1930s Clown Trade Sign
Unavailable|$8,500
1930s Clown Trade Sign
Located in New York, NY
This Clown trade sign was used for advertising purposes for the Fairy Land Amusement Park in
Unavailable|$8,500
1930s Clown Trade Sign
Located in New York, NY
This Clown trade sign was used for advertising purposes for the Fairy Land Amusement Park in
Unavailable|$690
Trade Sign of Tin for Dress Shoppe
Located in Madison, WI
Large, early trade tin sign: "Dress Shoppe." Muted, earth-tone colors with stellar, graphic
Steel
Unavailable|$2,350
Carved Wood Boot Trade Sign
Located in Kent, Ct
Carved wood trade sign of a boot mounted on a steel base
Steel
Blacksmith Trade Sign For John Chick - Caleb William Heath
By Caleb William Heath
Located in Columbus, OH
Pictorial blacksmith trade sign for John Chick Artist Caleb Heath (1835-1875)
Unavailable|$750
Tin Trade Sign: LE JOURNAL - EN VENTE ICI
Located in New York, NY
Charming advertisment for a French newspaper, with raised letters and figure of a very short salesman displaying a very large copy of Le Journal, featuring all zee latest news.
Unavailable|$2,738
Huge Antique Garage Trade Sign, Chas Baldwin Automobile Engineer
Located in Downham Market, GB
A massive painted timber English garage sign. A fantastic & delightfully original piece of signage
Pine
Unavailable|$1,091
American Pharmacist Trade Sign, circa 1950
Located in Bodicote, Oxfordshire
A nice America pharmacists trade sign, circa 1950, it is metal with different worn layers of old
Metal, Iron
Unavailable|$18,500
Trade Sign "Mrs. L.M. Crosswell, Millinery and Fancy Goods"
Located in Litchfield, CT
family owned and operated the general store in Farmington, Maine for several generations. The sign was
Folk Art Painted Metal Milliners Top Hat Trade Sign Annie Gold circa 1890 London
Located in Bedford, Bedfordshire
The handcut and riveted sheet metal shop or trade sign in the form of black top hat, showing an
Sheet Metal
Unavailable|$1,675
Early "spa" Sign
Located in Hadley, MA
Fantastic, whimsical trade sign, advertising a 19th C version of today's Spa. The best patina of
Unavailable|$7,500
'Smoke House' Sign, circa 1900
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unusual and large-scale wood trade sign 'Smoke House' constructed from a single wide board, unusual
Wood
Unavailable|$2,695
Nelson Carpentry Sign
Located in Aurora, OR
weathering and fading. An excellent early trade sign.
Wood
Unavailable|$2,800
Large Free Standing Bottle Shaped Storage Cabinet
Located in San Francisco, CA
French painted pine trade sign, in the form of a wine bottle. Dramatic scale, sure to make a
Paint, Wood
Unavailable|$1,509
19th Century French Double Sided Boot Repair Sign in Original Paint
Located in Bodicote, Oxfordshire
A beautiful and unique large iron French trade sign for a boot repair shop, it says on the sign
Iron
Unavailable|$6,899
French Poulterer Shop Sign
Located in Paris, FR
the case, where these congregated mainly in the same street, simple signs of a trade signs did not
Metal
Unavailable|$2,950
Antique Paint and Wallpaper Neon Can Sign
Located in Dallas, TX
Very early Art Deco era neon sign, most likely from a mercantile or hardware store. Offering wall
Metal
Unavailable|$1,800 / set
Enormous Vintage Safety Pin Display
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Collection of old advertising or trade display signs. Early 20th century. Great example of
Unavailable|$6,500
Rare Counter Top Cigar Store Trade Figure
Located in Hadley, MA
CARVED PINE EARLY BLACK TRADE SIGN Very rare counter top cigar store trade figure
Pine
Unavailable|$3,950
French Zinc Horse Head
By Craft and Folk Art Museum
Located in Geneva, IL
This zinc head trade sign is a gorgeous example of 19th century Folk Art.
Metal
Unavailable|$80,000
Rare Wooden Mannequin
Located in Summerland, CA
. Possibly a trade sign. Base is painted like a barrel. Ex Mendelsohn Collection
Wood
Unavailable|$1,400
Early 20th Century Cast Iron Guitar
Located in Summerland, CA
a trade sign for a music store or pub. Length 37" x 14"w x 4"d Provenance: The Morgan Rank
Iron
Unavailable|$2,750
Fish Tale Folk Art Assemblage Sculpture
By Van Dusen Clockworks
Located in Dallas, TX
handmade appearance is reminiscent of the antique trade signs from the 1900s. This one-of-a-kind sculpture
Unavailable|$695
1950s Papier Mâché Ice Cream Cone Trade Sign "Eat-it-all"
Located in Chicago, IL
1950s papier mâché ice cream cone trade sign "Eat-It-All.".
Paper
Unavailable|$695
1950s Papier Mâché Ice Cream Cone Trade Sign "Eat-it-all"
Located in Chicago, IL
1950s papier mâché ice cream cone trade sign "Eat-It-All.".
Paper
Sold|$2,750
Trade Sign
Located in Nantucket, MA
Early 20th Century Boot Trade Sign in sheet metal with original paint.
Sheet Metal
Sold|$1,695
Bank Trade Sign
Located in Surrey, BC
Wood bank trade sign with great paint surface and guilded raised letters. Found in Montreal Canada
Wood
Sold|$5,800
Chemist Trade Sign
Located in Culver City, CA
Handpainted trade sign with gold leaf reflective background, cased in solid wood frame and original
Sold|$2,800
Wooden Trade Sign
Located in Surrey, BC
Carriage works trade sign in original old age cracked surface with nice dry patina color. Untouched
Wood
Sold|$3,156
French Trade Sign
Located in London, GB
A late 19th century French trade sign, with timber handle, steel blade and old lettering 'LAGUIOLE
Sold|$2,800
Machinist Trade Sign
Located in Nantucket, MA
"J. Hamburger Machinist Phonographs Repaired" Trade sign, wood framed painted tin sign with black
Tin
Sold|$1,029
Milliner's Trade Sign
Located in London, GB
A French milliner's trade sign, first half 20th century, the eighteenth century style Bicorn hat
Sold|$1,480
Locksmith's Trade Sign
Located in Stamford, CT
Trade sign depicting a giant key with the word 'Locksmithing' spelled out in whimsical fashion
Sold|$5,400
Jewelers Trade Sign
Located in Surrey, BC
Very large double sided trade sign, in heavy cast iron ( in excess of 75 lbs) with tin faces
Steel
Sold|$1,365
Cobblers Trade Sign
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century cobblers trade sign made from leather, wood and canvas This lot is a highly
Faux Leather, Wood
Sold|$2,470
Gunsmiths Trade Sign
Located in London, GB
Rare early 20th century handmade Gunsmiths trade sign This lot is a completely original and unique
Wood
Sold|$5,900
Dutch Mercantile Trade Sign
Located in Milford, NH
Dutch mercantile trade sign beautifully carved with polychrome decoration.
Wood, Paint
Sold|$2,800
Large French Trade Sign
Located in Seattle, WA
large french trade sign of wood and painted canvas. double sided, very lovely sign
Fabric, Wood, Paint
Sold|$2,250
Wooden Bootmaker's Trade Sign
Located in Astoria, NY
A Wooden Boot-maker’s Trade Sign in Old Red Paint. Reduced From: $3000
Wood
Sold|$2,800
Top Hat Trade Sign
Located in Stamford, CT
19th century American red painted tin trade sign in the form of a top hat. With black buckle.
Sold|$1,578
French Umbrella Trade Sign
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century, French trade sign, circa 1930, from a Parisienne 'parapluie' maker's shop, tin
Sold|$1,400
'Poultry Supplies' Trade Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great sandpaper trade sign with hand-painted chicken and lettering. From the Ohio - Pennsylvania
Wood
Sold|$3,200
Ice Cream Trade Sign
Located in Surrey, BC
Ice cream cone trade sign found in Detroit with original paint surface and glass hole for for the
Steel
Sold|$2,925
Antique Watchmaker's Trade Sign
Located in Astoria, NY
An oversized antique gilt metal Watchmaker’s Trade Sign with the name N.F. Dujon.
Metal
Sold|$2,500
Painted Butcher's Trade Sign
Located in Washington, DC
Red painted Butcher's Trade Sign with a cow on the top and tools of the trade below, in the form of
Metal
Sold|$1,295
Camps & Cottages Trade Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This cool 20th c Camps & Cottages trade sign or from a ranch or resort with original metal eyelets
Wood
Sold|$2,800
Top Hat Trade Sign
Located in Stamford, CT
19th century American painted tin trade sign in the form of a top hat. With gilt buckle and
Sold|$1,400
Hat Makers Trade Sign
Located in Stamford, CT
19th century American painted tin trade sign in the form of a top hat. With gilt buckle, ribbon
Sold|$350
20THC. JOHNSON ALLEN'S TRADE SIGN
Located in Los Angeles, CA
20TH C. JOHNSON ALLEN'S LOG CABIN COFFEE TIN TRADE SIGN
Tin
Sold|$1,800
Trade Sign of a Seal
Located in Nantucket, MA
Trade sign in the form of a Seal Balancing a Ball.
Metal, Iron
Sold|$3,600
Figurial 1800s Spectacles Trade Sign
Located in Peekskill, NY
This is the real thing and not a remake. Optometrist figural eyeglasses trade sign. Great trade
Glass
Sold|$1,275
Old French Ironwork Trade Sign
Located in San Francisco, CA
Old two sided metal trade sign for an ironwork shop. Nice graphics and color.
Metal
Sold|$800
Vintage Olivetti Dealer Trade Sign
Located in Peabody, MA
A vintage Olivetti dealer trade sign, logo was designed by famed Swiss graphic designer Walter
Acrylic
Sold|$1,950
Terracotta Horse Head Trade Sign
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A lovely 19th century, most likely French, Trade sign of butcher shop in the form of a horse head.
Terracotta
Sold|$1,022
19th Century Vet Trade Sign
Located in Pease pottage, West Sussex
Totally original mid-19th century French vet trade sign. Hand-painted on wooden boards Wonderful
Sold|$950
Giant Milk Bottle Trade Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
This large three dimensional trade sign in the shape of a milk bottle stands at over 1.5 feet tall
Wood
Sold|$404
20th Century Florist Trade Sign
Located in Pease pottage, West Sussex
Mid-20th century blacksmith made florist trade sign, four full bodied flowers (tulips) and foliage
Sold|$5,900
Scottish Painted Trade Sign
Located in Greenwich, CT
Hand-painted Scottish trade sign from The Romany House, a 19th century hotel, inn and tea room in
Wood
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.