1950s Era Large Metal Letters
$875 / item
1950s Era Large Metal Letters
Located in Surrey, BC
only an "O" "l" x 2 left Two sets of custom-made metal letters made for the Wilkinson steel
Mid-20th Century Canadian Signs
Metal
$875 / item
1950s Era Large Metal Letters
Located in Surrey, BC
only an "O" "l" x 2 left Two sets of custom-made metal letters made for the Wilkinson steel
Metal
Pair of Vintage Letters P and A
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
Vintage iron letters "P" and "A" mounted on a metal bases. Likely tin and part of a vintage sign
Iron, Tin
Antique Architectural Bank Building Bronze "No" Letters
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic cast bronze vintage letters. Great way to get your point across! Salvaged from a bank
Bronze
Large Metal Letters Cars Black Painted Advertising Mancave
Located in Poperinge, BE
Cool set of four large letters made of black-painted galvanized metal. These were used as
Metal
19th Century Gold Giltwood Carved Letters William Trade Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Classic 19th century American wood trade sign with chunky hand carved and gold painted letters
Wood
Large Antique Handcrafted Folk Art Sign ..MASONIC TEMPLE, Raised Letters
Located in Buffalo, NY
,, Retains original finish,, patina,, modeled blue background,, raised letters.
Wood
Eat or Tea Large Scale 1950s American Porcelain Enameled Steel Letters Sign
Located in Pound Ridge, NY
Superb large scale American 1950s porcelain enameled metal letters, over 24" high, originally used
Metal
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
Metal, Cut Steel
Set of 7 Mid-Century Era Painted Wood Carnival Folk Art Sign Box Letters
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This set of seven Folk Art wooden box letters were made in Canada is circa 1965 and were once
Wood
$3,024Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Iron Trade Sign Letter Box, Mail Box, Folk Art, Locksmith Design
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
there is a slot for letters and below this a lockable door flap to take them out The Post Box is in good
Iron
“Whistle” Railway Sign, England 1870
Located in Culver City, CA
“Whistle” Railway Sign England, 1870 Painted backboard with alloy letters and glass “cats eye
Metal
$350Sale Price / item|26% Off
Hand Painted Dentist Trade Sign c.1940
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Single sided wooden dentist tooth trade sign with gold and black letters. Hand painted, hand
Wood
Vintage Large Wooden “Bakery” Trade Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
Large hand-crafted wooden storefront sign featuring raised block letters reading BAKERY across a
Wood
White Neon BOUTIQUE Sign in Lucite Box, 1990s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
capturing the neon gas moving through the letters and appear different colors. Neon is perfectly
Glass, Acrylic
Phillips 66 Cast Aluminum Gas Sign
Located in Asbury Park, NJ
individual letters that can be hung by each letter or can we attached to a support on the back as we did in
Aluminum
'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
Aluminum
French La Belle Époque Lighted Bistro Cafe Sign
Located in Rio Vista, CA
lacquer finish with pierced letters reading "Montre Ponctua" or a promise to be on time. The large sign
Metal
Convex enamel plaque, André Stouls, Lutterbach beer, 1648, ALS Strasbourg
Located in NANTES, FR
Stouls 21, and was manufactured by Email ALS. The marking reads "STRASBOUP," with some letters faded over
Metal
Hand Painted Dentist Trade Sign c.1940
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Single sided wooden dentist tooth trade sign with gold and black letters. Hand painted, hand
Wood
Monumental Los Angeles 101 Freeway Sign, 1988 USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
roads in Southern California, and one of the busiest. Reflective white letters and border with a
Steel
Camel Boots Shop or Store Sign in hardwood, Circa 1960s
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
varnished. The sign is colour stenciled on both the facing sides, back and front, with the letters CAMEL
Hardwood
Early 20th century English Hand Painted “HELL” Sign
Located in London, GB
these 4-letters stating “HELL”. Hand painted with gold gilt writing and mounted flat onto a new
Pine
Vintage Italian PIZZA Sign. 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
Vintage industrial grey iron sing “PIZZA”. Set of five letters was made during the 1970s in Italy
Iron
Authentic Antique Folk Art Equestrian Horse Farm Sign
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Charming hand made vintage horse farm sign that is finished front and back. The horse and letters
Iron
Breitling Retail Store Display Advertising Sign
By Breitling
Located in Forney, TX
solid wood frame, raised chrome Breitling letters, over a yellow jet plane in sculptural relief form, on
Metal, Chrome
Wood 'Dinner' Sign, 1980s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
borders. The reverse side features colorful flowers and the word "TEA" painted in maroon letters. Eye
Wood
Wood 'Lunch' Sign, 1980s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
borders. The reverse side features colorful flowers and the word "ROSE" painted in maroon letters. Eye
Wood
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
Zinc
"No Diving" POOL Sign, 1980s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage pool sign that reads "No Diving or Swimming Off Bridge". Bold reflective white letters on a
Metal
No Loitering Street Sign, 1980s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
white letters on a reflective white background. Good vintage condition and scale with wear as shown.
Metal
Elkwood, Late 19th Century American Trade Sign
Located in Nantucket, MA
With carved gilt wood letters with mounted against a blue painted sand ground American, c. 1890.
Wood
"Save a Life" Pool Sign, 1980s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage pool sign that reads "Save A Life". Bold blue letters on a white background. Great colors
Metal
Circa 1890 Hardware Store Wood Trade Sign Carved Smaltz Black and Gold Paint
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Exceptional late 19th century hand carved letters with black and Gold paint and black smaltz
Wood
Neighborhood Watch Street Sign, 1980s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage street sign that reads "This is a Neighborhood Watch Community". Black letters on a
Metal
Trade Sign Depicting a Huge Skimmer Ladle, France, 1900
Located in Milan, IT
, made out of boxwood and iron, with 2 painted letters E X. France 1900 ca.
Iron
Large Woolworth & Co Gilt Metal Number Ten Sign Wall Sculpture
Located in Hopewell, NJ
. Made in the 1920s, these numbers letters have become very hard to find. They became available when F. W
Metal
$7,500 / set
Vintage Neon "YOU" Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage neon sign, spelling Y - O - U. handcut metal channel letters with hand bent neon glass
Metal
Manhole Cover Prototype Folk Art, 1960s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
letters nailed to the front of the main ply of the cap giving it its design. The base has some crossbars
Wood
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
Plastic
Advertising Tin Sign "The Delaware Insurance Company of Philadelphia" Circa 1885
By The Delaware Insurance Company of Philadelphia
Located in Incline Village, NV
"--"Certain", in prominent gold letters on a circular aqua background displays their motto; while gold, white
Tin
Los Angeles County Line Freeway Sign, 1990s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
the county of Los Angeles. Reflective letters and border as well as a protective plastic sheet over
Aluminum
$2,800
French Anatomy Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
ANATOMIE. 8 free standing letters. Patina and wear to metal. Great piece of wall art that can have multiple
Metal
1950's Commercial Sign "All - Stainless Inc"
Located in Hanover, MA
panel of patinated blue colored aluminum with 1/4" thick die cut letters in natural colored aluminum
Aluminum
Early 20th Century American "Chiropractor" Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
classic black background adorned with bold, radiant yellow letters spelling out "CHIROPRACTOR." This panel
Wood
Very Early X-Ray Building Sign
Located in Peekskill, NY
thick. The letters are painted in the negative, just like an X-ray. The letters are "white" and the
Tin
$2,800 / set
Hollywood Sign Artist Model
Located in Los Angeles, CA
at a later time. Letters are perfect scale. Made of wood with metal rods attached to plant into the
Metal
1981 California Highway Lodging Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
. Letters and trim have reflective pieces. Great coloring and condition. Fantastic piece of west coast
Steel
$2,600 / set
Vintage Czech Shop Sign, 1960s
Located in Wien, AT
This set of shop sign letters is made of steel sheet and spells out the Czech words "Smisene Zbozi
Steel
$864Sale Price|20% Off
Advertising Mirror “Crawford’s Delightful Biscuits” Baker or Cafe
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
mirror is set in a 2” wide oak frame, in the centre in large letters etched into the glass it advertises
Mirror
$1,800
RICH Sign
Located in Darnestown, MD
the 1930's. Letters are metal with nicely patinated gold paint that may be gold leaf.
Vintage Americana Mid-Century Neon Barber Shop Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
three dimensional channel letters. Many layers of red, white and blue paint surface and original neon
Metal
Three Dimensional Double-Sided Wooden Hovis Tea Shop Sign
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
sign is in wood it has been made with applied large letters, sadly here is a few bits missing but they
$1,395Sale Price|44% Off
Art Deco Chrome & Glass Skyscraper Directory Sign
Located in Hanover, MA
the brass clips to remove the black felt board. Pin your letters or announcement to the felt then
Chrome, Steel, Aluminum
1959 California Highway 'Signal Ahead' Sign with Reflectors
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare 'Signal Ahead' yellow sign from a California Highway. Letters are made of reflectors. Stamped
Steel
Unavailable|$900 / set
Vintage French Letters "N. A. G."
Located in New York, NY
Vintage metal three-dimensional letters with worn green paint. Only letters available: N A G
Steel
Unavailable|$2,600 / set
Huge French "DECOR" Letters in Black Paint
Located in Woodbury, CT
We sourced these amazing letters in Provence and thought they'd be the perfect find for a shop or
Aluminum
Unavailable|$2,800
1900s Gold Leaf Letters Sign "Herrieff's Boys Store"
Located in Chicago, IL
1900s gold leaf letters sign "Herrieff's Boys Store" on tin background with original wood frame.
Tin
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.