Signs
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Signs
Glass
20th Century Signs
Wood
1930s American Vintage Signs
Wood
1950s English Modern Vintage Signs
Wood
1970s American Vintage Signs
Plaster, Paint
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Signs
Wood
Early 20th Century French Signs
Metal
19th Century French Folk Art Antique Signs
Iron
1940s American Vintage Signs
Steel
1960s French Art Deco Vintage Signs
Plaster
20th Century French Signs
Metal, Enamel
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Masonite, Paint
1980s American Vintage Signs
Metal
1890s British Antique Signs
Wood
1970s American Vintage Signs
Metal
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Signs
Steel
Early 20th Century Danish Industrial Signs
Steel
1970s American Vintage Signs
Metal
1950s Folk Art Vintage Signs
Plywood
1950s Spanish Spanish Colonial Vintage Signs
Wood, Paper
Early 20th Century Belgian Art Deco Signs
Tin
1910s European Classical Roman Vintage Signs
Tôle
Late 20th Century Belgian Modern Signs
Other, Tin
Early 20th Century Industrial Signs
Plastic, Wood
Late 19th Century English Industrial Antique Signs
Terracotta
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Signs
Wrought Iron
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Signs
Wood, Paint
Late 20th Century English Signs
Wood
19th Century Industrial Antique Signs
Wood, Fabric
1970s American Vintage Signs
Metal
Mid-20th Century British Industrial Signs
Metal
Early 20th Century English Industrial Signs
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary American Signs
Steel
20th Century English Signs
Metal
20th Century English Signs
Metal
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Signs
Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Metal
1980s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Iron
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Signs
Steel
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Signs
Glass, Wood
20th Century English Signs
Metal
20th Century English Signs
Metal
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Signs
Pine
1960s French Art Deco Vintage Signs
Plaster
Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Deco Signs
Tin
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Signs
Glass, Oak
Early 20th Century Swedish Victorian Signs
Glass, Art Glass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Signs
Metal
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Signs
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century French Victorian Signs
Metal
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Signs
Glass
Early 20th Century English Rustic Signs
Canvas, Wood
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Signs
Metal, Enamel, Iron
1950s Austrian Art Nouveau Vintage Signs
Wrought Iron, Bronze
20th Century English Signs
Hardwood
20th Century English Signs
Metal
1950s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Sheet Metal
Antique, New and Vintage Signs
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.