Skip to main content

Video Loading

1 of 21

Monumental Antique American Painted Turned Wood Barber Pole, circa 1875

Price:$2,900

$4,130List Price

About the Item

An uncommon and towering seven-and-a-half-foot tall circa 1875 American painted turned wood barber pole trade sign. Very impressive in both its rarely seen size and hand-crafted execution, with its turned wood form featuring a ball top and variously shaped details finished in the iconic red, white, and blue painted motif synonymous with American barber poles of the 19th century. It once stood proudly outside on a wooden sidewalk in Missouri advertising the services of a local barber, which at the time would’ve included much more than a shave and haircut for two bits. As such, it displays handsomely authentic weathering and honestly acquired natural character from top to bottom. The colors of the pole were linked to bloodletting, with red representing blood, and white representing the bandages used to stem the bleeding. The pole itself symbolized the stick that a patient squeezed to make the veins in their arm stand out for the procedure. Blue was a uniquely American addition, representing either veins or a patriotic nod to the nation’s flag. Of solid turned wood with the exception of the integrated rectangular base, which is comprised of thick wood sides with a hollow interior, a photo of which can be provided upon request. Dimensions listed are for the pole and integrated base only. The ball at top is 21 inches in circumference, and the pole at its thickest is 22.5 inches in circumference. Mounted for photographic purposes on a black painted plywood platform measuring H 1.13 in. x W 24.13 in. x D 22.88 in. that can be included with purchase.

Dimensions:
Height: 89 in (226.06 cm)Width: 7.88 in (20.02 cm)Depth: 7.88 in (20.02 cm)
Style:
Folk Art (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Paint,Wood,Turned
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
1870-1879
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1875
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Handsome weathered antique condition for its age and use. Wood with splits and chips of varying size. Paint with craqueler, chips, and losses more prevalent on some sides than others. Underside with holes from mounting to photo platform, not visible.
Seller Location:
San Francisco, CA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU955034053552

You May Also Like

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

Antique Late 19th Century American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Wood

19th Century Barber
s Pole Hand Carved Hand Painted

19th Century Barber s Pole Hand Carved Hand Painted

$850

H 42 in W 9 in D 5.5 in

Monumental Cobblers Boot Trade Sign

Located in Staffordshire, GB

Monumental Cobblers Boot Trade Sign. Provenance: By Repute Crosby Cobblers - Liverpool Est 1841 Originally hung outside the cobblers in Crosby, Liverpool. Hand forged metal strap work and solid brass laces...

Category

Early 20th Century British Signs

Materials

Metal, Brass

Monumental Cobblers Boot Trade Sign

Monumental Cobblers Boot Trade Sign

$5,118

H 24.81 in W 66.54 in D 20.08 in

19th Century American Patriotic Barber Pole Open Sign Folk Art

Located in Forney, TX

A rare, likely one-of-a-kind, large antique, circa 1860s, early American hand carved, painted, and sculpted wooden patriotic barber pole advertising trade sign / open sign...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood, Giltwood, Paint

19th Century American Patriotic Barber Pole Open Sign Folk Art

19th Century American Patriotic Barber Pole Open Sign Folk Art

$3,800

H 79.5 in W 13.5 in D 4 in

English Victorian Painted Shoemaker s Boot Sign

Located in Queens, NY

English Victorian red & blue painted and decorated wood carved shoemaker's boot sign.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Signs

Materials

Metal

English Victorian Painted Shoemaker
s Boot Sign

English Victorian Painted Shoemaker s Boot Sign

$7,800

H 22.5 in W 33 in D 7.5 in

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

Early 20th Century Folk Art Zinc Barbers Pole Trade Sign

Early 20th Century Folk Art Zinc Barbers Pole Trade Sign

$1,768

H 16 in W 5 in D 5 in

Blue and Red Enamel Barbers Pole Shop Sign

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

Rare porcelain enamel barbers pole shop sign. This is a very rare old sign, it is American in origin, we have the red and blue stripes wrapped around a White background, and at th...

Category

Vintage 1920s American Industrial Signs

Materials

Enamel

Blue and Red Enamel Barbers Pole Shop Sign

Blue and Red Enamel Barbers Pole Shop Sign

$1,911

H 49 in W 10 in D 4 in

Folky Store Display Horse

Located in Nantucket, MA

Painted black with a red saddle, glass eyes and hairm. Missing one of its stirrups, the stirrup is carved from wood and is hanging from its original thick canvas. The ears which were...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century North American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Canvas, Wood

Folky Store Display Horse

Folky Store Display Horse

$4,800

H 25.75 in W 33.5 in D 6 in

19th Century Cobbler Trade Sign

Located in Nantucket, MA

A carved cobbler's boot-form trade sign, in old gold paint. Carved in two pieces of pine, capped with lead, circa 1870 Very good condition, measures: 14" x 9 ½”.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Lead

19th Century Cobbler Trade Sign

19th Century Cobbler Trade Sign

$1,650

H 14 in W 9.5 in D 4.5 in

Large Folk Art Pocket Knife Store Display

Located in Brooklyn, NY

One of a kind large scale pocket knife (24" L), likely used as a store display / sign composed of a painted and carved walnut handle / bolster wi...

Category

Vintage 1970s American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Walnut, Poplar

Large Folk Art Pocket Knife Store Display

Large Folk Art Pocket Knife Store Display

$1,200

H 21.5 in W 24.25 in D 2.1 in

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

Antique 1880s Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

19th Century Folk Art Wartime Relationship Commemorative Plaque

19th Century Folk Art Wartime Relationship Commemorative Plaque

$1,979

H 14 in W 34.5 in D 0.5 in

Still Thinking About These?

All Recently Viewed

More Ways To Browse

Antique Sign Pole

Antique French Shop Signs

English Pub Sign

Vintage Shop Signs

Butcher Folk Art

Hand Painted Sign Advertising

Vintage Coca Cola Sign

Antique Pharmacy Sign

Trade Sign Butcher

Antique Cigar Sign

Antique Milk Sign

French Cafe Signs

Used Stop Signs

View All Popular Signs Searches