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 Signs
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Charming Hand-Painted Advertising Sign – "The Two Friends, Lodgings for Seamen"
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
Category
20th Century English Victorian Signs
Materials
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
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
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
Category
1990s North American Signs
Materials
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
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Signs
Materials
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
Category
Vintage 1950s American Signs
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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"
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
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
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
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Oceanic Table Lamp USA 110 Volts, by Michele De Lucchi for Memphis Milano Collec
$2,985 / item
H 29.53 in W 37.8 in D 4.73 in
Oceanic Table Lamp USA 110 Volts, by Michele De Lucchi for Memphis Milano Collec
By Memphis Group, Memphis Milano, Michele de Lucchi
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
Here you are shown the US wired (110v), Oceanic Table Lamp made in metal and glass, designed in 1981, by Michele De Lucchi. EU Version 220v available in another listing. Michele De ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Floor Lamps
Materials
Metal
Japanese Taishō Period Open Bookshelf Sliding Doors, Curvy Shelf and Drawer
$3,890
H 32 in W 31 in D 12.5 in
Japanese Taishō Period Open Bookshelf Sliding Doors, Curvy Shelf and Drawer
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Japanese Taisho period hinoki cypress wood cabinet from the early 20th century converted into an open bookshelf with wavy curving shelf, sliding doors and drawers. Created in Japan...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Bookcases
Materials
Cypress, Fabric
ANTIQUE CIRCA 1640 ORIGINAL HEAVILY WORN ENGLISH SHIP's ANCHOR FROM PENZANCE
$1,878
H 48.04 in W 17.13 in D 2.37 in
ANTIQUE CIRCA 1640 ORIGINAL HEAVILY WORN ENGLISH SHIP's ANCHOR FROM PENZANCE
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning and totally original, folded iron Ships Anchor dating to 1640-1660 from Penzance En...
Category
Antique 1640s English Charles II Nautical Objects
Materials
Iron
Early Sunshine Studios American Side Show Electric Chair Banner
Unavailable|$4,000
H 88 in W 116 in D 0.07 in
Early Sunshine Studios American Side Show Electric Chair Banner
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Early example of American sideshow banner art. Painted at the Sunshine Studio in Witchita, Kansas by Geo Bellis. Signed by artist on front and studio name on front and back. This ban...
Category
Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Carnival Art
Materials
Canvas
Paul Frankl Telechron American Moderne Deco Clock, 1928
By Paul Frankl
Located in Sharon, CT
The iconic American Deco Frankl 'Skyscraper' mantel clock. Polished silver over brass with black bakelite base. This rare 'top of line' deco item retains the original bevelled glass ...
Category
Vintage 1920s American Machine Age Mantel Clocks
Materials
Glass
Antique Art Deco Brass Illuminated Advertising Cinema Ladies Flambosign Sign
$1,662
H 7.49 in W 13 in D 4.73 in
Antique Art Deco Brass Illuminated Advertising Cinema Ladies Flambosign Sign
Located in Sale, GB
- A fabulous Art Deco illuminated Ladies sign from renowned manufacturers 'Flambosign', England circa 1930. - The worn brass casing marked 'Flambosign' houses an etched lucite perspe...
Category
Early 20th Century British Signs
Materials
Brass
Antique Hand Painted Double-Sided French Cafe Wall Trade Sign. c.1920
$584
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...
Category
Vintage 1940s English Industrial Signs
Materials
Metal
French Tole Hot Air Balloon Chandelier, circa 1950s
Located in Wiesbaden, Hessen
A wonderful hand - painted hot air balloon chandelier, France, circa 1950s. Socket: 6 x e14 (Edison) for standard screw bulbs. The condition is excellent.
Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Antique Industrial Jeweler's Bench Work Table
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1930. We offer a most unique antique Mexican Industrial Jeweler's Bench Work Table with outstanding patina. The stool is not included.
Category
Vintage 1930s Mexican Industrial Industrial and Work Tables
Materials
Wood
Blue and White Arita Japanese Porcelain Printed Period Bowl, 18th Century
$61Sale Price|44% Off
H 1.62 in Dm 4.73 in
Blue and White Arita Japanese Porcelain Printed Period Bowl, 18th Century
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Sharing this lovely 19th century bowl. Printed. Additional information: Material: Porcelain & Pottery Japanese Style: Imari Decoration Type / Colour: Imari Region of Origin: Japan P...
Category
Antique 18th Century Japanese Edo Decorative Bowls
Materials
Porcelain
Suvretta Bookcase, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in Radomsko, Województwo łódzkie
“Suvretta” is a Romansh word (language spoken in Engadine) that means: “above the small forest”. Like rows of overlapping trees, the books placed on the green shelves of Suvretta tak...
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Laminate, Wood, Plywood, Scrap Wood
Ettore Sottsass Tartar console table for Memphis Milano Collection
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in Chicago, IL
Tartar table designed by Ettore Sottsass, 1985. Memphis Milano label. The Tartar table encapsulates Ettore Sottsass’s distinctive style, his focus on geometric forms, and the patter...
Category
Vintage 1980s Post-Modern Console Tables
Materials
Laminate
Art Deco Chrome Streamline Sink By Henry Dreyfuss Circa 1936
By Henry Dreyfuss
Located in Bernville, PA
Very rare Art Deco sink by Henry Dreyfuss. The sink was designed for The Crane Company of Chicago in 1936. Called the “Neuvogue” sink with “Futura” faucet handles. Manufactured by Tr...
Category
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Bathroom Fixtures
Materials
Chrome
Art Deco Impressive Walnut Display Cabinet Vitrine, English, circa 1930
$3,965
H 56.3 in W 60.63 in D 13 in
Art Deco Impressive Walnut Display Cabinet Vitrine, English, circa 1930
Located in Devon, England
This is a superb example of an English made Art Deco display cabinet, dating to the 1930s and very popular at the time for displaying your best 'china' usually displayed in what was ...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Vitrines
Materials
Lead
Large Ironstone Vase, Circa 1900
Located in Doylestown, PA
A large ironstone vase by Burgess & Campbell, circa 1900, in cream glaze.
Category
Early 20th Century English Victorian Vases
Materials
Ironstone
Loetz For Boudon And Klur Ruby Papillon Glass And Gilt Metal Mounted Vase
$5,500
H 10.5 in W 8 in D 5 in
Loetz For Boudon And Klur Ruby Papillon Glass And Gilt Metal Mounted Vase
By Loetz Glass
Located in Dallas, TX
Loetz For Boudon And Klur Gilt Metal Monted Glass Vase. A highly sought after vase culminating the zenith of Loetz and the Art Nouveau design. Czech Republic Circa 1900 Rubin Ruby P...
Category
Antique Early 1900s Czech Art Nouveau Vases
Materials
Metal
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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.
Only experienced, professional sellers who have applied and been thoroughly vetted by our team of experts can sell whimsical signs and other quality items on our site. Learn more about becoming a 1stdibs seller.
The 1stdibs Buyer Protection Guarantee provides coverage for qualified purchases in the unlikely event that the item arrives not as described or is damaged. We’ll work with you and the seller to find a resolution, ensuring your satisfaction. View details
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For your convenience, we offer multiple payment methods, including all major credit cards and PayPal. For many purchases we also offer financing options or wire transfer. Learn more about payment options on 1stdibs.
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Why Jules Chéret Was the King of the Modern Poster
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