Unintentionally Whimsical Lobster Pound Sign, circa 1970
Located in Nantucket, MA
Unintentionally Whimsical Lobster Pound Sign, circa 1970, a great vintage hand-painted two board
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Pine
Unintentionally Whimsical Lobster Pound Sign, circa 1970
Located in Nantucket, MA
Unintentionally Whimsical Lobster Pound Sign, circa 1970, a great vintage hand-painted two board
Pine
Whimsical "PHOTOS" Neon sign photo booth / store display
Located in Buffalo, NY
Whimsical "PHOTOS" Neon sign photo booth / store display.. Super fun decorative item. salvaged
Metal
Large Carved Pub Sign
Located in Greenwich, CT
A pub sign depicting a whimsical fox emerging from a gilt jug, of very large scale. Hand-hewn from
Wood
Vintage Trailer Highway Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Whimsical vintage highway sign from Texas. Blue sign with with graphics of a trailer. Good vintage
Steel
Early "spa" Sign
Located in Hadley, MA
Fantastic, whimsical trade sign, advertising a 19th C version of today's Spa. The best patina of
Vintage Folk Art Fruit Stand Sign
Located in Seattle, WA
casual kitchen wall or along side other whimsical signs to enhance an on-going collection.
Wood, Paint
Whimsical Advertising Light-Up Sign
Located in Petaluma, CA
enhance the look, the sign lights up with a light bulb behind the front. We smile everytime we look at
Paper
Whimsical Violin Iron Lock and Key
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Very charming and unusual folk art iron pad lock.
Iron
Fairground Whimsical Figure of Strongman John
Located in Greenwich, CT
Charming mid-20th century fairground "strongman" figure, the slight gentleman wearing a beanie cap and sporting a handlebar moustache in mid squat position standing on original paint...
Fiberglass
Folk Art Fresh Eggs Advertising Sign
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
whimsical painted wood sign depicting a chicken standing on an oversized egg. The sign is double
Folk Art Hotel Dress Code Sign, circa 1950
Located in Nantucket, MA
Vintage Folk Art Hotel Dress Code Sign, circa 1950, a whimsical hand painted sign from a posh
Wood
Early 19thc Bronze Hand Trade Sign On Iron Mount
Located in Los Angeles, CA
THIS 19THC FOLKY AND WHIMSICAL BRONZE LADIES HAND TRADE SIGN THAT IS ON A CUSTOM IRON STAND WAS
Bronze
Sold
H 35 in W 30 in D 1 in
Charming Hand-Painted Advertising Sign – "The Two Friends, Lodgings for Seamen"
Located in New York, NY
Charming Hand-Painted Advertising Sign – "The Two Friends, Lodgings for Seamen" This whimsical
Wood, Paint
Folk Art Hand Painted Wooden Trade Sign
Located in Nantucket, MA
... 1920s? 1930s? A wonderful whimsical sign most likely from a farm stand: they are selling something for
Pine
Same Day Service Neon Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Whimsical Lucite and neon sign. "SAME DAY SERVICE" likely from a dry-cleaner. Original, outdoor
Glass, Lucite
Midcentury Lobster Pools Trade Sign
Located in Nantucket, MA
still survive like the famous one in Ogunquit. This sign is unintentionally whimsical in that the
Plywood
Whimsical Butchers Trade Sign
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A truly whimsical and amusing vintage butchers trade sign. A light and airy sow composed of
Whimsical Tin Bird Silhouette
Located in North Egremont, MA
First half of the twentieth century bird cut from a flattened oil can, strong silhouette and a collage graphic from the advertising lettering
Wrestling Club Sign
Located in Seattle, WA
Whimsical Wrestling Club sign with bright yellow, red and black paint; custom-framed in blackened
Steel
Vintage Cottage Sign
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A whimsical and amusing vintage sign that probably hung above the front entrance on a midwest lake
Wood
Fishing Hole Sign
Located in Seattle, WA
Twentieth century roadside goodness, right here. A colorful, whimsical make-do sign for the
Red Worms For Sale Sign
Located in Seattle, WA
Another whimsical 'make-do' sign made from the lid from an old steel barrel, this one advertising
Steel
Pair of 19th Century Optician Signs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of two whimsical Optician signs from San Francisco. Priced as a pair
Metal
Painted Advertising Sign, "The Two Friends, " England, 20th C.
Located in New York, NY
Whimsical Painted Advertising Sign Depicting Two Female Figures and Inscribed,"The Two Friends
Wood
Mule's Head and Moon-Shine Bottle
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Fold Ard Advertisement Sign. A whimsical composition of a mule's head and "moon-shine" bottle. The
Metal
Whimsical Painted Tin Sign
Located in Woodbury, CT
Lovely whimsical painted tin sign titled "The Summerhouse".
Tin
Vintage Pub Sign Advertising Daily Selection
Located in New York, NY
Whelks”, England, 20th Century This whimsical shop sign has been recently
Paint
Whimsical Garden Sign
Located in Woodbury, CT
Whimsical Garden Sign. This hand-painted and very large sheet-iron sign is a wonderful example of
Sheet Metal
Man's Mid 20th Century Sign Fragment
Located in Hudson, NY
From the Stephanie Lloyd Collection- a whimsical mounted metal letter sign. Old paint in a copper
19th Century Folk Art "Pad Lock Sign"
Located in High Point, NC
Large and whimsical advertising sign in the form of a padlock. Handcrafted out of hardwood timber
Hardwood, Paint
Pink Elephant Neon Sign, 1950s Liquor Store, Animated
Located in North Hollywood, CA
This whimsical pink elephant neon sign came from a 1950s liquor store in the Palm Springs area. He
Steel
Large Prancing Horse Silhouette Sign
Located in Seattle, WA
A stylized 'Prancing Horse' sign fragment with whimsical form and pose, stencil-cut from textured
Steel
$795Sale Price|57% Off
H 28 in W 26.25 in D 1.25 in
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. CREATOR Unknown. DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.19...
Metal
$2,300 / item
H 20.5 in W 14 in D 67 in
HIFI Vinyl LP Storage Bench / Record Shelf Mid-Century Modern Walnut Pete Deeble
By Pete Deeble
Located in Long Beach, CA
This bench is the ideal solution to having records sitting all over your house and no place to sit. This is an original design, but with a strong influence of Mid Century Danish Mode...
Walnut
$5,364Sale Price|50% Off
H 32.49 in W 32.29 in D 1.97 in
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...
Iron
$1,576
H 38.59 in W 28.35 in D 1.19 in
Spanish Colonial South American Painting Virgin folk art 18th C
Located in London, GB
A Spanish colonial South American folk art style painting of the Virgin and child South American Peru or Bolivia school 18th century or earlier Oil on canvas, framed size 40 x ...
Paint
Woods Hole Golf Club Antique Sign from Cape Cod
Located in Sandwich, MA
Antique sign from the Woods Hole Golf Club in Falmouth, MA circa 1900. Includes original wrought iron bracket meant for mounting on a square post. Great original surface. Also reads ...
Wrought Iron
$575
H 17.92 in W 20.28 in D 0.08 in
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...
Metal
$3,800
H 9.26 in W 31.5 in D 3.94 in
Tackle Fish Store Teade Wooden Folk Art Sign. Hunting Fishing Cabin. USA 1930´s
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
This fish-shaped “TACKLE” sign is such a bold and playful nod to vintage Americana. The golden finish gives it a warm, sunlit feel, like something you’d spot hanging outside a lakesi...
Wood
$1,130,096
H 83.86 in W 45.28 in D 83.86 in
A pair of Spanish-colonial Viceregal mother-of-pearl inlaid bureau-cabinets
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Viceroyalty of Peru, Lima, 18th century, circa 1720-1760 Each with a moulded giltwood cornice and on a foliate carved giltwood base, possibly later and English. The cabinets, with s...
Mother-of-Pearl, Teak
$1,900
H 24 in W 62 in D 1 in
Large Hand Painted Double Sided Arrow "Radio Trade In" Folk Art Trade/Store Sign
Located in Buffalo, NY
Large Hand Painted, Double Sided Arrow "Special" Radio Trade In sale,,,,Folk Art Trade/Store Sign,,Wonderful size,,amazing crackle paint, patina..Great subject.
Masonite, Paint
Early 20th century English Hand Painted “HELL” Sign
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century English Hand Painted “HELL” Sign Originally this sign was reclaimed from a shoe shop named “Shellington Shoes” in Essex. Most of the sign was damaged but we luck...
Pine
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.