Large Antique Handcrafted Folk Art Sign ..MASONIC TEMPLE, Raised Letters
Located in Buffalo, NY
Large antique handcrafted Folk Art sign ..MASONIC TEMPLE,, Beautiful sign,, turn of the century,, Retains original finish,, patina,, modeled blue background,, raised letters.
Wood
Sold
H 64 in W 48 in D 6 in
Reverse Painted Glass Sign 1920s Illuminated Star Masonic Temple Eastern Star
Located in Camden, ME
Illuminated tin sign with a reverse painting on glass star for the Eastern Star of the Masonic Temple from the 1920s..
Tin
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...
Wood, Paint
$67
H 18 in W 18 in D 2 in
Bespoke Custom Vintage Original Letters, Retro, Shop, Sign, Reclaimed, Signage
Located in Bath, Somerset
We're sure we don't need to spell it out how fantastic these vintage letters are! Most of them were salvaged from an old disused letter making factory in England along with some fab...
Metal
Antique Masonic Folk Art Wall Cabinet with Drawers
Located in Dekalb, IL
Hand-cut wooden wall cabinet featuring an elaborate openwork crest centered around Masonic iconography, including the square and compass with a prominent "G," flanked by symbolic too...
Porcelain, Wood
Magnavox Television Factory TV Sign, circa 1950s
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Incredible giant TV sign that graced the circa 1950s . Magnavox TV factory in Utah. Just under 11 feet tall. Mounted on original heavy iron pole. Original white paint and green/blue ...
Iron, Sheet Metal
Antique Folk Art Sign Copper Folk Art
Located in Munich, DE
This unusual ornamental copper plate was used to write information on it, possibly the menue for a restaurant. We can see traces of writing. The beautifull carving shows birds, leav...
Copper
Vintage “East Building” Painted Wood Directional Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
Long, hand-painted wooden directional sign reading "EAST BUILDING," rendered in bold block lettering over a heavily weathered white ground. The surface shows extensive age with flaki...
Iron
$101
H 12.205 in W 12.205 in D 1.575 in
1950's Original Large French Metal Shop Signage Letters - Letter N
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1950's Original Large French Metal Shop Signage Letters. We recently salvaged a signage company on the west coast of France and sourced a large batch of amazing original signage lett...
Metal
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 cut to cigar shape. Lettered in Gold Paint. In good conditions, it was a in doors sign. Perfe...
Wood
Vintage Illuminated Advertising Letter H , 1960s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial illuminated letter “ h “ was made in former Czechoslovakia during the 1960s and comes from an old advertising banner. It features a metal body and a plexiglas...
Iron
Vintage Illuminated Letter v, 1980s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial illuminated letter V 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....
Iron
$1,205
H 25.01 in W 36.03 in D 0.4 in
Antique Early 20th C Hanging Trade Shop Sign "Antiques" Star of David Solomon
Located in Lowestoft, GB
Hanging double sided trade sign, sheet metal with a black ground and gilt lettering. Two pretty cast iron riveted hanging brackets. A small Star of Solomon is located in the corner ...
Metal
5.5 ft Long Entrance Sign Prominent Welcome Board
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
5.5 ft Long Entrance Sign Prominent Welcome Board This large bright hand painted sign is painted in gold leaf and made in metal to be wall hung at the outside of a Restaurant Entra...
Metal
Vintage Blue Plastic Illuminated Letter A , 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial blue plastic illuminated letter A was made in Italy during the 1970s and comes from an old advertising banner. It is equipped with a LED strip. The letter can...
Plastic
Large Vintage Illuminated Advertising Letter I , 1960s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial illuminated letter I was made in former Czechoslovakia during the 1960s and comes from an old advertising banner. It features a metal body and a plexiglass co...
Iron
$101
H 12.205 in W 11.811 in D 1.575 in
1950's Original Large French Metal Shop Signage Letters - Letter U
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1950's Original Large French Metal Shop Signage Letters. We recently salvaged a signage company on the west coast of France and sourced a large batch of amazing original signage lett...
Metal
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...
Iron
Folk Art Sign
Located in London, GB
An Edwardian Folk Art sign with overscale finger, insribed ‘Left Luggage’.
Hardwood
$1,250
H 12.13 in W 48 in D 1 in
Vintage Mid Century Hand Painted Wooden Luncheonette Hot Coffee Diner Sign
Located in Milford, NH
A vintage polychrome hand painted luncheonette or diner sign on plywood featuring hot coffee, sandwiches, and tonics, signed lower right Cooley-Alton, with an additional support boar...
Plywood
'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....
Aluminum
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...
Wood
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..
Wood, Paint
$2,600Sale Price|20% Off
H 14 in W 22.75 in D 14 in
19th Century Masonic Table with Leather Bible Compartment Flip Lid Compass Legs
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Rare and fabulous 19th century faux book with compass legs as the actual legs. Mustard paint on the legs with Gilt on the pages of the leather bound book. Looks to be original tassle...
Leather, Hardwood, Paint
Old School 1940's / 50's NEON "MOTEL" Sign..Classic Font
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic vintage NEON "MOTEL" sign salvaged from a motel in Niagara Falls Canada,, Retains original finish & patina,, New transformer, metal replaced to bottom of can,, (see photo)
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. In weathered early hand painted lettering on wood, with molded edging on all ...
Wood
$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
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
$1,460
H 12.5 in W 29 in D 5 in
1950s Light UP "ROOMS FOR LET" & "Chambres a Louer" SIGN, fRENCH & eNGLISH
Located in Buffalo, NY
Charming 1940s / 1950s Light UP "ROOMS FOR LET" & "Chambres a Louer" SIGN, Unusual written in fRENCH & eNGLISH,,
Metal
1930's Double Sided Cabin Neon Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
1930's double sided Cabin neon sign. It has new neon, new wiring and new transformer.
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.