Skip to main content

Signs

932 Results
to
57
915
17
1
662

Use search to find more

Use search to find more

1
1

Use search to find more

Vintage Retro Mid Century French Neon Illuminated Butchers Display Sign, c.1950
Vintage Retro Mid Century French Neon Illuminated Butchers Display Sign, c.1950

Vintage Retro Mid Century French Neon Illuminated Butchers Display Sign, c.1950

Located in London, GB

An incredibly rare French neon butchers trade sign. c.1950. A characterful hanging neon sign from a French butcher’s shop, its metal body finished in a flocked‑velvet coating that h...

Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Signs

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Vintage "B-A-R" Sign
Vintage "B-A-R" Sign

Vintage "B-A-R" Sign

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Vintage "B-A-R" Sign Vintage B-A-R letters mounted to aluminum angle = "BAR" Letters are Painted Cast Aluminum by Wagner Sign Service as list on the back of each letter. "in good ...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Industrial Signs

Materials

Aluminum

Old European Dachshund Sign in Cast Iron - Two Sided
Old European Dachshund Sign in Cast Iron - Two Sided

Old European Dachshund Sign in Cast Iron - Two Sided

Located in Esbjerg, DK

Old double-sided Dachshund sign in cast iron. Unknown Scandinavian or German maker circa 1930-60. It has been displayed outside and shows weathering, patina and rust. It is intact an...

Category

1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs

Materials

Cast Iron

English Pub Sign, "The Manor House"
English Pub Sign, "The Manor House"

English Pub Sign, "The Manor House"

Located in Austin, TX

An authentic English pub sign (one-sided) featuring a painting of a handsome English manor house standing on a grassy estate, titled "The Manor House" A very fine example of vintag...

Category

20th Century English Signs

Materials

Metal

French 18th Century Forged Iron Folk Art Baroque Tavern Sign
French 18th Century Forged Iron Folk Art Baroque Tavern Sign

French 18th Century Forged Iron Folk Art Baroque Tavern Sign

Located in Buisson, FR

Important and beautiful 18th century Tavern sign depicting a rearing white horse with a crowned coat of arms on its back. Most likely from the Alsace, France due to the German influe...

Category

18th Century French Baroque Antique Signs

Materials

Iron

Antique Early 20th Century Edwardian Brass 'Way Out' Illuminated Sign. C.1900
Antique Early 20th Century Edwardian Brass 'Way Out' Illuminated Sign. C.1900

Antique Early 20th Century Edwardian Brass 'Way Out' Illuminated Sign. C.1900

Located in London, GB

A large illuminated glass and brass directional sign made in England. c.1900. A fine turn‑of‑the‑century illuminated sign from the era when gaslight was commonly used to back‑light ...

Category

Early 20th Century English Edwardian Signs

Materials

Brass

20thc Quilt Trade Sign in Original Paint on Stand
20thc Quilt Trade Sign in Original Paint on Stand

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...

Category

20th Century American Rustic Signs

Materials

Metal

Vintage Smaller Folk Art 19th Century Barber Pole
Vintage Smaller Folk Art 19th Century Barber Pole

Vintage Smaller Folk Art 19th Century Barber Pole

Located in Cincinnati, OH

A great Folk Art barber pole in a smaller size that would hang on a post or in the front of the shop with holes to the reverse. Having fantastic patina with wear, age and being repai...

Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Wood, Paint

Art Deco Style Illuminated Double-Sided Telephone Sign
Art Deco Style Illuminated Double-Sided Telephone Sign

Art Deco Style Illuminated Double-Sided Telephone Sign

Located in Dekalb, IL

Illuminated telephone sign featuring a curved clear plexiglass panel, stylized handset silhouettes, and geometric lettering on a stepped gray aluminum housing. Silver-gray stripes, t...

Category

Early 20th Century Signs

Materials

Aluminum

Vintage Illuminated Letter E , 1980s
Vintage Illuminated Letter E , 1980s

Vintage Illuminated Letter E , 1980s

Located in Kojetice, CZ

This vintage industrial illuminated letter E was made in Italy during the 1980s and comes from an old advertising banner. It features a vhite metal body and a white plexiglass cover....

Category

1980s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs

Materials

Iron

Antique Early 20th Century Oil on Canvas Landscape Painting. c.1910
Antique Early 20th Century Oil on Canvas Landscape Painting. c.1910

Antique Early 20th Century Oil on Canvas Landscape Painting. c.1910

Located in London, GB

A charming early 20th Century landscape oil painting. English. c.1910 Signed to bottom left - very skillfully painted landscape scene with fisherman and cottage. Some very minor ...

Category

Mid-20th Century English Edwardian Signs

Materials

Canvas

Four Contemporary Mexican "Racy" Ex-Voto Retablos Attributed to Alfredo Vilchis
Four Contemporary Mexican "Racy" Ex-Voto Retablos Attributed to Alfredo Vilchis

Four Contemporary Mexican "Racy" Ex-Voto Retablos Attributed to Alfredo Vilchis

Located in San Diego, CA

A set of four contemporary Mexican racy / risque / taboo ex-voto / retablos attributed to Alfredo Vilchis, circa 2010. A captivating and humorous collection of Mexican ex-votos (retablos), attributed to the renowned "neighborhood artist" of Mexico City, Alfredo Vilchis Roque. Each piece represents a modern, secular, and "racy" evolution of the traditional 19th-century devotional art form. Each piece is in a "deliberate distressed condition" to mimic the weathered look of 19th-century antiques, and each measure approximately 9"W x 7"H. Unlike classic retablos that thank saints for surviving illnesses or accidents, these "new" ex-votos depict the gritty, scandalous, and often hilarious realities of modern urban life. The collection includes: -The Piercing Penance: A woman thanking Saint Rita for her successful (and painful) nipple piercings...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Folk Art Signs

Materials

Tin, Enamel

Set of Antique Industrial Art Deco Brass 'Internalite' Illuminated Signs. C.1920
Set of Antique Industrial Art Deco Brass 'Internalite' Illuminated Signs. C.1920

Set of Antique Industrial Art Deco Brass 'Internalite' Illuminated Signs. C.1920

Located in London, GB

Quality pair of illuminated glass and brass directional signs made in England. c.1920. Brass frame housing the internal illuminations above polished plate glass etched with 'LADIES'...

Category

Early 20th Century English Art Deco Signs

Materials

Brass

English Pub Sign, "The Falcon"
English Pub Sign, "The Falcon"

English Pub Sign, "The Falcon"

Located in Austin, TX

An authentic English pub sign (one-sided) featuring a beautiful painting of a falcon perched on a tree stump, titled The Falcon. A very fine example of vintage advertising artwork, ...

Category

20th Century English Signs

Materials

Metal

Art Deco / Moderne /Googie Style "TRAVEL sOMEWHERE" NEON SIGN..
Art Deco / Moderne /Googie Style "TRAVEL sOMEWHERE" NEON SIGN..

Art Deco / Moderne /Googie Style "TRAVEL sOMEWHERE" NEON SIGN..

Located in Buffalo, NY

"TRAVEL SOMEWHERE" Neon Sign..GOOGIE STYLE.. originally created and built as a prop for a movie in the 1980s,,and just recently used (again) in the upcoming film "The Bell Jar" star...

Category

1980s Art Deco Vintage Signs

Materials

Glass, Wood

British Crown & Anchor Iron Hanging Tavern or Pub Sign
British Crown & Anchor Iron Hanging Tavern or Pub Sign

British Crown & Anchor Iron Hanging Tavern or Pub Sign

Located in Rio Vista, CA

A rare hanging British "Crown and Anchor" pub or tavern sign constructed out of iron and wood. The sign is crafted with a forged iron frame having two hanging loops. The sign feature...

Category

20th Century English Folk Art Signs

Materials

Iron

Large Vintage Grey Iron Facade Letter T, 1970s
Large Vintage Grey Iron Facade Letter T, 1970s

Large Vintage Grey Iron Facade Letter T, 1970s

Located in Kojetice, CZ

This vintage industrial facade letter “T” was made during the 1970s in Italy and comes from an old advertising banner. The weight of the letter is 1,5 kg.

Category

1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs

Materials

Iron

Vintage Red Illuminated Letter T , 1970s
Vintage Red Illuminated Letter T , 1970s

Vintage Red Illuminated Letter T , 1970s

Located in Kojetice, CZ

This vintage industrial red illuminated letter T was made in Italy during the 1970s and comes from an old advertising banner from an old carpet shop in Torino. It features a black ir...

Category

1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs

Materials

Metal

English Pub Sign, "The Ship"
English Pub Sign, "The Ship"

English Pub Sign, "The Ship"

Located in Austin, TX

An authentic English pub sign (one-sided) featuring a painting of a British brigantine or two-mast sailing ship featuring flags with St. George's cross, titled: The Ship. A very fin...

Category

20th Century English Signs

Materials

Metal

Mounted Asafo Flag of Ghana c.1820-1920
Mounted Asafo Flag of Ghana c.1820-1920

Mounted Asafo Flag of Ghana c.1820-1920

Located in San Francisco, CA

ABOUT Contact us for more shipping quotes: S16 Home San Francisco. An original Asafo flag depicting the Fante people of Ghana, Africa and the Union Jack of the United Kingdom. Mou...

Category

19th Century Industrial Antique Signs

Materials

Wood, Fabric

Chinese Signboard with Gold Coloured Calligraphy from Hardwood, C. 1900
Chinese Signboard with Gold Coloured Calligraphy from Hardwood, C. 1900

Chinese Signboard with Gold Coloured Calligraphy from Hardwood, C. 1900

Located in Jimbaran, Bali

With a wood coloured base this signboard (crafted entirely from wood) highlights 3 large gold coloured Chinese Characters. The signboard dates to the early 20th Century and has aged ...

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Signs

Materials

Wood, Paint

Double Sided Vintage Marlboro Light Up Cigarette Pack, 1990s USA
Double Sided Vintage Marlboro Light Up Cigarette Pack, 1990s USA

Double Sided Vintage Marlboro Light Up Cigarette Pack, 1990s USA

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This is the perfect Americana statement piece to add interest to any interior. This incredible vintage advertising light up box by Marlboro is eye-catching showpiece. These lights we...

Category

1990s American Signs

Materials

Steel

Vintage Blue Plastic Illuminated Letter R, 1970s
Vintage Blue Plastic Illuminated Letter R, 1970s

Vintage Blue Plastic Illuminated Letter R, 1970s

Located in Kojetice, CZ

This vintage industrial blue plastic illuminated letter R was made in Italy during the 1970s and comes from an old advertising banner. It is equipped with a LED strip. The letter can...

Category

1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs

Materials

Plastic

Vintage Illuminated Letter T, 1970s
Vintage Illuminated Letter T, 1970s

Vintage Illuminated Letter T, 1970s

Located in Kojetice, CZ

This vintage Industrial illuminated letter T was made in Italy during the 1970s and comes from an old advertising banner. It features a black metal ...

Category

1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs

Materials

Iron

Rare 1970s Adult Peep Show, Books & Magazines, Large Plastic Embossed Sign XXX
Rare 1970s Adult Peep Show, Books & Magazines, Large Plastic Embossed Sign XXX

Rare 1970s Adult Peep Show, Books & Magazines, Large Plastic Embossed Sign XXX

By Terry Richardson

Located in St. Louis, MO

Large 1970s sign with embossed letters, Adult Peep Show - Books & Magazines. Sold without its original aluminum frame, can be back lit with LED. Small star crack to top of Red "S", minor loss of paint and scuffs. Subject matter is in the style of photographer Terry Richardson...

Category

1970s American Vintage Signs

Materials

Plastic

Cautionary Sign from a Zoo, circa 1960s
Cautionary Sign from a Zoo, circa 1960s

Cautionary Sign from a Zoo, circa 1960s

Located in Nantucket, MA

Vintage Cautionary Sign from a Zoo, circa 1960s, a hand painted wooden sign mounted with an old iron horseshoe for hanging. An understated sign which conveys a touch of the old "tres...

Category

1960s Folk Art Vintage Signs

Materials

Wood

1960’s Small Red American Vintage Gas Station Marquee Numbers And Letters - Larg
1960’s Small Red American Vintage Gas Station Marquee Numbers And Letters - Larg

1960’s Small Red American Vintage Gas Station Marquee Numbers And Letters - Larg

Located in Hook, Hampshire

1960’s Small Red American Vintage Gas Station Marquee Numbers And Letters - Large Set. We sourced these from an old gas station in America, thought to be from the 50’s and 60’s. This...

Category

1950s Unknown Vintage Signs

Materials

Plastic

Antique Directional Trade Sign for Coin-Op Machine
Antique Directional Trade Sign for Coin-Op Machine

Antique Directional Trade Sign for Coin-Op Machine

Located in Dekalb, IL

A vibrant hand-painted directional sign used to draw attention toward a nearby coin-operated machine or attraction. The carved wooden pointing hand-complete with stylized knuckle and arrow detailing-extends from a bold yellow panel stenciled LOOK in deep red shadowed lettering. These signs were commonly mounted beside penny scales, gum machines...

Category

Early 20th Century Signs

Materials

Wood, Paint

Antique Chinese Wooden Sign Board with Calligraphy from the 19th Century
Antique Chinese Wooden Sign Board with Calligraphy from the 19th Century

Antique Chinese Wooden Sign Board with Calligraphy from the 19th Century

Located in Yonkers, NY

This antique Chinese horizontal sign board made during the 19th century displays Chinese characters carved in wood in a splendid calligraphic style. The frame is enhanced by red and ...

Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Signs

Materials

Wood

Vintage Double-Sided Bar Directional Advertising Sign
Vintage Double-Sided Bar Directional Advertising Sign

Vintage Double-Sided Bar Directional Advertising Sign

Located in Dekalb, IL

Double-sided hand-painted plywood advertising sign directing patrons to a downstairs bar. The stepped Art Deco-inspired profile features the phrases "DOWNSTAIRS BAR IS OPEN," "TO LAD...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Other Signs

Materials

Wood, Paint

Early 20th Century Toleware English Hat Makers Trade Sign
Early 20th Century Toleware English Hat Makers Trade Sign

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...

Category

1910s Victorian Vintage Signs

Materials

Metal

Large Antique Wrought Iron Bracket with Two-Tier Wooden Sign, "Inn & Antiques"
Large Antique Wrought Iron Bracket with Two-Tier Wooden Sign, "Inn & Antiques"

Large Antique Wrought Iron Bracket with Two-Tier Wooden Sign, "Inn & Antiques"

Located in Doylestown, PA

Two-tier wooden sign on a large, hand-forged wrought iron scrolled wall bracket, early 20th century. From idyllic Bucks County, Pennsylvania, an impressive iron wall bracket with tw...

Category

Early 20th Century Signs

Materials

Wrought Iron

1960s English Carnival Sign
1960s English Carnival Sign

1960s English Carnival Sign

Located in High Point, NC

1960s carnival art sign from England. It is advertising a cake walk on one side of the sign, and on the back has a charming message "Have a nice Victorian day". Great sign for any co...

Category

1960s English Folk Art Vintage Signs

Materials

Wood

Fabulous Antique British London Pub Two Sided Sign
Fabulous Antique British London Pub Two Sided Sign

Fabulous Antique British London Pub Two Sided Sign

Located in Hopewell, NJ

Fabulous one of a kind original pub sign from The Cornet Pub on Lavender Gardens just off Lavender Hill, Battersea London, having a gentleman on white horseback and the words “The ...

Category

Early 1900s English Antique Signs

Materials

Wood

Antique New York Telephone Co. Double-Sided Smaltz Sign
Antique New York Telephone Co. Double-Sided Smaltz Sign

Antique New York Telephone Co. Double-Sided Smaltz Sign

Located in Dekalb, IL

c. 1910s-1920s; New York Telephone Company - New York, NY Double-sided reverse-painted glass (smaltz) sign reading "NEW YORK TELEPHONE CO. AGENCY" in bold gilt lettering against a d...

Category

Early 20th Century Signs

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paint

1920's -30's Hand Painted "DRUGS" wood sign
1920's -30's Hand Painted "DRUGS" wood sign

1920's -30's Hand Painted "DRUGS" wood sign

Located in Buffalo, NY

1920's -30's Hand Painted "DRUGS" wood sign ... Great old sign,, Tons of character,, Retains original finish / patina..

Category

1920s American Folk Art Vintage Signs

Materials

Wood, Paint

Fair Play Basketball Scoreboard, 1980s USA
Fair Play Basketball Scoreboard, 1980s USA

Fair Play Basketball Scoreboard, 1980s USA

By Fair Play

Located in Los Angeles, CA

An authentic slice of American sports history, this slim original 1980s scoreboard was manufactured by Trans-Lux Fair-Play, a leader in athletic display technology. Bold in design an...

Category

1980s American Vintage Signs

Materials

Aluminum

Mid 20th Century Vintage Porcelain Enameled Metal Sprinkler Fire Alarm Sign
Mid 20th Century Vintage Porcelain Enameled Metal Sprinkler Fire Alarm Sign

Mid 20th Century Vintage Porcelain Enameled Metal Sprinkler Fire Alarm Sign

Located in Stamford, CT

Great Vintage porcelain sign-enameled metal sign, Sprinkler Fire Alarm when bell rings call Police or Fire Dept. This sign came off an industrial building ...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Signs

Materials

Metal

Hand-painted sheet metal swordfish sign England 1950s
Hand-painted sheet metal swordfish sign England 1950s

Hand-painted sheet metal swordfish sign England 1950s

Located in Milan, IT

Curious sign depicting swordfish in hand-painted sheet metal. English manufacture 1930s. Bon état. Measures 161x50x18 cm - inches 63.4x19.7x7. The swordfish is distinguished by it...

Category

Mid-20th Century Signs

Materials

Metal

Vintage Enameled Coca Cola Sign, Steel, Early 20th Century, USA, 41"
Vintage Enameled Coca Cola Sign, Steel, Early 20th Century, USA, 41"

Vintage Enameled Coca Cola Sign, Steel, Early 20th Century, USA, 41"

Located in Alpha, NJ

This is a vintage enameled Coca Cola Sign. This is in good overall condition with minor wear along edges and faint surface soiling. Otherwise, this sign presents well.

Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Signs

Materials

Steel

Large Scale Vintage New York City Bus or Subway Roll, Brooklyn-Queens , 8th ave
Large Scale Vintage New York City Bus or Subway Roll, Brooklyn-Queens , 8th ave

Large Scale Vintage New York City Bus or Subway Roll, Brooklyn-Queens , 8th ave

Located in Buffalo, NY

Large Scale Vintage New York City Bus or Subway Roll, Brooklyn-Queens , 8th ave... Over 11 feet !! Great old sign, double sided.

Category

1940s American Industrial Vintage Signs

Materials

Korhogo Cloth, Canvas

Vintage Old Howard (Boston) Painted Wooden Directional Sign
Vintage Old Howard (Boston) Painted Wooden Directional Sign

Vintage Old Howard (Boston) Painted Wooden Directional Sign

Located in Dekalb, IL

Hand-painted wooden advertising sign for "The Old Howard Burlesque at Scollay Sq." featuring stylized black and teal lettering with additional text reading "Dancing Girls," "Comics,"...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Wood, Paint

“Whistle” Railway Sign, England 1870
“Whistle” Railway Sign, England 1870

“Whistle” Railway Sign, England 1870

Located in Culver City, CA

“Whistle” Railway Sign England, 1870 Painted backboard with alloy letters and glass “cat's-eye” reflectors. 96"L x 2.5"d x 18"h Ref. SIGN1682

Category

19th Century English Antique Signs

Materials

Metal

Enamel Sign for Colman’s Starch
Enamel Sign for Colman’s Starch

Enamel Sign for Colman’s Starch

$1,304Sale Price|38% Off

Enamel Sign for Colman’s Starch

Located in Cheshire, GB

Enamel sign for Colman’s Starch, of rectangular form decorated in blue and white enamel. Dimensions Height 16 Inches Width 62.5 Inches Depth 0.5 Inches.

Category

Early 20th Century British Signs

Materials

Enamel

Vintage Bait Store Fish Sign
Vintage Bait Store Fish Sign

Vintage Bait Store Fish Sign

Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID

Vintage painted bait store fish sign. Hand-carved wood fish with blue glass eyes and hanging brackets; several coats of park paint - the last one a "fresh" yellow with brown painted ...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Signs

Materials

Wood, Paint

19th century French café sign ...
19th century French café sign ...

19th century French café sign ...

Located in Brecht, BE

a unique find, a 19th century sign from a French café "Les Bons Amis" which means "Best friends" lovely item for your kitchen, mancave, restaurant, café ... I can offer free profess...

Category

19th Century French Antique Signs

Materials

Glass, Pine

Large Vintage Illuminated Advertising Letter E , 1960s
Large Vintage Illuminated Advertising Letter E , 1960s

Large Vintage Illuminated Advertising Letter E , 1960s

Located in Kojetice, CZ

This vintage industrial illuminated letter E was made in former Czechoslovakia during the 1960s and comes from an old advertising banner. It features a metal body and a plexiglass co...

Category

Mid-20th Century Czech Industrial Signs

Materials

Iron

Vintage French Christian Dior Advertising Statue, 1960s
Vintage French Christian Dior Advertising Statue, 1960s

Vintage French Christian Dior Advertising Statue, 1960s

Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest

Beautiful and intruiging advertising statue for Christian Dior. This would have been used on a shop counter or to draw attention in a shop windo...

Category

1960s French Art Deco Vintage Signs

Materials

Plaster

Vintage Dark Red Illuminated Letter Z , 1980s
Vintage Dark Red Illuminated Letter Z , 1980s

Vintage Dark Red Illuminated Letter Z , 1980s

Located in Kojetice, CZ

This vintage industrial plastic dark red facade illuminated letter Z was made in Italy during the 1970s and comes from an old advertising banner. It is equipped with a LED strip. .T...

Category

1980s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs

Materials

Plastic

Vintage French Christian Dior Advertising Statue, 1960s
Vintage French Christian Dior Advertising Statue, 1960s

Vintage French Christian Dior Advertising Statue, 1960s

Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest

Beautiful and intriguing advertising statue for Christian Dior. This would have been used on a shop counter or to draw attention in a shop windo...

Category

1960s French Art Deco Vintage Signs

Materials

Plaster

Antique Vintage Rustic Folk Art Metal Farm Sign
Antique Vintage Rustic Folk Art Metal Farm Sign

Antique Vintage Rustic Folk Art Metal Farm Sign

Located in Stockbridge, GB

Antique Metal Farm Sign An original metal hanging sign which would have hung at the entrance to Crosscombe Farm in Somerset, the sign is double sided with identical signage on both ...

Category

Mid-20th Century English Rustic Signs

Materials

Cut Steel

Large Channel Letter A Circus Lettering Advertising Sign from the the 1960s
Large Channel Letter A Circus Lettering Advertising Sign from the the 1960s

Large Channel Letter A Circus Lettering Advertising Sign from the the 1960s

Located in Vienna, AT

A beautiful and decorative large vintage tin channel letter “A” made of sheet metal, painted in a vibrant yellow with red sides. It is dated around the 1960s, though it may be older....

Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Industrial Signs

Materials

Sheet Metal, Tin

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.