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Whimsical Signs

Unintentionally Whimsical Lobster Pound Sign, circa 1970
Unintentionally Whimsical Lobster Pound Sign, circa 1970

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

Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Pine

Whimsical "PHOTOS" Neon sign  photo booth / store display
Whimsical "PHOTOS" Neon sign  photo booth / store display

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

Category

Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Signs

Materials

Metal

Large Carved Pub Sign
Large Carved Pub Sign

Large Carved Pub Sign

$17,500

H 64 in W 51 in D 14.5 in

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

Category

Vintage 1930s English Folk Art Signs

Materials

Wood

Vintage Trailer Highway Sign
Vintage Trailer Highway Sign

Vintage Trailer Highway Sign

$525

H 24 in W 24 in D 0.13 in

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

Category

Vintage 1970s American Signs

Materials

Steel

Recent Sales

Early "spa" Sign
Early "spa" Sign

Early "spa" Sign

Unavailable

H 56 in W 12 in D 7 in

Early "spa" Sign

Located in Hadley, MA

Fantastic, whimsical trade sign, advertising a 19th C version of today's Spa. The best patina of

Category

Antique 19th Century American Signs

Vintage Folk Art Fruit Stand Sign
Vintage Folk Art Fruit Stand Sign

Vintage Folk Art Fruit Stand Sign

Sold

H 11 in W 58 in D 1 in

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.

Category

20th Century American Signs

Materials

Wood, Paint

Whimsical Advertising Light-Up Sign
Whimsical Advertising Light-Up Sign

Whimsical Advertising Light-Up Sign

Sold

H 20 in W 12.5 in D 4 in

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

Category

Early 20th Century American Edwardian Signs

Materials

Paper

Whimsical Violin Iron Lock and Key
Whimsical Violin Iron Lock and Key

Whimsical Violin Iron Lock and Key

Sold

H 14 in W 11 in D 1.5 in

Whimsical Violin Iron Lock and Key

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Very charming and unusual folk art iron pad lock.

Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown Folk Art Signs

Materials

Iron

Fairground Whimsical Figure of Strongman John
Fairground Whimsical Figure of Strongman John

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...

Category

Vintage 1940s American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Fiberglass

Folk Art  Fresh Eggs Advertising Sign
Folk Art  Fresh Eggs Advertising Sign

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

Category

Early 20th Century American Signs

Folk Art Hotel Dress Code Sign, circa 1950
Folk Art Hotel Dress Code Sign, circa 1950

Folk Art Hotel Dress Code Sign, circa 1950

Sold

H 6.5 in W 12.5 in D 1 in

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

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Wood

Early 19thc Bronze Hand Trade Sign On Iron Mount
Early 19thc Bronze Hand Trade Sign On Iron Mount

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

Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown Signs

Materials

Bronze

Folk Art Hand Painted Wooden Trade Sign
Folk Art Hand Painted Wooden Trade Sign

Folk Art Hand Painted Wooden Trade Sign

Sold

H 11.5 in W 40 in D 1 in

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

Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Pine

Same Day Service Neon Sign
Same Day Service Neon Sign

Same Day Service Neon Sign

Sold

H 19 in W 42 in D 3.25 in

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

Category

1990s North American Signs

Materials

Glass, Lucite

Midcentury Lobster Pools Trade Sign
Midcentury Lobster Pools Trade Sign

Midcentury Lobster Pools Trade Sign

Sold

H 22 in W 43.5 in D 0.75 in

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

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Signs

Materials

Plywood

Whimsical Butchers Trade Sign
Whimsical Butchers Trade Sign

Whimsical Butchers Trade Sign

Sold

H 37.5 in W 104 in

Whimsical Butchers Trade Sign

Located in Cincinnati, OH

A truly whimsical and amusing vintage butchers trade sign. A light and airy sow composed of

Category

Vintage 1950s American Signs

Whimsical Tin Bird Silhouette
Whimsical Tin Bird Silhouette

Whimsical Tin Bird Silhouette

Sold

H 10.5 in W 15 in

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

Category

Vintage 1940s Signs

Wrestling Club Sign
Wrestling Club Sign

Wrestling Club Sign

Sold

H 60 in W 48 in

Wrestling Club Sign

Located in Seattle, WA

Whimsical Wrestling Club sign with bright yellow, red and black paint; custom-framed in blackened

Category

20th Century American Signs

Materials

Steel

Vintage Cottage Sign
Vintage Cottage Sign

Vintage Cottage Sign

Sold

H 5.5 in W 37.5 in D 1 in

Vintage Cottage Sign

Located in Cincinnati, OH

A whimsical and amusing vintage sign that probably hung above the front entrance on a midwest lake

Category

Vintage 1960s American Signs

Materials

Wood

Fishing Hole Sign
Fishing Hole Sign

Fishing Hole Sign

Sold

H 48 in W 75 in D 0.38 in

Fishing Hole Sign

Located in Seattle, WA

Twentieth century roadside goodness, right here. A colorful, whimsical make-do sign for the

Category

20th Century American Rustic Signs

Red Worms For Sale Sign
Red Worms For Sale Sign

Red Worms For Sale Sign

Sold

H 27 in W 20.5 in D 6 in

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

Category

Vintage 1950s American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Steel

Pair of 19th Century Optician Signs
Pair of 19th Century Optician Signs

Pair of 19th Century Optician Signs

Sold

H 16 in W 21 in D 6 in

Pair of 19th Century Optician Signs

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Set of two whimsical Optician signs from San Francisco. Priced as a pair

Category

Antique 19th Century American Signs

Materials

Metal

Painted Advertising Sign, "The Two Friends, " England, 20th C.
Painted Advertising Sign, "The Two Friends, " England, 20th C.

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

Category

20th Century English Signs

Materials

Wood

Mule's Head and Moon-Shine Bottle
Mule's Head and Moon-Shine Bottle

Mule's Head and Moon-Shine Bottle

Sold

H 20.5 in W 16 in D 6 in

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

Category

20th Century American Signs

Materials

Metal

Whimsical Painted Tin Sign
Whimsical Painted Tin Sign

Whimsical Painted Tin Sign

Sold

H 44 in W 33 in

Whimsical Painted Tin Sign

Located in Woodbury, CT

Lovely whimsical painted tin sign titled "The Summerhouse".

Category

20th Century English Paintings

Materials

Tin

Vintage Pub Sign Advertising Daily Selection
Vintage Pub Sign Advertising Daily Selection

Vintage Pub Sign Advertising Daily Selection

Located in New York, NY

Whelks”, England, 20th Century This whimsical shop sign has been recently

Category

20th Century English Decorative Art

Materials

Paint

Whimsical Garden Sign
Whimsical Garden Sign

Whimsical Garden Sign

Sold

H 22.5 in W 71.5 in D 0.5 in

Whimsical Garden Sign

Located in Woodbury, CT

Whimsical Garden Sign. This hand-painted and very large sheet-iron sign is a wonderful example of

Category

Vintage 1950s American Signs

Materials

Sheet Metal

Man's   Mid 20th Century Sign Fragment
Man's   Mid 20th Century Sign Fragment

Man's Mid 20th Century Sign Fragment

Sold

H 20 in W 49.5 in D 3.5 in

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

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Signs

19th Century Folk Art "Pad Lock Sign"
19th Century Folk Art "Pad Lock Sign"

19th Century Folk Art "Pad Lock Sign"

Sold

H 52 in W 37 in D 4.5 in

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

Category

Antique Early 1900s English Signs

Materials

Hardwood, Paint

Pink Elephant Neon Sign, 1950s Liquor Store, Animated
Pink Elephant Neon Sign, 1950s Liquor Store, Animated

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

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Signs

Materials

Steel

Large Prancing Horse Silhouette Sign
Large Prancing Horse Silhouette Sign

Large Prancing Horse Silhouette Sign

Sold

H 94 in W 99 in D 1 in

Large Prancing Horse Silhouette Sign

Located in Seattle, WA

A stylized 'Prancing Horse' sign fragment with whimsical form and pose, stencil-cut from textured

Category

20th Century American Wall-mounted Sculptures

Materials

Steel

People Also Browsed

Vintage Hand Painted French Patisserie Sign c.1930-1940
Vintage Hand Painted French Patisserie Sign c.1930-1940

Vintage Hand Painted French Patisserie Sign c.1930-1940

$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...

Category

Early 20th Century French Industrial Signs

Materials

Metal

HIFI Vinyl LP Storage Bench / Record Shelf Mid-Century Modern Walnut Pete Deeble
HIFI Vinyl LP Storage Bench / Record Shelf Mid-Century Modern Walnut Pete Deeble

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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas

Materials

Walnut

French 18th Century Forged Iron Folk Art Baroque Tavern Sign
French 18th Century Forged Iron Folk Art Baroque Tavern Sign

French 18th Century Forged Iron Folk Art Baroque Tavern Sign

$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...

Category

Antique 18th Century French Baroque Signs

Materials

Iron

Spanish Colonial South American Painting Virgin folk art 18th C
Spanish Colonial South American Painting Virgin folk art 18th C

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 ...

Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Peruvian Paintings

Materials

Paint

Woods Hole Golf Club Antique Sign from Cape Cod
Woods Hole Golf Club Antique Sign from Cape Cod

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 ...

Category

Antique 1890s American Signs

Materials

Wrought Iron

Antique Hand Painted Double-Sided French Cafe Wall Trade Sign. c.1920
Antique Hand Painted Double-Sided French Cafe Wall Trade Sign. c.1920

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

Vintage 1940s English Industrial Signs

Materials

Metal

Tackle Fish Store Teade Wooden Folk Art Sign. Hunting Fishing Cabin.  USA 1930´s
Tackle Fish Store Teade Wooden Folk Art Sign. Hunting Fishing Cabin.  USA 1930´s

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...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Wood

A pair of Spanish-colonial Viceregal mother-of-pearl inlaid bureau-cabinets
A pair of Spanish-colonial Viceregal mother-of-pearl inlaid bureau-cabinets

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...

Category

Antique 18th Century Peruvian Spanish Colonial Cabinets

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Teak

Large Hand Painted Double Sided Arrow "Radio Trade In" Folk Art Trade/Store Sign
Large Hand Painted Double Sided Arrow "Radio Trade In" Folk Art Trade/Store Sign

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.

Category

Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Masonite, Paint

Early 20th century English Hand Painted “HELL” Sign
Early 20th century English Hand Painted “HELL” Sign

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...

Category

Vintage 1920s British Victorian Signs

Materials

Pine

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Whimsical Signs For Sale on 1stDibs

There is a range of whimsical signs for sale on 1stDibs. Frequently made of metal, wood and iron, all whimsical signs available were constructed with great care. Whimsical signs have been made for many years, and versions that date back to the 19th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 20th Century. Folk Art and Mid-Century Modern whimsical signs are consistently popular styles.

How Much are Whimsical Signs?

Prices for whimsical signs start at $345 and top out at $7,900 with the average selling for $1,490.

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 Whimsical Signs
Prices for most whimsical 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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