Signs
1940s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Wood
1970s American Vintage Signs
Steel
1950s American Vintage Signs
Porcelain
20th Century French Arts and Crafts Signs
20th Century American Rustic Signs
Metal
Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Signs
Glass
20th Century Canadian Signs
Tin
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Iron
1980s American Vintage Signs
Steel
1920s American Industrial Vintage Signs
Enamel
20th Century Dutch Folk Art Signs
Metal, Enamel
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Iron
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Metal
20th Century French Signs
1970s Vintage Signs
Early 20th Century American Industrial Signs
Metal
Early 20th Century Art Deco Signs
1970s American Vintage Signs
Steel
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Signs
Steel
20th Century British Country Signs
Wood
1970s Italian Vintage Signs
Steel
1940s French Vintage Signs
Metal
1950s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Iron
Mid-20th Century Czech Industrial Signs
Steel
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Signs
Paper
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Signs
Iron
1950s American Vintage Signs
Metal
20th Century British Country Signs
Wood
20th Century American Signs
Wood
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Bronze
20th Century Italian Signs
20th Century Signs
1960s Vintage Signs
Paint, Wood
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Signs
Aluminum
1930s American Vintage Signs
1950s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Iron
20th Century Belgian Signs
Metal
1940s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Iron
1940s Dutch Vintage Signs
Brass, Aluminum
20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Enamel, Sheet Metal
1990s American Signs
Steel
Early 20th Century Italian Arts and Crafts Signs
Zinc
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Wood
Late 20th Century French French Provincial Signs
Glass
1950s Belgian Vintage Signs
Metal
Early 20th Century British Signs
Pine
1980s American Vintage Signs
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Signs
Tin
Early 20th Century American Signs
Tin
1950s American Industrial Vintage Signs
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.