Mortar And Pestle Trade Sign
Antique Late 19th Century American Folk Art Signs
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century North American Folk Art Signs
Zinc
Early 20th Century Signs
Copper, Wrought Iron, Tin
Early 20th Century American Signs
Copper
Antique 19th Century American Country Wall-mounted Sculptures
Metal
Recent Sales
Antique Late 19th Century American Mounted Objects
Copper
Antique Mid-18th Century French Jars
Iron
Antique 19th Century Industrial Signs
Tin
Antique 1880s Folk Art Signs
Early 20th Century American Industrial Signs
Early 20th Century American Industrial Signs
Early 20th Century Scottish Signs
Copper
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Copper
Antique 19th Century American Signs
Antique 19th Century Folk Art Signs
Tin, Zinc, Nickel
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Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Wall-mounted Sculptures
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20th Century English Signs
Hardwood
Antique 1850s French Renaissance Revival Decorative Boxes
Gold, Steel
Antique 1890s American Signs
Wrought Iron
Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Signs
Masonite, Paint
Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Bookcases
Wood
Antique 19th Century Italian Apothecary Cabinets
Glass, Walnut
Early 20th Century British Signs
Glass
Antique 19th Century British Folk Art Sculptures
Wood
Antique 19th Century American Folk Art Signs
Wood
Antique 18th Century Peruvian Spanish Colonial Cabinets
Mother-of-Pearl, Teak
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Signs
Blown Glass, Cut Glass
Antique Mid-19th Century English Signs
Blown Glass
Antique 19th Century American Wall-mounted Sculptures
Gold, Zinc
Antique Late 19th Century American Folk Art Signs
Lead
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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