. The paint is all stable and ...
Category
1920s French Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
19th Century Gold Giltwood Carved Letters William Trade Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Classic 19th century American wood trade sign with chunky hand carved and gold painted letters. Ready to display.
Category
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century oversized English Trebor sweet shop trade sign.
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century oversized English Trebor sweet shop trade sign.
A wonderful example of massive scale, Trebor Barley Sugar & Fruit Centres sweet jars. Bea...
Category
1920s British Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Sheet Metal
Mid-20th Century Hand Painted Double Sided English Fairground Sign
Located in London, GB
Mid-20th Century Hand Painted Double Sided English Fairground Sign
A genuine English mid-20th Century double sided hand painted fairground sign. Better Game, Better Sport, Better Tr...
Category
1950s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Materials
Plywood
Early 1900s Embossed
Slow Children
Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Extremely rare California ‘Slow Children' playing sign. Entire sign is embossed with an old-time child wearing knickerbocker trousers. From the early 1900s. Great piece of history. P...
Category
Early 20th Century American Signs
Materials
Steel
1880s Odd Fellows Lodge Banner from Dakota
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Early 1880s Odd Fellows Lodge all-seeing eye banner from Centerville, Dakota. Excellent hand painting and lettering. Centerville was platted in 1883. Dakota became the states of North and South Dakota in 1889. The area is now part of the Sioux Falls...
Category
1880s American Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Silk
Vintage European Street Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great vintage European street sign. Deep blue and white. Newly mounted and framed. People at play in the street. Cool piece of wall art.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Signs
Materials
Steel
Early-20th Century Boul Club Sign
Located in London, GB
Early-20th Century Boul Club Sign
A complete one off, in the form of a hand carved / painted oversized Boul club advertising sign dated 1922. Completely u...
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Signs
Materials
Pine
English Sheep Sign Used for Woolen Store in Leek, Staffordshire UK Reproduction
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Decades ago, we purchased a hand-carved wood Sheep Sign that was hanging outside the front of a Woolen Store in Leek, England. For as long as I ...
Category
2010s American Country Signs
Materials
Plaster, Wood
Full Length Opaline Glass Bar Sign, Spirits Saved During Refurbishment
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Full Length Opaline Glass Bar Sign, Spirits
Saved During Refurbishment, this very good quality piece is framed in solid Walnut, the sign itself “spirits” is on very attractive Opal...
Category
1960s Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Art Glass
Unintentionally Whimsical Lobster Pound Sign, circa 1970
Located in Nantucket, MA
Unintentionally Whimsical Lobster Pound Sign, circa 1970, a great vintage hand-painted two board trade sign for a lobster pound. I love the idea of advertising where lobsters can par...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Pine
Early 20th Century Double Sided French Zinc Clock Smiths Trade Sign
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century double sided French zinc clock Smiths Trade sign
We are proud to offer a rare example of an early 20th century French double sided clock smiths trade sign. With i...
Category
1910s French Victorian Vintage Signs
Materials
Zinc
Manhole Cover Prototype Folk Art, 1960s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Extremely unique wooden sewer cap prototype. Made by by various wooden cubes and blocks as well as letters nailed to the front of the main ply of the cap giving it its design. The ba...
Category
1960s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Wood
19th Century Apothecary Mortar
Pestle Countertop Trade Sign or Sale Stimulator
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Apothecary trade sign or sale stimulator in the form of a mortar and pestle in gilt wood. The mortar of cylindrical waisted form with a central half round band and stepped rings at t...
Category
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Wood
19th Century Folk Art Wartime Relationship Commemorative Plaque
Located in London, GB
19th century Folk Art Wartime relationship commemorative plaque
We are proud to offer a rare and unique commemorative wartime relationship plaque...
Category
1880s Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Wood
Rare Painted Antique Lead Watchmaker’s Shop Sign
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An outstanding piece of Folk Art, this Pocket Watch form Lead sign has a painted face with Roman numerals in the 9:00 position. Cast into the outer frame are the words, “Watches, Je...
Category
19th Century Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Lead
Matched Pair of Edwardian Milk Glass Shop Signs
Located in London, GB
Matched pair of Edwardian milk glass shop signs.
We share what we love, and we love this rare, matched pair of Edwardian milk glass shop signs. One stating “All kinds of repairs” ...
Category
1910s British Edwardian Vintage Signs
Materials
Milk Glass
Whimsical "PHOTOS" Neon sign photo booth / store display
Located in Buffalo, NY
Whimsical "PHOTOS" Neon sign photo booth / store display.. Super fun decorative item. salvaged from shopping mall, Hand delivery avail to New York City or anywhere en route from Buf...
Category
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
Art Deco Chrome
Glass Skyscraper Directory Sign
Located in Hanover, MA
Vintage 1940's chrome frame building directory sign with beveled glass double panels.
This came from the famous Boston (North End) restaurant 'Joe Tecce's' which closed in 2010 after...
Category
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Signs
Materials
Chrome, Steel, Aluminum
$1,395 Sale Price
44% Off
Frazer Nash Huge Illuminated Advertising Painted Trade Sign
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Frazer Nash huge illuminated advertising painted trade sign
This is an advertisement for the original and famous British racing car company Fraz...
Category
Early 20th Century Industrial Signs
Materials
Wood
$7,932 Sale Price
63% Off
Antique, New and Vintage Signs
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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