$10,320Sale Price|20% Off
Important Folk Art Trade Sign
Located in Greenwich, CT
A mid 19th Century folk art trade sign of demilune form, depicting a Native American chief holding a peace pipe and tomahawk wearing a headdress of white and red feathers, wearing a ...
Wood
Vintage School Crossing Safety Guard Folk Art Trade Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Original hand painted school safety crossing guard sign. Sheet metal and wood. Great original surface. Has original leaning brace mounted on back, but could also be easily hung on a ...
Sheet Metal
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.
Pine, Paint
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.
Wood
American Folk Art Workshop Wrench Wood Trade Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic and substantial wood and iron wrench tool sign. Hand written fractions and original yellow paint. Very sturdy and well made. Great industrial workshop turned folk art. The ...
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.
Zinc
Set of Three Folk Art Straight Edge Razor Trade Signs
Located in Stamford, CT
Three whimsical American folk carved wood art trade signs in the form of straight edge razors.
Wood
Antique Wrought Iron Welder's Trade Sign, Hand-Crafted Folk Art
Located in Montreal, QC
This large double side Welder's Mask Sign hung outside a iron mongers work shop boldly visible for the coming and going. Supported by heavy chains the mask sign was eerie and a bit ...
Iron
Large Hand Painted Double Sided Arrow "Radio Trade In" Folk Art Trade/Store Sign
Located in Buffalo, NY
Large Hand Painted, Double Sided Arrow "Special" Radio Trade In sale,,,,Folk Art Trade/Store Sign,,Wonderful size,,amazing crackle paint, patina..Great subject.
Masonite, Paint
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
$941Sale Price|37% Off
French, 19th Century Folk Art Iron Shoemakers Shop Trade Sign Circa 1800-1850
Located in Buisson, FR
One of a kind folk art riveted sheet iron shoemakers shop sign.
Iron
19th Century Iron Trade Sign Letter Box, Mail Box, Folk Art, Locksmith Design
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
19th Century Trade Sign Letter Box, Mail Box, Locksmith. The Post Box is a very unusual piece, it is blacksmith made to hang outside a Hardware shop, it is in the shape of a padlock...
Iron
Late 19th Century Folk Art "BOOT' Cobbler's Trade Show / SHOP Sign / Sculpture
Located in Buffalo, NY
Late 19th Century Folk Art "BOOT' Cobbler's Trade Show OR sHOP Sign / Sculpture . aLL Hand made,, Oil cloth, copper top and Wood...Most likely hung outside of an old cobbler , shoe ...
Copper
19th Century Oversized Huge Folk Art Full Leather Trade Show Sign Balmoral Boot
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A oversized full leather replica of a balmoral boot, likely to of been used in a great exhibition/trade show when the balmoral boot was made popular after it was created for Prince A...
Leather
19th Century Folk Art Hand Painted Watchmaker Wooden Trade Sign with Iron Hanger
Located in Milford, NH
A wonderful folk art watchmaker trade sign with hand painted dial and gilt case, including a forged wrought iron arched hanger for the outside of a shop.
Wrought Iron
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”.
Lead
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...
Zinc
Framed 18th c. Merchant Trade Sign
Located in Greenwich, CT
Now a rare and fabulous piece of wall mounted folk art.
Wood
$5,175
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...
Metal
Fish Trade Sign, Rainbow Trout, Fishing Bait and Equipment
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Fish Trade Sign, Rainbow Trout, Fishing Bait and Equipment This is an lovely old trade sign, the sign has a colourful painted wooden body which hangs from a wrought iron bracket T...
Iron
Boucherie Chevaline Trade Sign
Located in London, GB
Boucherie Chevaline Trade Sign A hand crafted Boucherie Chevaline, zinc gold leaf hand beaten butchers trade sign. A highly decorative wall hanging in untouched condition with or...
Zinc
Model of Kissel Gold Bug Speedster, Trade Advertising Sign
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Model of Kissel Gold Bug Speedster, Trade Advertising SignA Car made famous by Amelia Earhart the Kissel Gold Bug Speedster thought of as one of the hottest cars on the road which s...
Plywood
Elkwood, Late 19th Century American Trade Sign
Located in Nantucket, MA
With carved gilt wood letters with mounted against a blue painted sand ground American, c. 1890.
Wood
$1,350Sale Price|25% Off
"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 all the charm of classic ...
Aluminum
Oversized Carved Boot Trade Sign, Early 20th Century an Arresting Cobbler’s Sign
Located in New York, NY
Oversized Carved Boot Trade Sign, Early 20th Century An arresting cobbler’s sign hand-carved from solid wood and fashioned as a Victorian lace-up ankle boot with a sharp pointed toe ...
Metal
Early Smaltz “Printing” Trade Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
Long, narrow wooden trade sign with bold, hand-rendered "PRINTING" lettering across a black-painted ground. The surface shows the characteristic grit and matte texture associated wit...
Metal
A 19th Century Trade Sign
Located in Tetbury, England
An exceptional 19th century carved teak trade sign for “R H Coop & Sons” Funeral Directors of Oldham. Carved in high relief with swirling acanthus leaf overlaid with gilt letter...
Teak
Arts and Crafts Copper Milliners Trade Sign. Copper Top Hat
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Arts and Crafts Copper Milliners Trade Sign. Copper Top Hat This is an unusual piece, the Top Hat is hand made in beaten Copper it sits on an old wooden hat stand, incidentally the ...
Copper
Shoe Shop or Cobblers Trade Sign, Leather Hob Nail Boot
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Shoe Shop or Cobblers Trade Sign, Leather Hob Nail Boot This is a wonderful piece, made by a cobbler, it is a giant size Leather Hob Nail boot, it has been painted up as an adver...
Leather
Late 19th Century "Pocket Watch" Carved Wood Trade Sign
Located in Buffalo, NY
Late 19th Century "Pocket Watch" Carved Wood Trade Sign. Watch-makers / repairs sign.. Wonderful graphics..Amazing patina. color , surface. Remnants of old gold paint.
Wood
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 w...
Metal, Brass
American Wrought Iron and Gilt Trade Sign Bracket , Circa 1880
Located in Charleston, SC
American wrought iron and gilt trade sign bracket with decorative scroll work and gilt ball motif. Late 19th Century
Zinc and Gold Horse Head Butchers Trade Sign Flemish 1860
Located in Hastings, GB
19th century Flemish gilt zinc horse head trade sign. This beautiful hand made sign was used by a Flemish butcher and dates to circa 1860. There are still remnants of the beautiful g...
Zinc
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.
Wood
Early 20th Century Double Sided Metal Boot Makers Trade Sign
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century double sided metal boot makers trade sign. A highly decorative double sided hand painted metal French boot makers trade sign, Still attached to its original hin...
Metal
Large Weathered Trade Sign "Carriage Shop"
Located in Greenwich, CT
A 12 foot long trade sign displaying the words Carriage Shop on one side and Horse Shoeing on the other.
Wood
Vintage Large Wooden “Bakery” Trade Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
Large hand-crafted wooden storefront sign featuring raised block letters reading BAKERY across a shaped gilt panel. Each letter is individually cut and mounted in relief, creating a ...
Wood
Hand-Carved Steer Head Trade Sign
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Hand-carved French walnut steer head trade sign. Made for a butcher shop. Simple, yet well done design with dark stain and plaque backing. Size: 14 3/8"H x 20 3/4"W x 21 1/2"D Famil...
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. Beautifully hand painted on ...
Sheet Metal
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...
Wood
Early 20th Century SSP Optometry Trade Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
Single-sided porcelain enamel trade sign featuring a stylized portrait of a young boy wearing round spectacles, rendered in warm tones with pale blue lenses. Beneath the portrait sit...
Metal
Early 20th Century Pharmacist Figural Trade Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
Antique figural painted tin trade sign. This piece takes the form of an antique mortar and pestle, one of the most important tools used by practitioners of medicine for centuries. T...
Tin
$295Sale Price / item|37% Off
Hand Painted Dentist Trade Sign c.1940
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Single sided wooden dentist tooth trade sign with gold and black letters. Hand painted, hand carved. Shown with a life size hand model for scale. CREATOR Unknown. ...
Wood
Early 20th Century Double-Sided Iron Nautical Trade Sign "The Norfolk"
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Early 20th century double-sided sheet iron, cast iron, hand-painted trade sign with hand-forged hooks. Great hand-painted "The Norfolk" featuring a painted crest and battle ship. Han...
Iron
Early 20th Century Pharmacist Figural Trade Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
Antique figural copper and tin trade sign. This piece takes the form of an antique mortar and pestle, one of the most important tools used by practitioners of medicine for centuries...
Copper, Wrought Iron, Tin
$395Sale Price|43% Off
Hand Painted Dentist Trade Sign c.1940
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Single sided wooden dentist tooth trade sign with gold and black letters. Hand painted, hand carved. Shown with a life size hand model for scale. CREATOR Unknown. ...
Wood
1940s Native American Trading Post Wooden Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1940s Native American wooden painted trading post sign. Colors are vibrant. This is what paint collectors appreciate. The natural fade and slight crackling of the paint showing true ...
Wood
Italian Pirelli Wrought Iron Advertising Trade Sign 1920
Located in Hastings, GB
Absolutely incredible advertising sign for an Italian garage, blacksmith made in forged and ornate wrought Iron. This sign was removed from a garage in Turin, Italy where it had hung...
Wrought Iron
Dairy Products Trade Sign Geo Fitchett 1940s
Located in Newfoundland, PA
Wonderful 1940s Geo Fitchett Dairy Products Trade sign, this wooden trade sign is in wonderful original condition. It has hooks on the top for hanging, it is double sided as you can ...
Wood
Walk This Way: Antique Metal Shoemaker’s Trade Sign
Located in New York, NY
Formed from sheet metal and shaped as an ankle-height lace-up shoe with a squared toe and low heel, the piece was likely used by a cobbler or shoemaker as a hanging shop sign. The s...
Metal
19th Century 'Doctor McCracken' Surgeon's Trade Sign
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Double-sided doctor's medical practice trade sign for 'Dr. McCracken'.
Original Carved Wood 19th Century Boulangerie Trade Sign
Located in Pease pottage, West Sussex
Extraordinary Boulangerie Trade Sign Wonderful original, untouched Boulangerie trade sign. Carved oak Panel, in deep, detailed relief. Featuring wheat sheaves, an urn overflowing wit...
Oak
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-early 20th century.
Metal
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 Frazer Nash, the company was founded i...
Wood
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.
Wood
Early 20th Century Toleware English Hat Makers Trade Sign
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century Toleware English Hat Makers Trade Sign Dimensions in inches: H 8” x W 11” x D 13” / 22” H Including stand Age: 1910 Origin: England Condition: Aged Overview Mount...
Metal
20thc Quilt Trade Sign in Original Paint on Stand
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 double sided street or window sign...
Metal
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.