Oversized Metal Key Trade Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Massive metal bit-key trade sign from the UK. Marked BOLTON, 1925.
Category
Vintage 1970s British Wall-mounted Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Key Trade Sign
C1945 Cast Aluminum Trade Sign Form of a Key Keil Charlestown N.H. Keys Made
By Keil Company
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous cast aluminum trade sign circa 1945 depicting a actual key in red and silver.
Category
Vintage 1940s American Industrial Signs
Materials
Aluminum
Antique European Locksmith’s Trade Sign in the Form of a Key, 40"H
Located in New York, NY
Large Cast Iron Trade Sign in the Form of a Key, 40"H Europe, antique This impressive oversized trade sign is cast in solid iron and takes the form of a monumental key, traditional...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Signs
Materials
Iron
French Gothic Style Wrought Iron Giant Key Locksmith Trade Sign
Located in Stamford, CT
French wrought iron black painted locksmith trade sign in the form of a large and elaborate key.
Category
Early 20th Century French Gothic Mounted Objects
Materials
Wrought Iron
Recent Sales
American Sheet Metal Folk Art Key Trade Sign
Located in Brooklyn, NY
American sheet metal Folk Art key trade sign, with hinges on the top and bottom sides to use as mounts.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Industrial Signs
Materials
Sheet Metal
Excellent Rare Early Key West Trade Sign, Double Sided
Located in Hadley, MA
FANTASTIC SMALL TRADE SIGN Carved from a single piece of pine, with "raised" framed border, and applied raised lettering, on both sides.
Category
Early 20th Century American Signs
Materials
Pine
Very Large 18th Century French Key Maker's Trade Sign
Located in Woodbury, CT
This late 18th-early 19th century wrought iron trade sign once hung outside a key maker's shop, embedded into the stone walls with the two long horizontal arms.
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Signs
Materials
Wrought Iron
Large 19th Century 51-Inch Wooden Locksmith Key Trade Sign
Located in New York, NY
This 51-inch long locksmith key trade sign from the 19th century is a remarkable piece of craftsmanship, embodying the era's artisanal pride.
Category
Antique 19th Century Victorian Signs
Materials
Wood, Paint
Early Key Trade Sign
Located in Peekskill, NY
This is an early zink 3D skeleton key with some original paint. I'm guessing it date to the late 1800s. It measures an impressive 6 foot.
Category
Antique Late 19th Century American Primitive Models and Miniatures
Materials
Metal
Monumental Mid-20th Century Folk Art Wooden 'Key' Trade Sign
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This 1960s large Folk Art key (70.5" L) was likely an advertising piece. It was made for display purposes and wood have been suspended in front of a retail location.
Category
Vintage 1960s American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Wood
1800s Skeleton Key Locksmith Trade Sign
Located in Peekskill, NY
This is one of the best locksmith trade signs we have offered. It’s early and all handmade in iron with original paint. It's very well done and a wonderful piece of Folk Art.
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Folk Art Signs
Materials
Iron
Early 19th Century Locksmith Trade Sign Key
Located in Pease pottage, West Sussex
Early 19th century Locksmiths trade sign key, highly ornate wrought iron oversized key, on a contemporary stand.
Category
Antique 1820s French Signs
19th Century Cast Iron Hand Forged English Key Makers Trade sign
Located in London, GB
19th Century Cast Iron Hand Forged English Key Makers Trade sign Hand forged solid cast iron 19th Century key makers trade sign, with the letter “R” or “B” in the central lock secti...
Category
Antique Early 1900s British Victorian Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Iron
1940s Large Yale Advertising Key Trade Sign
Located in Hastings, GB
A large cast metal advertising key sign for the Yale & Towne Mfg Co (Yale). This sign would have been either hung outside or inside the key cutting shop to advertise. circa 194...
Category
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Signs
Materials
Aluminum
1940s Locksmith Trade Sign
By Keil Company
Located in Peekskill, NY
This is nicely done midcentury key trade sign. Its thick cast aluminum and 2 sided with most of the original paint.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Industrial Signs
Materials
Aluminum
Early 20th Century Hand Carved Folk Art Key Makers Trade Sign
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century hand carved Folk Art key makers trade sign A highly decorative example of an early 20th Century hand carved gesso over pine key makers trade sign.
Category
Vintage 1920s French Early Victorian Signs
Materials
Gesso, Pine
19th Century Key Trade Sign
Located in Essex, MA
A large gilded zinc locksmith's trade sign in the form of a key.
Category
Antique 19th Century American Signs
Bartender/Sommelier's Key Trade Sign
Located in Seattle, WA
Big and bold Bartender/Wine Steward's 'Key' with bottle opener and corkscrew features and a large loop-style handle.
Category
20th Century American Signs
Materials
Chrome, Steel
Immense American Metal Trade Sign of a Key
Located in New York, NY
American, early 20th century trade sign, depicting an extremely large key. Unique with excellent old patina, perfect piece of folk art.
Category
Early 20th Century American Signs
Iron Key Trade Sign
Located in Aurora, OR
This key is a great early 20th century handmade trade sign.
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Iron
Key Form Cast Aluminum Locksmith Trade Sign
Located in Fulton, CA
A painted cast aluminum two-sided trade / store sign advertising Keil keys, Charlestown, New Hampshire.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Industrial Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Aluminum
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Key Trade Sign For Sale on 1stDibs
With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the key trade sign you’re looking for. Frequently made of metal, iron and aluminum, every key trade sign was constructed with great care. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer key trade sign, there are earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 20th Century. A key trade sign made by Folk Art designers — as well as those associated with Mid-Century Modern — is very popular.
How Much is a Key Trade Sign?
The average selling price for a key trade sign at 1stDibs is $1,725, while they’re typically $525 on the low end and $5,300 for the highest priced.
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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