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Signs For Sale
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
$5,257 Sale Price
50% Off
Incredible Rare Neon Vintage Hotel Sign
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Eye popping one of a kind vintage Hotel neon sign, 2 sided mounted on a tin horizontal box. It’s a sculptural work of art. Freshly rewired with 12 ft.
cord with standard plug.
Category
1950s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Steel
Fair Play Basketball Scoreboard, 1980s USA
By Fair Play
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An authentic slice of American sports history, this massive original 1980s scoreboard was manufactured by Trans-Lux Fair-Play, a leader in athletic display technology. Bold in design...
Category
1980s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Aluminum
Elks Club B.P.O.E. 2 Sided Enamel Sign
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Elks club enamel two sided sign, incredibly vibrant colors with minimal chipping to edges very clean example of a great graphic image. Much harder to find is this 30" round model!
Category
20th Century American Art Deco Signs
Materials
Enamel
Vintage Metal "B Avenue" Street Sign - City of Coronado, California
Located in San Diego, CA
Super cool vintage metal "B Avenue" street sign from the city of Coronado, California, circa 1970s. The piece is in good vintage condition with a distressed patina and measures: 24"W...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Signs
Materials
Metal
Vintage Hand Painted French Patisserie Sign c.1930-1940
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
Vintage French wooden sign for "Boulangerie Pattisserie, Pain cuit au feu de bois." (Wood fire baked bread). Framed in steel.
CR...
Category
Early 20th Century French Industrial Signs
Materials
Metal
$1,475 Sale Price
21% Off
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 ...
Category
1940s American Adirondack Vintage Signs
Materials
Wood
$1,480 Sale Price
20% Off
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
'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...
Category
1990s American Signs
Materials
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...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Metal
Antique Art Deco Brass Illuminated Advertising Cinema Ladies Flambosign Sign
Located in Sale, GB
- A fabulous Art Deco illuminated Ladies sign from renowned manufacturers 'Flambosign', England circa 1930.
- The worn brass casing marked 'Flambosign' houses an etched lucite perspex...
Category
Early 20th Century British Signs
Materials
Brass
Vintage Metal Bar Sign, "Mr. Pubb"
Located in San Francisco, CA
Not much is known about this rather cheeky round bar sign, metal painted bronze/gold, of a man in a top hat. Either the mystery man or the establishment, whi...
Category
20th Century American Signs
Materials
Metal
SS United States Sign Notice and Information for Passengers
Located in Hanover, MA
Hefty enameled solid aluminum framed passenger safety and information sign from Passenger Stateroom 139 on the Main deck of the SS United States.
Fo...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Materials
Aluminum
Chinese Signboard with Red Coloured Calligraphy from Hardwood, C. 1900
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
With a wood coloured base this signboard (crafted entirely from wood) highlights two large red coloured Chinese Characters. The signboard dates to the early 20th Century and has aged...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Signs
Materials
Wood, Paint
Early Danish Double Sided Neon Bakery Sign
Located in Peekskill, NY
When we first found this neon sign our restorer was excited to work on it. He believes that the sign was a handmade and one-off being produced by a skilled metal fabricator. It was most likely used outside a small shop in Denmark. This is a traditional sign used for a Danish Bakery...
Category
Early 20th Century Danish Industrial Signs
Materials
Steel
19th Century French Cast Iron Butcher's Shop Trade Sign in the Form of a Cow
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
French cast iron butcher shop trade sign retaining old paint and cast in low relief in the form of a steer wearing a tasseled blanket and with it's head turned. The blanked cast with...
Category
Late 19th Century French Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Iron
C.1880 American Folk Art Top Hat Hatmaker’s Trade Sign
Located in Briarcliff Manor, NY
A hard-to-find and charming sheet iron hatmaker’s,trade sign from the mid to late 19th century. The sculptural curves of the brim and the hat itself are engaging and amusing. This...
Category
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Iron
aRT dECO 1940s / 50s Modernist Light -up "TELEPHONE" SIGN.... 40" LONG
By Ilka Plast
Located in Buffalo, NY
aRT dECO 1940s / 50s Modernist Light -up "TELEPHONE" SIGN.... 40" LONG...eMbossed form plastic lettering,,Stunning graphic, pull chain on/off switch.Retains original metal can,,orig...
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
Vintage Porcelain Corona Beer Sign
Located in San Diego, CA
Super cool and hard to find vintage porcelain Corona beer sign, circa 1970s. The sign is actually a former tabletop at a roadside cantina in Mexico. The di...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Signs
Materials
Metal
$500 Sale Price / item
41% 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...
Category
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Signs
Materials
Aluminum
$1,350 Sale Price
25% Off
Classic Motion Action Ad Neon Advertizing Clock
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic Motion Action Ad Neon Advertizing Clock.. Wonderful light blue neon,aLL Original., Clock working and keeping perfect time,, Outer wood case in original condition,, Top finish...
Category
1950s American Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
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
Vintage Blue and White 'Hairdressing' Sign
Located in Cirencester, GB
This French 'Coiffure' sign is mid 20th century. The silvery/blue Zinc letters are on a painted white ply board.
There are lots of bumps and scrapes and plenty of character to thi...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Signs
Materials
Zinc
amazing COCKTAILBAR neon sign
Located in Munich, DE
nice cocktailbar sign.
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
Los Angeles County Line Freeway Sign, 1990s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Super cool Los Angeles freeway sign. Made in the late 1990s. This sign welcomed you as you entered the county of Los Angeles. Reflective letters an...
Category
1990s American Signs
Materials
Aluminum
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
Think Big Giant Matches and Matchbox
By Think Big
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic set of oversized matches and matchbox, made by Think Big NYC in 1984. Set contains all 8 original matches. Box slides open as a normal matchbox...
Category
1980s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Plastic, Paper, Felt, Wood, Paint
Large Woolworth & Co Gilt Metal Number Ten Sign Wall Sculpture
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Very large cast metal “10” from one of the iconic F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10 cent store front signs. Made in the 1920s, these numbers letters have become v...
Category
1920s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
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
Vintage Americana Mid-Century Neon Barber Shop Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic 13.5 foot long Mid-Century vintage neon barber shop sign. Total statement piece. Unusual three dimensional channel letters. Many layers of r...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Metal
Spanish Provincial Style Carved Horse Head Wall Plaque Sign
Located in Queens, NY
Spanish Provincial (20th Cent) style painted and carved horse head wall plaque/sign (La Taberna Caballoblanco) (Related item: 049724D).
Category
20th Century Renaissance Signs
Materials
Wood
American Folk Art Wood and Iron Farm Bureau Weathervane Advertising Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great looking cartoon Midwestern Americana weathervane. Farm Bureau Insurance started in 1921. This great piece most likely was a premium or advertising piece. Hand painted wood with...
Category
1940s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Iron
Coke Button Sign
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 Signs
Materials
Steel
$6,500
Folk Art Corn on the Cob Trade Sign, circa 1950
Located in Nantucket, MA
Vintage Folk Art Corn on the Cob Trade Sign, circa 1950, a hand cut and painted masonite sign in the form of an ear of corn advertising "Hot Buttered Corn on the Cob 65¢." Classic an...
Category
1950s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Masonite
Antique Hand Painted Double-Sided French Cafe Wall Trade Sign. c.1920
Located in London, GB
A mid-20th century hand painted French trade sign. c.1940
Double sided French trade sign for CAFES MAURICE, a company still in existence today. Wonderful patination and depth of col...
Category
1940s English Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
Early 20th Century Double-Sided "Kings Head" Hand Painted Metal English Pub Sign
Located in Brooklyn, NY
English two-sided handmade and painted metal pub sign depicting a king of clubs with the text "Flowers" above and "Kings Head" below (ca. early 1900s, England).
Identical imagery and...
Category
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Signs
Materials
Metal
Vintage SAVE A LIFE Swimming Pool Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage metal sign from a public pool. White sign with blue lettering. SAVE A LIFE. PLEASE KEEP POOL GATE CLOSED AT ALL TIMES. Good condition with ...
Category
1990s American Signs
Materials
Steel
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. Perfect for any cigar smoker.
Cigars History:
A cigar is basically dried tobacco leaves that are rolled and wrapped by other tobacco leaves in order to give you a full tobacco smoking experience.
Cigars are becoming more popular all around the world recently because they are exposed to a pop culture where a lot of famous people like Michael Jordan and Arnold Schwarzenegger smoke them.
In order to understand why cigars have become very well-known, we need to take a good look at their history and where they came from. That way, we can truly understand this pop phenomenon. Here is a brief history of cigars.
Origin of Cigars
The exact origin of cigars is not entirely known but historians believe that cigars were first invented by the ancient Mayans.
The ancient Mayans would collect tobacco leaves and wrap them up in a plantain leave in order to smoke it. An ancient Mayan pot...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century Handmade Folky Carved Menu Board Adirondack
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous hand painted and handcrafted Adirondack carved menu board. Fantastic classic example of an early 20th century piece of an woodsy menu board from an upstate New York restaura...
Category
1940s American Adirondack Vintage Signs
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
$796 Sale Price
20% Off
Plat Du Jour Rabbit Chalk Board
Located in Stamford, CT
A charming Plat du Jour Rabbit chalk board. The rabbit sits with a cluster of colorful fruits and vegetable atop a tablecloth covered table all above the plat du jour chalk board. Th...
Category
Late 20th Century French Signs
Materials
Wood
$540 Sale Price
55% Off
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...
Category
Early 20th Century French Victorian Signs
Materials
Zinc
Fabulous Vintage Wisconsin Kickapoo Valley Handmade Sign
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A rare vintage hand made rustic sign in the shape of an arrowhead with charming words including “Ocooch mountains” Wisconsin Kickapoo written with a naive hand. Painting of an Indi...
Category
1940s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Wood
Rare 1920's can "Drugs" Sign /Arrow, LIGHT UP milk glass letters, double sided
Located in Buffalo, NY
Rare 1920's can "Drugs" Sign /Arrow, LIGHT UP milk glass letters, double sided,, Pre-dates NEON,, Truly amazing sign,, Salvaged from an old Pharmacist,, apparently hung outside (late...
Category
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal, Cut Steel
Vintage Framed Yellow Cabs Sign c.1940-1950
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
A vintage Yellow Cabs sign framed with a thick wooden frame.
CREATOR Unknown.
DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1940-1950.
MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES Mat Board, Wood.
C...
Category
Early 20th Century American Industrial Signs
Materials
Wood
$1,115 Sale Price
20% Off
Folk Art Sign
Located in London, GB
An Edwardian Folk Art sign with overscale finger, insribed ‘Left Luggage’.
Category
20th Century English Signs
Materials
Hardwood
$1,210
Vintage Double Sided Hand Painted Rat Terrier Puppies Sign c.1930
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
An original hand painted, metal sign advertising rat terrier puppies for sale. Painted over another sign. Size of dog varies with one side much larger. This piece has retained...
Category
Early 20th Century Industrial Signs
Materials
Sheet Metal
$476 Sale Price
20% Off
1950 Vintage American Folk Art Band Stand Hand Painted Goofy Jazz Music Stand
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Hand painted band stand folding music stand, circa 1950s. Great folk art design and Goofy dog painted. Possibly from the Jazz Mill in Phoenix. Great wall han...
Category
1950s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Composition, Metal
1950s Aluminum on Wood General Electric Logo, Sign Plaque
Located in Buffalo, NY
1950s aluminum on wood General Electric logo, sign plaque. Salvaged from General Electric Buffalo NY office, stunning, original plaque, cast aluminum depicting famous G E Logo, mount...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Signs
Materials
Aluminum
'Donuts Cafe' Neon Sign, 1990s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A lovely vintage neon sign that reads Donuts Cafe, perfect for adding a nostalgic touch to your space. Taken down from a Los Angeles restaurant on Hollywood Blvd. This little sign fe...
Category
1990s North American Industrial Signs
Materials
Glass, Acrylic
Vintage Pepsi-Cola Enameled Metal Advertising Sign, Europe, 1970s
Located in Milano, IT
Iconic Pepsi-Cola advertising sign made of enameled metal, dating from the 1970s.
The design incorporates the classic logo with red cursive lettering, set against a wavy background ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Folk Art Signs
Materials
Metal, Enamel
Large Vintage Yellow Iron Facade Letter O, 1960s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial facade letter “O” was made during the 1960s in former Czechoslovakia and comes from an old facade inscription POŠTA. In czech language Post Office. The weight...
Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Industrial Signs
Materials
Iron
19thc Original Blue Dated 1913 Cutting Board
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This 19thc Original blue painted round cutting board was signed and dated as it was given to someone in 1913 ! It is in very good condition and painted on the front and unpainted on ...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Adirondack Antique Signs
Materials
Wood
$1,196 Sale Price
20% Off
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
San Francisco Freeway City Limit Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage San Francisco sign that reads "SAN FRANCISCO CITY AND COUNTY POP 793,700 ELEV 61." Dated 1997 on back. Stamped property of California on the back. Some wear to metal on front constant with age. Fun wall art...
Category
1990s American Signs
Materials
Metal
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)
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
Hand Engraved Carved Industrial RESERVED Slate Sign Plaque, C.1920
Located in London, GB
An elegant hand engraved slate reserved sign. c.1920
A thick chunk of slate, hand engraved for use as a reserved sign.
Category
Early 20th Century English Industrial Signs
Materials
Slate
Early 20th century double sided English chemist sign
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century double sided English chemist sign
Made from double sided glass with reflective silver illuminated text, this early 20th century example of an English chemist tra...
Category
1930s British Late Victorian Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
19th Century Trade Sign Clothing Wood Double Sided Wooden Hudson Valley NY
Located in Newfoundland, PA
Take a look at this fantastic double sided early 19th or late 18th century wooden trade sign with original wrought Iron bracket. Came out of a Hudso...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Primitive Antique Signs
Materials
Iron
Antique Harvard Ave. Porcelain Sign c.1900-1910
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
An original double sided enameled porcelain Harvard Ave street sign.
Shown with life size hand model for scale.
CREATOR Unknown.
DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1900-1900.
...
Category
Early 20th Century Industrial Signs
Materials
Enamel, Steel
$300 Sale Price
20% Off
1960s Original Dual Sided Hanging Light Up Ace Hardware Outdoor Logo
Located in Monrovia, CA
1960s Original Polycarbonate Face "Ace Hardware" Advertisement Signage. The Vintage Outdoor Sign Hangs which Displays A Double Sided Logo Of The Well Known "Ace Hardware" Logo. The Vintage Signage...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Aluminum
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.
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