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Tin Advertising Signs

Dubied Italian Tin Advertising Sign
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Dubied Italian tin advertising sign. A fabulous metallic tin in reliefs finely printed by stone
Category

20th Century Italian Posters

Large 68" x 40" 1920s "DOUBLE COLA" Tin Advertising Sign, Art Deco Wood Frame
Located in Buffalo, NY
Large 68" x 40" 1920s "DOUBLE COLA" Tin Advertising Sign, Art Deco Wood Frame,, Wonderful
Category

Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Signs

Materials

Tin

"De Laval" Tin Advertising Sign, American, circa 1905, Near Mint
Located in Incline Village, NV
advertising sign represents their most iconic marketing endeavor and is one of several highly sought after tin
Category

Antique Early 1900s American Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Tin

1939 Tin Belgian Beer Sign
Located in Retie, BE
1790 - 1969. This tin sign was advertising for the Export Bier. It's a blue sign with a beer tray
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Deco Signs

Materials

Tin

1939 Tin Belgian Beer Sign
1939 Tin Belgian Beer Sign
H 19.49 in W 13.59 in D 0.32 in
Tin Singer Sign with Tailor and Singer Sewing Machine, 1930s
Located in Retie, BE
Vintage Singer sign - Vintage tin Singer sign. A 1930s tin advertising sign for Singer Sewing and
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Deco Signs

Materials

Tin

Red Sign Belgian Beer Witkap Pater 1956
Located in Retie, BE
Red sign for Belgian Beer. A tin advertising sign dated 1956. Made for the Brewery Kind. H
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Modern Signs

Materials

Tin

Red Sign Belgian Beer Witkap Pater 1956
Red Sign Belgian Beer Witkap Pater 1956
H 9.06 in W 20.08 in D 0.2 in
1934 Tin Sign Belgian Beer Wielemans
Located in Retie, BE
1934 Tin sign for Belgian Beer of the brand Wielemans. An antique sign - advertising sign from the
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Deco Signs

Materials

Tin

1934 Tin Sign Belgian Beer Wielemans
1934 Tin Sign Belgian Beer Wielemans
H 18.71 in W 8.15 in D 0.2 in
1960s Tin Sign for Lemonade, Belgium
Located in Retie, BE
1960s tin sign for lemonade. A romantic and cute metal advertising sign for Lemonade. This old wall
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Signs

Materials

Tin, Metal

1960s Tin Sign for Lemonade, Belgium
1960s Tin Sign for Lemonade, Belgium
H 19.69 in W 13.78 in D 0.04 in
Advertising Tin Sign "The Delaware Insurance Company of Philadelphia" Circa 1885
By The Delaware Insurance Company of Philadelphia
Located in Incline Village, NV
This is a very rare and early (circa 1885) tin advertising sign, commissioned by the Delaware
Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Tin

Tin Melotte Cream Separator Sign, Belgium by National Works Smethwick
Located in Retie, BE
till 1966. Antique signs - antique tin signs - antique advertising signs - signs - tin signs - enamel
Category

Early 20th Century Belgian Industrial Signs

Materials

Tin

1920s Tin Sign Chicorée Mondiale by Rob Otten, Belgium
By Rob Otten
Located in Retie, BE
Vintage black and yellow tin publicity shop display - metal advertising sign for Chicorée
Category

Early 20th Century Belgian Art Deco Signs

Materials

Tin

1956 Advertising Sign with Bull for Metaroc Cement Building Materials
Located in Retie, BE
Advertising sign with a Bull for building materials. A Mid-20th century publicity sign
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Signs

Materials

Tin

Blickensderfer Typewriter Tin Sign "A Gift from the 19th to the 20th Century"
Located in Stamford, CT
A Wonderful Blickensderfer Typewriter Advertising Sign " A GIFT from the 19th to the 20th CENTURY
Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Signs

Materials

Tin

Antique Metal Enamel Advertising Sign Spratt's Bonio Per Food Dog Biscuits 1910
Located in Portland, OR
A very rare antique enamel on tin lithographic Adertising sign for Spratt's Bonio dog biscuits
Category

Vintage 1910s English Other Signs

Materials

Metal, Enamel

1955 Sign Fyffes Bananas
Located in Retie, BE
1950s Advertising sign - display sign - price list sign for Fyffes Bananas. Beautiful design of a
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Signs

Materials

Tin

1955 Sign Fyffes Bananas
1955 Sign Fyffes Bananas
H 9.85 in W 6.89 in D 0.79 in
Antwerp Oil Butchery Sign, 1950
Located in Retie, BE
1950s Oil Butchery Sign - Cardon Merksem Antwerp. A red and blue advertising sign made by Rob Otten
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Industrial Signs

Materials

Tin

Antwerp Oil Butchery Sign, 1950
Antwerp Oil Butchery Sign, 1950
H 9.65 in W 14.18 in D 0.2 in
Large Italian Wine Sign, 1920s, Metalgraf Milano
Located in Retie, BE
wine advertising - antique tin signs - Antique Wine signs - Antique Italian Signs - Litho signs -
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Signs

Materials

Metal, Tin

1936 Port Sign, Les Portos Gibson, an Appetizer Drink
Located in Retie, BE
Art Deco Port Sign - Bar wall decoration. An advertising sign for the Port: Les Portos Gibson
Category

Mid-20th Century European Art Deco Signs

Materials

Tin, Metal

Vintage Gin Sign with bartender and cocktailshaker , Netherlands
Located in Retie, BE
Vintage gin sign with bartender and cocktailshaker. An advertising sign - advertising display for
Category

Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Signs

Materials

Tin, Other

1930s Sign for Bicycle Parts
Located in Retie, BE
1930s Sign for bicycle parts. An Art Deco sign dated 1937. Black advertising sign with soft
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Deco Signs

Materials

Metal

1930s Sign for Bicycle Parts
1930s Sign for Bicycle Parts
H 16.34 in W 12.01 in D 0.08 in
Ten Supertest Gas Station Motor Oil Coin Banks
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Ten supertest gas station motor oil coin banks Tags: Advertising Porcelain Signs, Gas and Oil
Category

20th Century Canadian Signs

Materials

Tin

Antique Tray Chocolate Michiels- 1905 - 75 years Independence Belgium
Located in Retie, BE
Antique advertising tray - advertising sign made for Belgian Chocolate Michiels, which was located
Category

Early 20th Century Belgian Art Nouveau Signs

Materials

Metal, Tin

1920s Van Melle's Toffees Tin - Antique Candy Box Holland - Dutch Windmill
Located in Retie, BE
Exceptional large lithographic Candy Tin - Toffee Tin - Candy Box for Van Melle's Toffees Holland
Category

Early 20th Century Dutch Art Nouveau Decorative Boxes

Materials

Tin

Recent Sales

1900s Tin Advertising Sign "Freihofer's Quality Cakes"
Located in Chicago, IL
1900s tin advertising sign " Freihofer's Quality Cakes A Cake Foe Every Taste Pound Sponge Fruit
Category

Antique Early 1900s American Signs

Materials

Tin

1950s Drink Moxie Soda Tin Advertising Sign
By The Donaldson Art Sign Co. Inc.
Located in Orange, CA
Amazing condition, especially for this harder to find sign.
Category

Vintage 1950s American Signs

Materials

Tin

1940s-1950s Original 7up Soda Tin Advertising Sign
By Stout Sign Co.
Located in Orange, CA
Smaller tin sign made by the Stout Sign Co. St. Louis, MO.
Category

Vintage 1940s American Signs

Materials

Tin

1940s Lubri-Gas Gasoline Tin Advertising Sign
By Lubri-Gas International Inc.
Located in Orange, CA
This advertising helped promote Lubri-gas' Tractor, Diesel, Aviation, and Marine Gas. This sign is
Category

Vintage 1940s American Signs

Materials

Tin

1950s Coca-Cola Vertical Tin Advertising Sign
Located in Orange, CA
The sign is built on metal and manufactured by the Robertson Sign Company. This sign has everything
Category

Vintage 1950s American Signs

Materials

Tin

1954 Original Coca-Cola Tin Advertising Sign
By Coca Cola Bottling Co.
Located in Orange, CA
This is another variation of Coca-Cola advertising and this is only one of the many styles. Signs
Category

Vintage 1950s American Signs

Materials

Metal

1950s Dodger Beverage Cola Die-Cut Bottle Tin Advertising Sign NOS
By Press Sign Co.
Located in Orange, CA
Amazing condition, especially for this harder to find sign. 65" scaled bottle that considered new
Category

Vintage 1950s American Signs

Materials

Tin

Old Tin Advertising Sign 'Litho, ' N India, circa 1980s
Located in By Appointment Only, CA
mind of an individual. This sign is advertising incense. The condition is relatively good, please
Category

Mid-20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Signs

Materials

Tin

Early 1900s White Frost Flour Eagle Mills Co. Tin Advertising Sign
Located in Orange, CA
Very early company from Edmond, OKLA that was awarded gold medal at Omaha Exposition, 1898.
Category

Early 20th Century American Signs

Materials

Tin

Old Tin Advertising Sign 'Litho, ' North India, circa 1960s
Located in By Appointment Only, CA
mind of an individual. This sign is advertising kitchen knives. The condition is relatively good
Category

Mid-20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Decorative Art

Materials

Tin

Old Tin Advertising Sign 'Litho, ' N India, circa 1980s
Located in By Appointment Only, CA
common occurrence in India, given the illiteracy rate. This sign is advertising beds, something which
Category

Late 20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Decorative Art

Materials

Tin

1900's Tin Gold Leaf Sign " Cedar Springs State Bank "
Located in Chicago, IL
1900's tin advertising sign with gold leaf lettering " Cedar Springs State Bank "
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Tin

1900s Advertising Tin Sign "Jeweler"
Located in Chicago, IL
1900s advertising tin sign "Jeweler".
Category

Antique Early 1900s American Signs

Materials

Tin

1900s Advertising Tin Sign "Jeweler"
H 11 in W 14.75 in D 0.1 in
1950-60s Dr Pepper Soda Advertising Tin Thermometer Sign
Located in Orange, CA
Soda companies were promoted through diverse methods of advertising—from porcelain signs and tin
Category

Vintage 1950s American Signs

Materials

Tin

1937 Vintage Coca Cola "Ice Cold" Advertising Tin Sign
By Coca Cola Bottling Co.
Located in Orange, CA
This advertising displays Coca-Cola's Christmas bottle.
Category

Vintage 1930s American Mid-Century Modern Signs

Materials

Tin

1950s Coca-Cola Curb Advertising Tin Sign "Customer Parking Only"
By Coca Cola Bottling Co.
Located in Orange, CA
1886 by John S. Pemberton. Almost from day one, advertising materials, including signs, were produced
Category

Vintage 1950s American Signs

Materials

Tin

Art, Framed Advertising Tin Browns Mule
Located in Acworth, GA
Really cool antique advertising tin sheet for Brown Mule Tobacco. Stamped tin is 12" square
Category

Antique Early 1900s American American Craftsman Signs

Materials

Tin

1968 Vintage Coca-Cola Soda Tin Sign
By Coca Cola Bottling Co.
Located in Orange, CA
. Pemberton. Almost from day one, advertising materials, including signs, were produced to trumpet the virtues
Category

Vintage 1960s American Signs

Materials

Tin

1968 Vintage Coca-Cola Soda Tin Sign
1968 Vintage Coca-Cola Soda Tin Sign
H 24 in W 60 in D 0.5 in
1940s Coca Cola Soda Advertising Thermometer Sign
By Coca Cola Bottling Co.
Located in Orange, CA
Thermometers were just one item in this larger strategy of “practical” advertising that included
Category

Vintage 1940s American Signs

Materials

Tin

1960s Coca Cola Soda Advertising Thermometer Sign
By Coca Cola Bottling Co.
Located in Orange, CA
Thermometers were just one item in this larger strategy of “practical” advertising that included
Category

Vintage 1960s American Signs

Materials

Tin

1947 AAA New Jersey Automotive Club Tin Thermometer Sign
Located in Orange, CA
Advertising thermometers first appeared in the 1900s and were widespread in the United States by
Category

Vintage 1940s American Signs

Materials

Tin

1939 RPM Motor Oil Tin Sign with Disney's Mickey Mouse
By Walt Disney, Standard Oil Company
Located in Orange, CA
Advertising tin sign 24". They were used in the following marketing areas. Los Angeles, where
Category

Vintage 1940s American Signs

Materials

Tin

1950s Coca Cola Soda Advertising "Drink In Bottles" Thermometer Sign
By Coca Cola Bottling Co.
Located in Orange, CA
Thermometers were just one item in this larger strategy of “practical” advertising that included
Category

Vintage 1950s American Signs

Materials

Tin

1950s Italian Vintage Advertising Metal Screen Printed Viks Vaporub Sign
Located in Milan, IT
Italian vintage tin metal screen printed Viks Vaporub sign with easle back made in the 1950s and
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Signs

Materials

Tin

1960s Italian Vintage Advertising Metal Screen Printed Alemagna Ice Creams Sign
Located in Milan, IT
Italian vintage tin metal screen printed Ice cream sign made in the 1960s and use for advertising
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Signs

Materials

Tin

1940 Standard Gasoline Advertising with Disney's Mickey Mouse
By Walt Disney, Standard Oil Company
Located in Orange, CA
Advertising tin sign 24". They were used in the following marketing areas. Los Angeles, where
Category

Vintage 1940s American Signs

Materials

Tin

Ice Cream Baby Sign
Located in Solebury, PA
A wonderful lithograph on tin, embossed American vintage advertising sign. The sign is not often
Category

Early 20th Century American Signs

Materials

Tin

Ice Cream Baby Sign
Ice Cream Baby Sign
H 27.75 in W 19.5 in D 0.07 in
Early 20th Century Milkmaid Milk Advertising Clock
Located in Downham Market, GB
 advertising clock, the timber carcass with a pressed tin / zinc surround, finished in original paint. With
Category

20th Century British Country Signs

Materials

Zinc

Shoe REPAIRING Single Sided Neon Cobbler Sign
Located in Orange, CA
This piece is a vintage outdoor advertising neon sign in the shape of a shoe with the word
Category

Vintage 1930s American Signs

Materials

Tin

American Folk Art Trade Sign
Located in Solebury, PA
Folk art trade sign painted on tin for Feigelman's Moving , Storage and Trucking Co. Strikingly
Category

20th Century American Signs

1960s Vintage Advertising Italian Screen-Printed Tin Sign "Pasta Arrighi"
Located in Milan, IT
Vintage screen-printed tin sign "Pasta Arrighi" in red white background, produced in Italy by Alt
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Industrial Signs

Materials

Tin

Tin Advertising Sign, Macon Cigars
Located in Petaluma, CA
are tin advertising signs. We much prefer tin over paper. Take note of the detail of this lithograph
Category

Vintage 1910s American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Tin

Tin Advertising Sign, Macon Cigars
Tin Advertising Sign, Macon Cigars
H 24.5 in W 20 in D 0.5 in
Old Belgian tin advertising sign, 1951
Located in Langemark-Poelkapelle, BE
Tin advertising sign for 'Storm & Lemercinier', a company from the Belgian Ardennes that
Category

Vintage 1950s Belgian Signs

Materials

Metal

Old Belgian tin advertising sign, 1951
Old Belgian tin advertising sign, 1951
H 13.78 in W 19.3 in D 0.4 in
Vintage Tin Advertising Sign
Located in Petaluma, CA
This beautiful tin over cardboard sign has all the great elements to make it a very desirable
Category

Early 20th Century American Signs

1950s Tin Advertising Sign for Insurance Company Lloyd Belge Antwerp, Belgium
Located in Retie, BE
Vintage Tin advertising sign for the Belgium Insurance Company in Antwerp "Lloyd Belge Anvers
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Signs

Materials

Metal

1920s Belgian Genever Tin Advertising Sign
Located in Retie, BE
Rare antique lithographic tin sign for Belgian Genever, Gin company: J. Theunissen - Vieux Spécial
Category

Early 20th Century Belgian Art Deco Signs

Materials

Tin

1920s Belgian Genever Tin Advertising Sign
1920s Belgian Genever Tin Advertising Sign
H 20.08 in W 9.26 in D 0.79 in
1950s Tin Advertising Sign for Wine
Located in Retie, BE
Original vintage lithographic tin sign - publicity sign - advertising sign - counter display
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Signs

Materials

Tin

1950s Tin Advertising Sign for Wine
1950s Tin Advertising Sign for Wine
H 13.31 in W 9.38 in D 0.16 in
Tin Advertising Sign for Lipton's Cocoa
Located in Petaluma, CA
We are lovers of antique advertising, especially tin. There is just something about tin signs and
Category

Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Signs

Materials

Tin

1953 tin advertising sign Pepsi-cola
By Pepsi-Cola Soda Company
Located in Surrey, BC
Greta original sign in excellent condition with identifying markings.
Category

Vintage 1950s Canadian Signs

Antique Embossed Tin Advertising Sign, Automotive Interest
Located in Petaluma, CA
My house and my shop have lots of old signs, and they are all tin. I have a special love for
Category

Vintage 1920s American Other Signs

Materials

Tin

1946 Tin Advertising Sign for Elektrion Motor Oil
Located in Retie, BE
Vintage Lithografic Advertising Sign in Metal for Elektrion Motor Oil from 1946. Made by Ets. J.B
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Industrial Signs

Materials

Tin

Vintage Tin Advertising Sign
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
All original tin sign features the early advertising campaign of MODEL SMOKING TOBACCO with the
Category

Early 20th Century American Decorative Art

Self-Framed Tin Advertising Sign, Beautiful Girl, Fatima Cigarettes, ca.1910
Located in Petaluma, CA
One of the antique items we collect is early tin advertising. Paper signs are nice, but it's tin
Category

Vintage 1910s American Egyptian Revival Signs

Materials

Tin

Lithograph on Tin Advertising Sign, Hoover Steel Ball Company Ann Arbor Michigan
Located in Petaluma, CA
advertising sign. Our passion has always been for the tin lithograph. We see most of these advertising signs
Category

Early 20th Century American Signs

1920s Glassoïd on Tin Advertising Sign for Belgium Beer, Blonde Dry-Pikkel
Located in Retie, BE
Elegant Art Deco advertising sign for Belgium Beer. This shop display, shop sign was made for
Category

Early 20th Century Belgian Art Deco Signs

Materials

Metal

1930s Belgian Beer Sign Wielemans
Located in Retie, BE
1930s Belgian Beer Sign. A tin advertising sign from the Art Deco period in Industrial style for
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Deco Signs

Materials

Metal

1930s Belgian Beer Sign Wielemans
1930s Belgian Beer Sign Wielemans
H 8.19 in W 18.71 in D 0.2 in
1930s Belgian Beer Sign for Cherry Beer Lambic
Located in Retie, BE
1930s Tin Advertising Sign for Belgian Beer : Cherry Beer Lambic. This Publicity Sign for Brewery
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Deco Signs

Materials

Tin

Tin Litho Advertising Sign
Located in Petaluma, CA
Being collectors of advertising ourselves, we just adore tin lithography. This highly colorful
Category

Early 20th Century American Signs

Materials

Tin

Elegant Embossed Tin Advertising Tobacco Sign
Located in Petaluma, CA
Check out the quality of the lithography on this amazingly beautiful tin sign. The colors and the
Category

Early 20th Century American Signs

Embossed Tin Old Advertising Bread Sign
Located in Petaluma, CA
Colorful and fun tin sign advertising Buster Brown bread which we believe was located in Oakland at
Category

Early 20th Century American Signs

Materials

Oak

Boer War Era Tin Brewery Advertising Sign
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Boer War Era Tin Brewery advertising sign. This rare advertising piece was made for George Younger
Category

Early 20th Century Scottish Signs

1950s Tin Advertising Beer Sign for Belgian Beer Ekla, Brewery Vandenheuvel
By Rob Otten
Located in Retie, BE
Great looking Advertising Beer sign for the Belgian Beer Ekla, made by Brewery Vandenheuvel
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Signs

Materials

Tin

French Tin Advertising Boards
Located in London, GB
A large pair of early painted tin advertising boards, French, circa 1890, which would have formed
Category

Antique 19th Century French Other Signs

French Tin Advertising Boards
French Tin Advertising Boards
H 35.44 in W 155.91 in
Antique Tin Charger Advertising Sign, Lenox Hotel Buffalo N.Y, ca. 1910
By H.D. Beach Company
Located in Petaluma, CA
I am a long time advertising collector and dealer. I have a particular fondness for tin. I find it
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Tin

1950s Giant Sized Tin Hot Dog Advertising Americana Sign
Located in Savannah, GA
If you are in search of a very large funky seventy four inch long hand painted hot dog sign, this
Category

Vintage 1950s American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Metal

Self Framed Tin Advertising "Frazer Axle Grease" American, circa 1900
By The American Art Works
Located in Incline Village, NV
axles of horse drawn carts and wagons. This is an original self framed tin sign, manufactured circa 1900
Category

Antique Early 1900s American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Tin

Early 20th Century Tin Lithograph Advertising Schlitz Beer, Milwaukee Wisconsin
By Charles Shonk Company
Located in Petaluma, CA
For the collectors of breweriana, this what is called a "pre-pro" tin sign. This means is was
Category

Early 20th Century American Beaux Arts Signs

Materials

Tin

French Michelin Man Tin Plate Trade Sign
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
French Michelin man tin plate trade sign A great advertising piece, the sign is made from a
Category

Mid-20th Century Industrial Signs

Materials

Tin

1930 Hand Painted Automotive Sign on Tin
Located in Surrey, BC
As found hand painted sign showing a ghost advertising under the very old crusted surface "auto
Category

Mid-20th Century American Industrial Signs

Materials

Tin

1950 Metal Original Advertising Manhattan Restaurant Sign
Located in Surrey, BC
A very nice original sign showing perfect aged surface with original wood frame. Sign is an
Category

Mid-20th Century American Industrial Signs

Materials

Tin

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Tin Advertising Signs For Sale on 1stDibs

An assortment of tin advertising signs is available at 1stDibs. Frequently made of metal, tin and wood, all tin advertising signs available were constructed with great care. Tin advertising signs have long been popular, with older editions for sale from the 19th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. There are many kinds of tin advertising signs to choose from, but at 1stDibs, Mid-Century Modern, Folk Art and Art Deco tin advertising signs are of considerable interest. There have been many well-made tin advertising signs over the years, but those made by Charles Shonk Company, Rob Otten and H.D. Beach Company are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much are Tin Advertising Signs?

Tin advertising signs can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price at 1stDibs is $918, while the lowest priced sells for $362 and the highest can go for as much as $12,500.

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.

Questions About Tin Advertising Signs
Prices for most tin advertising signs on 1stdibs are negotiable. You’ll see a "Make an Offer" button on the item details page, indicating that the seller is willing to consider a lower price. It’s not uncommon for customers to get 15–25% off the list price after negotiating. See our tips for negotiating like a pro.
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