Signs
20th Century British Sporting Art Signs
Iron
Late 20th Century American Signs
Metal
1860s Belgian Folk Art Antique Signs
Zinc
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Signs
Wrought Iron
1920s American Vintage Signs
Metal
1910s English Country Vintage Signs
Wood
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Wood
1940s American Primitive Vintage Signs
Wood
1990s North American Industrial Signs
Tin
1920s French Folk Art Vintage Signs
Zinc
Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Signs
Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Signs
Plexiglass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Signs
Plexiglass
Mid-20th Century Belgian Rustic Signs
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Country Signs
Sheet Metal
1940s Italian Vintage Signs
Wrought Iron
1980s American Vintage Signs
Metal
20th Century English Signs
Metal
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Signs
Metal, Enamel
20th Century English Signs
Metal
Early 20th Century American Industrial Signs
Metal, Enamel
1960s American Vintage Signs
Metal
Early 1900s Art Deco Antique Signs
Pine
1940s American Industrial Vintage Signs
Aluminum
19th Century Belgian Industrial Antique Signs
Iron, Zinc
Mid-20th Century French Signs
Wood
1980s Dutch Industrial Vintage Signs
Metal
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Signs
Zinc
1960s American Vintage Signs
Wood
1920s North American Industrial Vintage Signs
Metal
Late 20th Century French Signs
Wood, Paint
20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Signs
Plastic, Acrylic, Fiberglass, Glass
Late 20th Century French Signs
Wood, Paint
1870s American Folk Art Antique Signs
Wood, Paint
Early 1900s French Victorian Antique Signs
Zinc
Late 20th Century Signs
Wood, Paint
20th Century British Sporting Art Signs
Enamel
Early 20th Century Scottish Signs
Enamel, Metal
Mid-20th Century Dutch Signs
Metal
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Iron
Early 20th Century Industrial Signs
Felt
1890s American Folk Art Antique Signs
Metal
1980s American Vintage Signs
Metal
1980s American Vintage Signs
Metal
Mid-20th Century French Modern Signs
Metal
1990s British Industrial Signs
Fiberglass
1960s English Folk Art Vintage Signs
Wood
20th Century Hollywood Regency Signs
Metal
Mid-20th Century English Industrial Signs
Aluminum
20th Century British Country Signs
Zinc
Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Deco Signs
Tin
1960s French Art Deco Vintage Signs
Plaster
1930s French Folk Art Vintage Signs
Metal
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Plastic
Early 20th Century Industrial Signs
Felt
20th Century English Signs
Metal
1950s French Folk Art Vintage Signs
Iron
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.