Signs
to
56
365
205
579
10
1
113
104
42
26
15
9
6
3
1
1
1
1
1
8
73
498
11
132
184
147
14
5
20
22
25
47
19
80
38
19
368
202
88
68
63
288
270
223
76
50
590
589
590
3
2
1
1
1
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
$5,316 Sale Price
50% Off
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
“Whistle” Railway Sign, England 1870
Located in Culver City, CA
“Whistle” Railway Sign
England, 1870
Painted backboard with alloy letters and glass “cats eye” reflectors.
96"L x 2.5"d x 18"h
Ref. SIGN1682
Category
19th Century English Antique Signs
Materials
Metal
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
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 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
'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
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
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 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
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
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
Antique Industrial Art Deco Brass Ladies & Gents Toilet Illuminated Sign, C.1920
Located in London, GB
A stunning pair of illuminated glass toilet signs made in England by Burnham & Co, Deptford. c.1920
These original Art Deco-era signs feature solid brass frames with their origina...
Category
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Signs
Materials
Brass
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
'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
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
Folk Art Indian River Duck Egg Farm Sign
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
1886 Indian river duck egg hand painted and carved wood duck sign
Category
1940s Vintage Signs
Materials
Hardwood
Antique Vintage French Double Sided Glass Pharmacy Chemist Apothecary Sign
Located in Sale, GB
- A beautiful and rare double sided glass 'Pharmacie' sign mounted in its original frame, France circa 1930.
- The sign is of exceptional quality and has glass to both sides, light w...
Category
Early 20th Century British Signs
Materials
Glass
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
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
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 American Folk Art Showroom Trade Sign
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Charming vintage wooden trade sign for Showroom. The sign was original painted in with green and white colors and have been through a later restoration when a thick lacquer that has ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Wood, Paint
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 'Lodging" Highway Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cool vintage highway sign in cobalt blue reflective metal. Depicts a person sleeping in bed. Sign was used to direct drivers to hotels/motels up ...
Category
1960s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Steel
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
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
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
Rare Domed Wiener Werkstaette Vienna Art Nouveau Enameled Advertising Sign
Located in Vienna, AT
A rare, domed, black and white enameled Art Nouveau advertising sign for Wiener Werkstätte, founded by Josef Hoffmann, Koloman Moser and Fritz ...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Signs
Materials
Metal, Enamel, Iron
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
Zinc and Gold Horse Head Butchers Trade Sign Flemish 1860
Located in Hastings, GB
19th century Flemish gilt zinc horse head trade sign. This beautiful hand made sign was used by a Flemish butcher and dates to circa 1860. There are still remnants of the beautiful g...
Category
1860s Belgian Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Zinc
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
1960s, Green & White Painted Steel 'Two Hour Parking' Street Sign
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine vintage traffic or street sign.
With green text and border on a white ground.
The text reads:
'TWO HOUR PARKING BETWEEN 7AM - 7PM SUND...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Signs
Materials
Steel
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
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
Early 20th Century Double Sided French Pharmacy Metal Sign
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century Double Sided French Pharmacy Metal Sign
A rare double sided pharmacy trade sign, origins of France, dated to the early part of the 20th century, made from metal ...
Category
1920s Early Victorian Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
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
Vintage Reflective Bicycle Road Sign
Located in Burton, TX
This Vintage Reflective Road Sign depicts a black bicycle with a yellow background. Once used as a street sign to inform motorist of bicyclists in the area, this sign presents great ...
Category
Late 20th Century American Signs
Materials
Metal
$360 Sale Price
20% Off
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
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
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
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 1910- 1920s Brass Bank Sign "LEGAL HOLIDAY" complete set, interchangable
Located in Buffalo, NY
1910 -1920s brass bank sign "Legal Holiday -Today Election Day -No Business Transacted" attached to original oak board. Complete set with 15 interchangeable...
Category
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal, Brass
Vintage Double Sided Metal Motor Oil Sign c.1930
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
An original distressed double sided metal sign "Super Motor Oil" on one side and "Sonoco Hottest Brand Going" on the other side.
CREATOR Unknown.
DATE OF MANUFACTURE ...
Category
Early 20th Century Industrial Signs
Materials
Metal
$995 Sale Price
28% 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
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
15 Foot Fair Play Basketball Scoreboard, 1980s
By Fair Play
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Monumental vintage basketball scoreboard by Fair Play, made in the 1980s. Extremely unusual size with the player stats on both sides. Gre...
Category
1980s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Aluminum
Pink Neon 'Hustle' Sign, 2010 USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Massive pink neon sign mounted on white acrylic board. Sign depicts a large hashtag and the word hustle in cursive lettering. Light pink hue to neon. Great condition. Difference in c...
Category
2010s North American Industrial Signs
Materials
Glass, Acrylic
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 weight...
Category
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Plastic
Vintage Red Iron Facade Letter Z, 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial facade letter “Z” was made during the 1970s in Italy and comes from an old advertising banner. The weight of the letter is 1 kg.
Category
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Iron
English Pub Sign, "Nag's Head"
Located in Austin, TX
An authentic English pub sign (two-sided) featuring a painting of a horse's head in a bridle entitled: Nag's Head.
A very fine example of vintage advertising artwork, ready for disp...
Category
20th Century English Signs
Materials
Metal
Los Angeles 5 Freeway Shield
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Los Angeles freeway shield from the 5 freeway in Los Angeles. Interstate 5 runs from the Tijuana/California border all the way up to the Canadian ...
Category
1980s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Steel
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
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
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.
Still Thinking About These?
All Recently ViewedMore Ways To Browse
Bakery Sign
Dairy Signs
Dentist Sign
Glasses Trade Sign
Key Trade Sign
Marquee Sign
Mortar And Pestle Trade Sign
Used Marquee Signs
Verre Eglomise Signs
Watchmaker Sign
Wooden Advertising Signs
Antique Metal Advertising Signs
Antique Sign Pole
Corona Beer
Medical Sign
Mortar And Pestle Sign
No Smoking Sign
Oversized Store Display