California Freeway Sign, 1986 USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
and transportation ephemera. Stamped 'Property of the State of California 1986' on the reverse side
Category
Vintage 1980s American Contemporary Art
Materials
Aluminum, Steel
California Ephemera
Monumental California Drunk Drivers Highway Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
California transportation ephemera.
Category
Vintage 1970s American Signs
Materials
Steel
California ROADSIDE BUSINESS Freeway Sign, 1950s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
for California roadways. Stunning piece of California and transportation ephemera. 6 feet long and 2.5
Category
Vintage 1950s American Contemporary Art
Materials
Aluminum, Steel
'Adopt a Highway' California Road Sign, 2000s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
California and transportation ephemera. Stamped 'Property State of California' on the back.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Signs
Materials
Steel
Large Big Bear Lake California Highway Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
California, cool piece of history. Great coloring and worn condition. Fantastic piece of California ephemera
Category
Vintage 1970s American Signs
Materials
Steel
Recent Sales
KEM Weber the Moderne in Southern California, 1920-1941 Monograph with Ephemera
Unavailable
H 0.5 in W 8 in D 8 in
KEM Weber the Moderne in Southern California, 1920-1941 Monograph with Ephemera
By David Gebhard, Harriette Von Breton
Located in Dallas, TX
KEM Weber University of California Santa Barbara Monograph & Ephemera Difficult to source
Category
Vintage 1970s American Art Deco Books
Materials
Paper
Large 'Scenic Route' California Highway Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
coloring and condition. Fantastic piece of California ephemera. Stamped 'State of California' on the back.
Category
Vintage 1970s American Contemporary Art
Materials
Steel
'Scenic Route' California Highway Sign, USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
coloring and condition. Fantastic piece of California ephemera. Stamped 'Property State of California' on
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Signs
Materials
Steel
Framed 'Scenic Route' California Highway Sign, USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
coloring and condition. Fantastic piece of California ephemera. Stamped 'Property State of California' on
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Signs
Materials
Steel
City of Los Angeles 'Share the Road' Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
. Cool piece of California ephemera.
Category
Early 2000s American Signs
Materials
Steel
Large Sunset Blvd Street Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
. Measures: 3 feet long by 18 inches tall. Fun piece of Los Angeles/California transportation ephemera.
Category
1990s American Contemporary Art
Materials
Steel
Tall Architectural Magazine / Newspaper Holders Peter Pepper Products
By Peter Pepper Products
Located in Los Angeles, CA
California design. Form + function. Ephemera holder. Natural walnut with powder coated masonite
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Masonite
Set of 3 State Park Signs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
signs. Fun piece of California, outdoors/camping ephemera. Good vintage condition. Each sign is 12" x 12".
Category
Vintage 1970s American Signs
Materials
Steel
Large 'Scenic Route' California Highway Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
coloring and condition. Fantastic piece of California ephemera. Stamped 'State of California' on the back.
Category
Vintage 1970s American Signs
Materials
Steel
Vintage Metal Horse Crossing Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
. Great patina to metal. Cool piece of California ephemera.
Category
Vintage 1970s American Signs
Materials
Steel
California 'Begin' Road Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
'Property of California' on the back. Great coloring. Cool piece of California transportation ephemera. Good
Category
Vintage 1970s North American Signs
Materials
Metal
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Original Sunball Chair by Gunter Ris and Ferdinand Selldorf for Rosenthal
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This is a fully restored original version of this 1960's iconic classic astronaut's helmet style space age outdoor swivel chair, As you can imagine, after 60 plus years, the original...
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Rare 19th Century Italian Memento Mori Bust / Sculpture Carrara Marble Vanitas
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One-of-a-kind 1851 Great Exhibition Carved Armchair by Arthur Jones of Dublin
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Pair of French Antique Cast Brass Belle Epoque Style Andirons
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Venetian Monumental Seated Bird Cage
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Venetian style (20th Cent) octagonal shaped painted and decorated metal and wood bird cage with 8 upholstered seat and back cushions around base. (Franco Zefferelli Collection)
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Space Mission Pinball Arcade Game, 1976 USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage 'SPACE MISSION' pinball machine from 1976. 4 players can play. Made by Williams Electronics. In excellent working condition, recently restored. Great visuals and sounds. Extr...
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'COME ON IN' Neon Sign , 1990s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Custom neon sign with aluminum channel cut letters. COME ON IN, lights up with green neon gas. Just under 6 feet long. Welcoming sign and fun piece of art. Glass in great condition....
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19th Century Silver Plate Epergne and Cruet Service
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This elegant silver plate epergne is a rarity in that it also includes a full, cut-glass cruet set. This service’s delicate central basket is elevated above a plateau holding ten fin...
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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
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Materials
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1920's -30's Hand Painted "DRUGS" wood sign
Located in Buffalo, NY
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Four Piece Cubo Sectional Sofa by Harvey Probber, circa 1972
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19th Century, Monumental Carved Boiserie Panels from Lartington Hall
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Large Hand Painted Double Sided Arrow "Radio Trade In" Folk Art Trade/Store Sign
$1,900
H 24 in W 62 in D 1 in
Large Hand Painted Double Sided Arrow "Radio Trade In" Folk Art Trade/Store Sign
Located in Buffalo, NY
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Monumental Los Angeles 101 Freeway Sign, 1988 USA
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California Ephemera For Sale on 1stDibs
With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the california ephemera you’re looking for. Frequently made of metal, steel and paper, every california ephemera was constructed with great care. There are many kinds of the california ephemera you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 20th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. A california ephemera is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in modern styles are sought with frequency. Many designers have produced at least one well-made california ephemera over the years, but those crafted by Lawrence Schiller, Ted Streshinsky and Tom Wolfe are often thought to be among the most beautiful.
How Much is a California Ephemera?
Prices for a california ephemera can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $445 and can go as high as $7,450, while the average can fetch as much as $2,500.
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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