Early Danish Double Sided Neon Bakery Sign
Located in Peekskill, NY
outside a small shop in Denmark. This is a traditional sign used for a Danish Bakery. The quality of
Steel
1920s French Patron Pâtissiers Metal Bakery Sign
Located in High Point, NC
This 1920s French Patron Pâtissiers metal bakery sign is a charming relic of early 20th-century
Metal
Vintage Large Wooden “Bakery” Trade Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
Large hand-crafted wooden storefront sign featuring raised block letters reading BAKERY across a
Wood
HOVIS, Etched Glass Bakery Advertising Window Sign
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
HOVIS, Etched Glass Bakery Advertising Window Sign A great piece of social history, this is a
Art Glass
French 1920s Bakery Sign
Located in New York, NY
French 1920's Boulangerie Patisserie sign.
Bakery Sign
Located in Surrey, BC
Painted, wood bakery sign, hand scripted in gold paint
Wood
Painted Sign
Located in Surrey, BC
Guilded bread sign from Bakery
Wood, Paint
19th Century Danish Pretzel Bakery Sign On Stand
Located in Atlanta, GA
A 19th century baker's pretzel shop sign from Denmark, mounted on custom iron Stand. This antique
Metal, Iron
Antique English Southampton England Bakery Sign
Located in New York, NY
Antique English Southampton Bakery Sign Wood with Original Paint Iron Frame Detail
Wood
1900's Tin Light Up Cafe Bakery Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
1900's original American tin light up Cafe Bakery sign. In working condition.
Tin, Metal
Sold
H 25 in W 115 in D 4 in
Antique French Boulangerie Bakery Shop Sign with Individual Metal Letters
Located in Houston, TX
Antique Boulangerie bakery shop signage from France in a beautiful cream metal. Each letter
Metal
Antique French Patisserie Shop Sign with Individual Metal Letters
Located in Houston, TX
Boulangerie bakery shop sign.
Metal
Antique American Light Up Tin Sign "Cafe Bakery"
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique American light up tin sign "Cafe Bakery." Newly rewired.
Tin
Sign of Painted Glass in the Window of a Diner, Coffee Shop or Bakery
Located in Madison, WI
Sign painted on frosted glass once hung in the window of a hometown diner or local coffee shop or
Leather, Glass, Wood, Paint
$19,240
H 71.66 in W 82.68 in D 25.6 in
A corner sofa by J.M. Middelraad for H. Pander & Zn, circa 1900, The Netherlands
By H.Pander & Zonen
Located in Delft, NL
A corner sofa by J.M. Middelraad for H. Pander & Zn A corner sofa with fabric upholstery. The beautiful hand-carved details in Art Nouveau patterns and dragonflies, as well as on th...
Fabric, Palmwood
$6,613
H 13.39 in W 53.15 in D 28.75 in
Roger Capron Signed Herbier Ceramic Coffee Table, circa 1965, France.
By Roger Capron
Located in Brussels, BE
Rare Roger Capron signed ceramic oval coffee table, circa 1965. Herbier model. Ceramic tiles, grass motifs, tinted oak frame and feet. Signed R. Capron on one ceramic tile. Good Co...
Ceramic, Oak
Amuneal's Brass Pantry Cabinetry
By Amuneal
Located in New York, NY
Amuneal's Brass Pantry Cabinetry, part of our metal Kitchen Collection, is designed as a feature element for any space. The three doors on the upper cabinets are fabricated with a kn...
Brass
$4,329
H 16.93 in Dm 25.99 in
A MID-CENTURY-MODERN MODERNIST Rattan SIDE TABLE by Janine ABRAHAM, France 1950
By Janine Abraham and Dirk Jan Rol
Located in PARIS, FR
A superb Modernist, Freeform, Brutalist, Folk Art pedestal table or side table, with a four-legged black lacquered metal frame and an impressive woven wicker top, creating a warm and...
Metal
French Designer, Table Lamp, Wood, Bamboo, France, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A wood and bamboo table lamp designed and produced in France, c. 1960s. Wear consistent with age and use Dimensions of Shade (inches): 5.5” Top Diameter x 8” Bottom Diameter x 6.75...
Wood, Bamboo
1930's Italian Console & Stool
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Incredible 1930's Italian console or entry piece with matching stool. Bentwood with original rope detail on the sides and carved edges in original mahogany patina. Two Pull-out dr...
Bentwood
$2,680 / item
H 29.93 in W 25.2 in D 53.55 in
Luxury Solid Wood Pitta Bar Cart with Timeless Brazilian Design
By Amilcar Oliveira
Located in São Paulo, SP
The Pitta Bar Cart is a piece that combines functionality with timeless design. Crafted from solid wood with a natural finish, it highlights the unique grain and tones of the materia...
Hardwood
Giancarlo Mattioli 'Nesso' Table Lamp in Orange for Artemide
By Artemide, Giancarlo Mattioli
Located in Glendale, CA
Giancarlo Mattioli 'Nesso' table lamp in orange for Artemide. Designed by Mattioli in the 1960s, the Nesso is now an internationally celebrated design. Its iconic curves inspired b...
Plastic
Toshiyuki Kita "Dodo" Reclining Lounge Chair by Cassina
By Toshiyuki Kita, Cassina
Located in Highland, IN
Winner of the 1999 Good Design Award, the "Dodo" chair by Toshiyuki Kita is a dynamic chair with swivel & recline features as well as a retractable footrest. This allows versatile f...
Aluminum
Black Murano Glass Modernist Lamps
Located in Austin, TX
Pair of table lamps made of hand-blown glass elements from Murano, Italy outside of Venice. Each lamp features unique glass components in opaque black and transparent black tones on ...
Brass
English Arm Loveseat Upholstered in 100% Natural Hemp
By Bloom Home Inc
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
Introducing our English arm studio sofa in 100% natural hemp. Sink into the plump down-wrapped seat cushions. The soothing oatmeal color, reminiscent of natural flax linen, adds war...
Hemp
'Nictea' Pendant by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Flos, Italy
By Flos, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Argelato, BO
'Nictea' Pendant by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Flos, Italy 1961 The Nictea lamp was created in 1961 and is famous for its unique and elegant design. It features a delicate, sculptura...
Brass, Steel
Paul Frankl Model '5025' Coffee Table in Cork
By Paul Frankl, Johnson Furniture Co.
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Paul Frankl for Johnson Furniture, coffee table '5025', lacquered cork, United States, 1950s Designed by Paul Frankl, this coffee table features a striking biomorphic form, crafted ...
Cork
Limited Edition Salvador Dali Armchair, "Invisible Personage"
By BD Barcelona Design, Salvador Dalí
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Indulge in a rare opportunity to own a piece of art history with this Limited Edition Salvador Dali Armchair, featuring the artist's iconic "Invisible Personage" design. One of only ...
Sheepskin, Upholstery, Lacquer
$8,205 / set
H 45.28 in Dm 7.09 in
Set of 2 Mid-Century Swiss Space Age Guggerli L3 Floor Lamp for Baltensweiler
Located in Hamburg, DE
Very rare floor lamps from the Swiss manufacturer Baltensweiler designed by Rosemarie and Rico Baltensweiler in the 60s. The design of the Guggerli lamps is very simple. The glass s...
Metal
Custom-Made Cast Bronze Coffee Table
By Monk Designs
Located in Chicago, IL
Custom-made cast bronze coffee table. Designed by Athena Calderone and crafted by Vanessa Monk of Monk Designs. The base of the table was inspired and cast from actual plant stalks f...
Bronze
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.
At Waddesdon Manor, artist Joana Vasconcelos has installed a three-tiered patisserie inspired by the narrative tile work of her homeland. We take a look at the cake sculpture and how Portuguese tiles have been used in architecture from the 17th century to today.
The streets of fin-de-siècle Paris were set aglow with colorful poster ads, thanks to the printing techniques invented by Jules Chéret. Now, the Milwaukee Art Museum is celebrating this undersung talent in America's first solo show dedicated his exuberant works.
Expert Jeff Bridgman explains the history and meaning behind the twinkling constellations that have graced Old Glory.
The iconoclastic style setter displayed African and Oceanic art, as well as works by indigenous peoples of the Americas, alongside pieces by such major modernists as Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock.
Perfect for July 4th weekend, a new show at Philadelphia's Museum of the American Revolution displays an array of antique red, white and blue flags.
Designers are beginning to see this enigmatic form of folk art in a whole new light.