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Signs For Sale
Eastern Bloc Huge Lluminated Letter O in the Form of a Floor Night Lamp, 1970
Located in Prague 8, CZ
This advertising illuminated letter represents the ever so popular Vintage wall art. You can use the letter on the wall but better as a floor lamp in the room. The lamp shines in dar...
Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Industrial Signs
Materials
Metal
Hellesens Advertising Pocket Knife
By Stocker
Located in East Geelong, VIC
Designed as a copy of their dry cell battery, this Hellesens advertising pocket knife measures 49 mm (2 inches) in length, is 17 mm (2/3 rds of an inch) w...
Category
1930s German Vintage Signs
Materials
Steel
20th Century American Folk Art Swimmer Cutout on Custom Wall Mount
Located in Chicago, IL
A playful and cheeky mid-20th century American Folk Art wooden cutout of a blond swimmer flexing in his black and white striped swimsuit, mounted on a custom steel wall mount so he c...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Plywood
Recycled Pine Wine Bar Menu, Black Board a Good Handsome Piece
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Recycled pine wine bar menu, black board
A good handsome piece simply made with 4” old pine and waxed and polished
The attractively bordered board is r...
Category
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Materials
Pine
20thc "Meat Market" Trade Sign from Pennsylvania
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The patina is so wonderful on this 20thc Meat Market trade sign. The sign is in good used condition.There is a minor crack in the middle of the sign. This sign was found in Pennsylvania.It is a double sided sign...
Category
20th Century American Adirondack Signs
Materials
Wood
Old Vintage Fun Wooden Hand Painted Sign 'No Parking' Decorative Wall Shelf Art
Located in Llanbrynmair, GB
A fun hand painted wooden sign reads ‘NO PARKING THIS MEANS YOU’ – Definitely some British humour!
A very old sign, probably dates back to Mid 20...
Category
20th Century British Folk Art Signs
Materials
Pine
Antique Industrial Art Deco 'Exit' Illuminated Glass Sign, circa 1920
Located in London, GB
A stunning illuminated directional sign made in England, circa 1920.
Black painted steel frame housing the internal illuminations above polished plate...
Category
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Signs
Materials
Steel
in Use, Vintage Hospital X-Ray Sign, circa 1980
Located in Faversham, GB
Vintage London hospital x-ray sign that hung above the x-ray room door of the inpatient ward. The words ‘In Use’ illuminate when switched on.
London,...
Category
20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Signs
Materials
Aluminum
Harvard University Pennant Banner, circa.1920-1940
Located in San Francisco, CA
Vintage university pennant banner with sewn letters and tassels.
Creator A & Co. New York, Wright & Ditson Athletic.
Date of manufacture circa.1...
Category
Early 20th Century Industrial Signs
Materials
Felt
Vintage Illuminated Letter v, 1980s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial illuminated letter V was made in Italy during the 1980s and comes from an old advertising banner. It features a vhite metal ...
Category
1980s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Iron
Rare Wiener Werkstätte of America Inc New York Enameled Advertising Sign
Located in Vienna, AT
A rare, domed, black and white enameled Art Nouveau advertising sign for Wiener Werkstatte. (founded by Josef Hoffmann, Koloman Moser and Fritz...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Signs
Materials
Metal, Enamel, Iron
Rare 1880s Handmade Copper/Bronze Sign, Plaque "J.W.Williams Drop Forgings"
By E. N. Little & Sons 1
Located in Buffalo, NY
Rare 1880s handmade copper/bronze sign plaque "J.W.WILLIAMS DROP FORGINGS." Monumental sign/plaque salvaged from the turn of the century J W WILLIAMS factory in Brooklyn New York, ex...
Category
1880s American Industrial Antique Signs
Materials
Bronze, Copper
Vintage Blue Plastic Illuminated Letter O, 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial blue plastic illuminated letter O was made in Italy during the 1970s and comes from an old advertising banner. It is equipped with...
Category
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Plastic
American Folk Art Carved Marble Oval Building Marker, Dated 1813
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A haunting and unusual American carved marble building marker, probable New England origin circa 1813. The names inscribed are H. Missemer & S. Missemer. It...
Category
1810s American Antique Signs
Materials
Marble, Wrought Iron
Think Big Giant Matches and Matchbox
By Think Big
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic set of oversized matches and matchbox, made by Think Big NYC in 1984. Set contains all 8 original matches. Box slides open as a normal matchbox...
Category
1980s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Plastic, Paper, Felt, Wood, Paint
Eastern Bloc Huge Iluminated Letter U in the Form of a Floor Night Lamp, 1970
Located in Prague 8, CZ
This advertising illuminated letter represents the ever so popular Vintage wall art. You can use the letter on the wall but better as a floor lamp in the room. The lamp shines in dar...
Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Industrial Signs
Materials
Metal
Pair of Original Hand-Painted Wooden Fairground Signage, circa 1950s
Located in Faversham, GB
When in use, the panels were linked together with couplings to form an oval shape and the mechanics of the fairground ride would sit within the centre....
Category
20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Signs
Materials
Paint, Wood
19th Century, Apothecary Trade Sign
Located in Nantucket, MA
Figural trade sign in the form of a mortar and pestle, both the mortar and pestle are hand turned and gilded, with strong ring turnings. The top is capped with zinc and still bears i...
Category
Late 19th Century North American Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Zinc
Large Vintage Hamm's Beer Lakeside Plastics Advertising Hanging Lighted Sign
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Large vintage Hamm's beer lakeside plastics advertising hanging lighted sign. Item features a large impressive size, lighted interior, "Hamm's Beer, Take Home Cool Refreshment," orig...
Category
Mid-20th Century Modern Signs
Materials
Metal
Vintage Framed Print, Signed and Numbered
Located in Seattle, WA
Vintage framed print, signed and numbered
Dimensions. 24 1/2 W ; 1 D ; 21 H.
Category
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Materials
Wood
1950’s Enamel and Neon Corner Sign Cafe
Located in Chicago, IL
1950’s enamel and neon corner Cafe sign. It has new transformer and wiring. Please note that there will be additional fee for making shipping crate.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Materials
Enamel
Neighborhood Watch Street Sign, 1980s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage street sign that reads "This is a Neighborhood Watch Community". Black letters on a reflective white background. Used to have red accents wh...
Category
1980s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
Rustic Folk Art Hand Painted Gas Station Sign
Located in Oakland, CA
Vintage handcrafted gas station signage on board. The sign dates to pre 1975 when leaded gasoline was phased out. The state states “No Lead 99.9”, painted in yellow paint on a black ...
Category
1960s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Scrap Wood, Paint
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
Vintage Elks Club Hand Painted Event Sign Donkey Armchair Races
Located in Santa Monica, CA
This was a really fun find! "All Elks and Their Ladies." Hand painted event and dance signs for Elks Club. These appear to have been used over a 40 year period. They would recycle each year by repainting dates and prices. Sometimes covering up with a new piece of cardstock and repainting the info. Admittedly done by an accomplished sign painter...
Category
1940s Vintage Signs
Materials
Paper
Cigars Store / Trade Folk Art Wooden Carved Sign. c 1900
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
American Folk art wooden "CIGARS" sign from the 1920's.
Great old Store Trade sign. Wood cut to cigar shape. Lettered in Gold Paint.
In good conditions, it was a in doors sign. Perfect for any cigar smoker.
Cigars History:
A cigar is basically dried tobacco leaves that are rolled and wrapped by other tobacco leaves in order to give you a full tobacco smoking experience.
Cigars are becoming more popular all around the world recently because they are exposed to a pop culture where a lot of famous people like Michael Jordan and Arnold Schwarzenegger smoke them.
In order to understand why cigars have become very well-known, we need to take a good look at their history and where they came from. That way, we can truly understand this pop phenomenon. Here is a brief history of cigars.
Origin of Cigars
The exact origin of cigars is not entirely known but historians believe that cigars were first invented by the ancient Mayans.
The ancient Mayans would collect tobacco leaves and wrap them up in a plantain leave in order to smoke it. An ancient Mayan pot...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Wood
Huge Antique Garage Trade Sign, Chas Baldwin Automobile Engineer
Located in Downham Market, GB
A massive painted timber English garage sign.
A fantastic & delightfully original piece of signage impressive scale for 'Chas Baldwin, Automobile Enginee...
Category
1910s British Rustic Vintage Signs
Materials
Pine
Gazelle Bicycles Glass Advertising Sign
Located in Antwerp, BE
Old glass advertising sign for Gazelle Bicycles, a bicycle factory in the Netherlands since 1892. This Art Deco publicity sign is made of glass - advertising behind glass.
Beautiful...
Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Art Deco Signs
Materials
Glass
Vintage Illuminated Nut Crackers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large signs plastic nut crackers.
Set of two nut crackers, industrial plastic and illuminated sign from the Bullock department store in L.A.
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Materials
Plastic
Circa 1890 Hardware Store Wood Trade Sign Carved Smaltz Black and Gold Paint
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Exceptional late 19th century hand carved letters with black and Gold paint and black smaltz background. Excellent typography. Great wall art. Simple and bold.
Category
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Wood
Industrial Enamel Telephone Sign, circa 1950s
Located in Faversham, GB
Original industrial enamel telephone sign in wonderful condition. Sitting atop its two original legs. Most likely used in a factory or possibly a mine. ...
Category
20th Century British Edwardian Signs
Materials
Enamel, Metal
"B. Briscoe, Tailor" Sign with a Backwards S, circa 1810-1850
Located in York County, PA
Early American trade sign: “B. BRISCOE, TAILOR,” circa 1810-1850, with a backwards “S” and extraordinary surface
Early, painted, American trade...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Signs
Materials
Wood
Vintage Carnival or Casino Neptune's Trident Lighted Trade Sign Americana
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Unique lighted Neptune's trident carnival ride or casino trade sign. Really nice graphic piece. Original layers of golden yellow and red park paint. Provides a nice amount of warm li...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
Antique Industrial Art Deco Brass Internalite 'Ladies' Illuminated Sign, C.1920
Located in London, GB
A stunning illuminated 'Internalite' directional sign made in England by K.F.M Engineering. c.1920.
Brass frame, darkened by age, housing the internal illuminations above polished plate...
Category
Early 20th Century English Signs
Materials
Brass
Antique Industrial Art Deco Brass Glass 'Reception' Illuminated Sign. C.1920
Located in London, GB
A large illuminated glass and brass directional sign made in England. c.1920.
Brass frame housing the internal illuminations above polished plate glass ...
Category
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Signs
Materials
Brass
Antique Zinc Red Hat Maker Trade Sign, France, Early 20th Century
Located in Antwerp, BE
XXL Antique hat maker's trade sign, made in France circa 1900 - 1920.
This large sign was used as advertising - eyecatcher on the storefront.
A large facade sign - advertising sign in front of the hat shop - hat maker's store - red hat facade sign
It's a spectacular XXL red hat - red top hat made of hand- painted and hand-crafted zinc. When you look at the spectacular shape, you see that the brim of the hat is completely curled, so can only be done by an art maker - craftsman.
The original metal bracket is no longer with this hat trade sign...
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Signs
Materials
Zinc
Antique English Wrought Iron Police Station Sign with Briggs Barrow Mark
Located in Port Chester, NY
An antique English wrought iron police station sign in good original condition. Manufactured at the Briggs Foundry, Barrow, as seen in the bottom right corner. There are holes at eit...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Signs
Materials
Wrought Iron
Large Old Hand Painted Wooden Sign for J.Drayton St Ives Cornwall England
Located in Llanbrynmair, GB
A lovely old hand painted sign J.Drayton Master Thatcher of St. Ives.
Known for its surf beaches and quaint costal villages with thatched cottages, this piece is a reminder of simpl...
Category
20th Century British Folk Art Signs
Materials
Softwood
1930s Sign for Bicycle Parts
Located in Antwerp, BE
1930s Sign for bicycle parts.
An Art Deco sign dated 1937.
Black advertising sign with soft yellow embossed lettering and design for Torpedo Bicycle Wheel Bra...
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Deco Signs
Materials
Metal
c 1920 Brass Star of David Chandelier from Chicago Synagogue
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Historical and significant brass electrified Star of David from the last grand Chicago synagogue, Agudas Achim. Beautiful when lit. Hard to believe these were hung as chandeliers in ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Brass
Early 20th Century Pharmacy Sign 'DRUGS' Painted on a Single Board
Located in Nantucket, MA
American folk art trade sign from an apothecary or pharmacy with the word 'DRUGS' in black paint with white shadow lines on an orange ground. Painted on a single pine plank with notc...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Pine, Paint
“Giant” Scissors, Advertising Store Display
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Cast aluminum oversized scissors
probably used for advertising and or store display.
These will add interest to any room, wall, hair salon or fash...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Materials
Aluminum
Traditional Large Hanging Pub Sign, Wethered’s Winterbourne Arms
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Traditional large hanging pub sign. Wethered’s winterbourne arms
This is a large and heavy piece dating from the first half of the 20th Century, it is double sided though the pain...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art Signs
Materials
Metal
Giant Wood Early 20th Century Hand Painted Americana Barber Shop Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Large and chunky Americana! Fantastic and original Barber Shop trade sign in the shape of a barber pole. Great statement piece. Layers of super graphic red and white original paint. ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Wood
Italian modern Wall light sign by Lane Marzotto in plastic and metal, 1990s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Wall light sign by Lane Marzotto in plastic and metal, 1990s
Rectangular wall light sign with rounded corners. On the central pla...
Category
1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Signs
Materials
Metal
Vintage Painted Wood Folk Art Showroom Trade Sign
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
American Folk Art trade sign with hand-carved "Showroom" letters and an arrow. The letters and backboard are in original paint, egg-white and petroleum green. The sign has recently b...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Pine
Store Display Boy Doll, Child Mannequin
Located in Antwerp, BE
Art Deco store display boy - store display doll - child mannequin doll.
This antique child mannequin is a male child.
He has a painted plaster body, painted eyes and a painted wooden base. This store display advertising doll is probably designed for a clothing line which was located in Holland - The Netherlands.
This vintage store display - shop window doll - advertising doll - vintage mannequin doll is for the age still in very beautiful condition. He does have an old repair on a finger and on 1 foot.
This boy mannequin doll will look great in your interior as a decorative object or in a collection of dolls and bears, antique mannequin dolls.
Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Art Deco Signs
Materials
Plaster, Wood
Hand Painted $100 REWARD Wooden Sign, 1940s Los Angeles
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great vintage wood sign from the 1940s. Hand-painted. Misspellings and grammatical errors. The owner Samuel Spilk lived in Long Beach in the 1940s. ...
Category
1940s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Wood, Paint
Double-Sided Steeley Lane Post Office Sign, circa 1920s
Located in Faversham, GB
Wonderful double-sided Steeley Lane Post Office Sign. Hand-painted and in completely original condition with its original hanging hooks.
Cumbrian, circa ...
Category
20th Century British Edwardian Signs
Materials
Altuglas, Hardwood
19th Century Antique Ships Chandler Shop Advertising Sign
Located in Peabody, MA
A relic from Boston’s mercantile history and the seafaring trade. This 19th century shop sign displays a fairly detailed replica of a navigator’s octant (or sextant) and the proprietor’s name and street number...
Category
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Wood
Rather Large Vintage Beaver Sign from a Zoo
Located in Chicago, IL
A rather large and whimsical mid-20th century American beaver sign from a Wisconsin zoo. The sign composed of two thin sheets of steel with a thin sheet of plywood sandwiched between...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Signs
Materials
Steel
Plat Du Jour Rabbit Chalk Board
Located in Stamford, CT
A charming Plat du Jour Rabbit chalk board. The rabbit sits with a cluster of colorful fruits and vegetable atop a tablecloth covered table all above the plat du jour chalk board. Th...
Category
Late 20th Century French Signs
Materials
Wood
Reverse Painted Glass Gilt Single Sided Sign Plaque Early 20th Century
Located in London, GB
An incredible and highly original early 20th century hand painted trade sign.
Presumably painted by someone that sells signs? Reverse painte...
Category
Early 20th Century English Industrial Signs
Materials
Glass
"No Diving" POOL Sign, 1980s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage pool sign that reads "No Diving or Swimming Off Bridge". Bold reflective white letters on a classic green background. Great colors and scale...
Category
1980s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
1970's ice cream sign
Located in Brecht, BE
Vibrant colors for this 1970's ice cream sign, found in the South of Spain
Category
Mid-20th Century Spanish Signs
Materials
Polyester
Large Hand Painted Industrial British Railway Wall Sign Plaque, C.1940
Located in London, GB
Large vintage hand painted industrial signs used at a depot on the North Yorkshire Railway. c.1940
In original condition, hand painted on heavy duty aluminium. Price is per sign.
Category
Mid-20th Century English Industrial Signs
Materials
Aluminum
Metal Restaurant Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
Metal restaurant sign from a restaurant in Buenos Aires. Nice size and paint.
Category
1950s Argentine Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal, Tin
Early 20th century barbers point of sale hair comb and brush
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century barbers point of sale hair comb and brush
We share what we love, and we love this rare example of an oversized point of sale barbers hair...
Category
1930s British Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Plastic, Wood
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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