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Signs For Sale
Chinese Signboard with Red Coloured Calligraphy from Hardwood, C. 1900
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
With a wood coloured base this signboard (crafted entirely from wood) highlights two large red coloured Chinese Characters. The signboard dates to the early 20th Century and has aged...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Signs
Materials
Wood, Paint
Vintage Mueller Electric Point-of-Sale Advertising Display
Located in Dekalb, IL
c. 1940s/1950s; Mueller Electric Co. - Cleveland, OH
Vintage advertising store display.
This piece features an assortment of offerings produced by Mueller, an electrical component ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Signs
Materials
Metal
DSP Service Entrance Arrow
Located in Dekalb, IL
Double-sided porcelain directional arrow sign.
This piece features white block text over a royal blue arrow, creating a high-contrast item; also present are two grommets for fasteni...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Other Signs
Materials
Metal
1970's ice cream sign
Located in Brecht, BE
Vibrant colors for this 1970's ice cream sign, found in the South of Spain
Category
Mid-20th Century Spanish Signs
Materials
Polyester
Vintage Illuminated Letter N, 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial illuminated letter N was made in Italy during the 1970s and comes from an old advertising banner. It features a black metal bod...
Category
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Iron
Folk Art Sign
Located in London, GB
An Edwardian Folk Art sign with overscale finger, insribed ‘Left Luggage’.
Category
20th Century English Signs
Materials
Hardwood
Hollywood Sign Artist Model
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fun piece of Los Angeles artwork. Hollywood sign made as an artist's model to make larger versions at a later time. Letters are perfect scale. Made of w...
Category
Early 2000s American Signs
Materials
Metal
Antique Art Deco Brass Illuminated Advertising Cinema Reception Flambosign Sign
Located in Sale, GB
- A fabulous Art Deco illuminated Reception sign from renowned manufacturers 'Flambosign', England circa 1930.
- The worn brass casing marked 'Flambosign' houses an etched lucite perspex...
Category
Early 20th Century British Signs
Materials
Brass
Giant Double Sided Wood Peach Trade Sign from California Farm
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great wooden trade sign from a California farm. Giant peach with graphics on both sides. Sign reads 'Hamilton's Tree Ripened Peaches 1/2 Mile' on on...
Category
1980s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Wood
Antique Double Sided Metal French Librairie Papeterie Sign c.1930
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
An original double-sided metal French librairie (bookshop) papeterie (stationary store) sign.
CREATOR Unknown.
DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1930-1940.
MATERIALS AND TEC...
Category
Early 20th Century Industrial Signs
Materials
Metal
Antique Industrial Art Deco Brass Internalite Enquiries Illuminated Sign, c1920
Located in London, GB
A stunning illuminated 'Internalite' directional sign made in England by K.F.M Engineering. c.1920.
Wall mounted brass frame housing the internal illuminations above single sided ...
Category
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Signs
Materials
Brass
Early 20th Century Piano Teacher Sign Board
Located in Peabody, MA
Hand painted sign for the services of a "modern" piano teacher. This would likely have meant ragtime or jazz, as these were often referred to as new approaches to the instrument as o...
Category
1930s North American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Wood and Canvas Painted Produce Sign
Located in Troy, MI
Wooden produce sign found in England, circa 1920s. Wood foundation is covered in strips of canvas which have been hand painted by unknown artist.
Category
Early 20th Century English Rustic Signs
Materials
Canvas, Wood
Vintage Hand Painted on Wood Advertising Sign for Golf Equipments, 1920s
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
This vintage sign for collectors is truly special. Made of wood with relief decorations and hand painted. The advertising sign was dedicated to the golf attire and equipment.
Category
1920s Scottish Vintage Signs
Materials
Wood
Important Folk Art Trade Sign
Located in Greenwich, CT
A mid 19th Century folk art trade sign of demilune form, depicting a Native American chief holding a peace pipe and tomahawk wearing a headdress of white and red feathers, wearing a decorated tunic, supported by “s” scrolls, possibly a cover for a paddle boat wheel...
Category
19th Century American Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Wood
Vintage Chart Rack with Four Denoyer-Geppert Anatomy Charts
Located in Dekalb, IL
c. 1960s; Denoyer-Geppert Co. - Chicago, IL
Vintage metal chart rack with four original four-color Denoyer-Geppert anatomy posters.
Each is in remar...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Signs
Materials
Plastic, Wood
Early 20th Century "J-E" Storage Battery Flange Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
Antique flanged service station sign.
This piece advertises Jelly-Electrolyte, or "J-E" storage batteries. The "jelly" eliminated the need for refilling water (a task required with ...
Category
Early 20th Century Signs
Materials
Metal
19th Century Apothecary Mortar & Pestle Countertop Trade Sign or Sale Stimulator
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Apothecary trade sign or sale stimulator in the form of a mortar and pestle in gilt wood. The mortar of cylindrical waisted form with a central half round band and stepped rings at t...
Category
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Wood
Vintage Heavy Cast Iron Dog Lawn Sign
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this original Vintage Heavy Cast Iron Dog Lawn Sign. Made in iron with great patina
Category
1950s American Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Iron
Los Angeles Freeway City Limit Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Super cool Los Angeles freeway sign. Made in the late 1990s. This sign welcomed you as you entered the city of Los Angeles. Stamped "PROPERTY STATE...
Category
1990s American Signs
Materials
Aluminum
Vintage Coca - Cola Advertising Fan Cover. 1950 - 1959
Located in CADALSO, ES
Rare to find
Category
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal, Aluminum
Composition California State Seal
Located in Round Top, TX
Composition seal from the state of California. From a TV courtroom drama.
Category
1980s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Plaster
Vintage Hand Painted British Motorcycle Shop Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Vintage graphic Motorcycles sales and service sign. Great hand-painted lettering. Wood with original paint surface. Found in the northeastern United States. Fun Americana with a Brit...
Category
1950s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Wood
12ft Long Hovis Advertising Baker’s Shop Sign, Reverse Painted, Gold Leaf
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
12ft Long Hovis Advertising Baker’s Shop Sign, Reverse Painted, Gold Leaf
This is a very long pictorial sign, it is reputed to be part of the decoration from the Head Office
The si...
Category
Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Signs
Materials
Glass
Massive Antique Garage Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
Carved and painted dimensional lettering adorned to a large painted plank to advertise a service station/car repair garage.
145.5" W x 25" H
Category
Early 20th Century American Industrial Signs
Materials
Wood
Framed 18th c. Merchant Trade Sign
Located in Greenwich, CT
A late 18th century/early 19th century trade sign from a Dutch West Indies shipping merchant. The carved wood and polychromed sign depicts a winged-foot Mercury figure surrounded by ...
Category
Late 18th Century Dutch Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Wood
1960s English Carnival Sign
Located in High Point, NC
1960s carnival art sign from England. It is advertising a cake walk on one side of the sign, and on the back has a charming message "Have a nice Victorian day". Great sign for any co...
Category
1960s English Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Wood
Traditional Large Iron Hanging Pub Sign, The Boot
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Traditional large iron hanging pub sign. The Boot
This is a large and heavy piece dating from the beginning of the 20th Century, it is double sided though the paint on one side is...
Category
Early 1900s Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Iron
Large Big Bear Lake California Highway Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very cool vintage California freeway sign showing the way to Big Bear Lake. Iconic location in California, cool piece of history. Great coloring and worn condition. Fantastic piece of California ephemera...
Category
1970s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Steel
English Pub Sign, "The Admiral"
Located in Austin, TX
An authentic English pub sign (one-sided) featuring a portrait painting of a decorated Royal Navy admiral with the sea and warships in the backgroun...
Category
20th Century English Signs
Materials
Metal
Early 20th Century Chicago Pharmacist Milk Glass Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
This sign was manufactured by Rawson & Evans sometime during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Rawson & Evans was best known for glue chipped glass signs and gold leaf signs. This sign...
Category
Early 1900s Art Nouveau Antique Signs
Materials
Metal
Hobart Kitchen Machines Mid Century Neon Sign
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A very nice vintage neon sign advertising the Hobart Food Machine company . Founded in 1897 making motors in Troy Ohio and turning the use of their motors into running food machines ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Signs
Materials
Steel
Double Sided Hanging No Smoking Please Gas Station Garage Enamel Sign
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Original 1930s double-sided enamel Stop Your Motor Please No Smoking Gas Station Garage Sign.
Category
Early 20th Century American Industrial Signs
Materials
Enamel
Large Vintage Sign
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Large one of a kind wooden sign with fantastic details. Great colors and intricate shapes. Originally hung outside a CT sweet shop.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Signs
Materials
Wood
19th Century Trade Sign Clothing Wood Double Sided Wooden Hudson Valley NY
Located in Newfoundland, PA
Take a look at this fantastic double sided early 19th or late 18th century wooden trade sign with original wrought Iron bracket. Came out of a Hudso...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Primitive Antique Signs
Materials
Iron
Unusual Set of German Mid-20th Century Shop Trade Sign Tools
Located in London, GB
Unusual set of German mid-20th century shop trade sign tools
Every now and again we are lucky enough to acquire items that firstly we have never seen and secondly, we will never see...
Category
1950s German Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal, Brass
Early 20th Century Pharmacy Sign 'DRUGS' Painted on a Single Board
Located in Nantucket, MA
American folk art trade sign from an apothecary or pharmacy with the word 'DRUGS' in black paint with white shadow lines on an orange ground. Painted on a single pine plank with notc...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Pine, Paint
Double Sided Gilt & Painted "HAPPY JACK'S" Tobacconist Trade Sign, Laconia, NH
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Two-sided tobacconist trade sign of circular form with gold leaf lettering with red shadow on a black sand paint ground with green borders "HAPPY JACK'S" centers a cutout pipe above a white banner applied to the bottom of each side which reads "CIGAR, PIPE & / TOBACCO SHOP...
Category
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Gold Leaf
Authentic Antique Folk Art Equestrian Horse Farm Sign
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Charming hand made vintage horse farm sign that is finished front and back. The horse and letters are black wrought iron, and the wood has a distressed paint...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Iron
J. Alden Weir Hand Made Studio Sign Branchville Connecticut
Located in Garnerville, NY
Recently purchased from a multi-generational Ridgefield, CT estate of the former President of Ridgefield Savings Bank. Our esteemed and avid collector found time in his off hours in Post World War II Connecticut to scour the countryside for just about anything that struck his fancy. He had an enormous passion for model trains, porcelain figurines and pattern Depression Era glass...
Category
Late 19th Century American Late Victorian Antique Signs
Materials
Iron
Antique North Carolina Bait Shop Retail Flounder Fish Painted Wood Trade Sign
Located in Forney, TX
A most charming and one-of-a-kind antique North Carolina bait shop trade sign with beautifully weathered patina!
A wonderful example of American folk art, early 20th century, primitive hand-crafted construction, sculptural wooden form depicting large flounder fish, with distinctive fins and polychrome painted decoration.
Wall hanging, easily secured using the two eye-screws, or the screws can be removed and the sign placed on a mantel.
Dimensions: (approx)
31.5" High, 48.5" Wide, 2.5" Deep
Sure to add elegant rustic warmth, antique character, charm, and rich historical interest to any space, especially traditional coastal, Hamptons chic, New England cottage, beach house modern, lake house, and rustic lodge, to name just a few!
Provenance / Acquisition:
Acquired from highly reputable auction house, Bright Star Antiques Co., Sulfur Springs, Texas. Specializing in early American antiques...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Wood, Paint
Vintage Illuminated Letter a, 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial illuminated letter A was made in Italy during the 1970s and comes from an old advertising banner. It features a brown metal bod...
Category
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Iron
Early 20th Century Lighted Figural Copper Apothecary Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
Antique figural copper trade sign.
This piece takes the form of an antique mortar and pestle, one of the most important tools used by practitioners of medicine for centuries. This t...
Category
Early 20th Century American Signs
Materials
Copper
Vintage "Cabins" Single Sided Porcelain Neon Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
Vintage neon sign advertising cabins for rent. This piece features a bold Bauhaus-style font in white set against a dark background. The lettering has been traced in a turquoise neon...
Category
1940s American Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal, Enamel
Rare Wiener Werkstätte of America Inc New York Enameled Advertising Sign
Located in Vienna, AT
A rare, domed, black and white enameled Art Nouveau advertising sign for Wiener Werkstatte. (founded by Josef Hoffmann, Koloman Moser and Fritz...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Signs
Materials
Metal, Enamel, Iron
1940s Native American Trading Post Wooden Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1940s Native American wooden painted trading post sign. Colors are vibrant. This is what paint collectors appreciate. The natural fade and slight crackling of the paint showing true ...
Category
1940s American Adirondack Vintage Signs
Materials
Wood
Hand Painted Dentist Trade Sign c.1940
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
Single sided wooden dentist tooth trade sign with gold and black letters. Hand painted, hand carved.
Shown with a life size hand model for scale.
CREATOR Unknown.
...
Category
Early 20th Century Industrial Signs
Materials
Wood
Zinc French Butchers “Boucherie” Trade Sign, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
19th century Zinc French butchers “Boucherie” trade sign.
Referred to as a Boucherie, this handcrafted zinc horses head sign would have hung above a...
Category
Early 1900s French Victorian Antique Signs
Materials
Zinc
1950’s Enamel and Neon Corner Sign Cafe
Located in Chicago, IL
1950’s enamel and neon corner Cafe sign. It has new transformer and wiring. Please note that there will be additional fee for making shipping crate.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Materials
Enamel
Fair Play 1960s Electro-Magnetic Basketball Scoreboard
By Fair Play
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage basketball scoreboard by Fair Play, made in the 1960s. Taken down from a high-school in Ohio. In full working order with controll...
Category
1960s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Aluminum
Vintage Metal Optician Shop Trade Sign
Located in Linkebeek, BE
vintage Metal Optician Shop Trade Sign
Shop Industrial decor - Optician sign Antique
Large yellow metal DOUBLE-SIDED eyeglasses sign with a metal wall br...
Category
Mid-20th Century Industrial Signs
Materials
Metal
Early 20th Century Pawn Brokers Trade Sign from Edinburgh UK
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century Pawn Brokers Trade Sign from Edinburgh UK
An oversized and authentic aged example of an early 20th Century pawn brokers wooden and cast metal trade sign. The se...
Category
Early 1900s British Victorian Antique Signs
Materials
Metal
Signed Snap Wyatt Sideshow Banner
By Snap Wyatt
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic "Plenty For Two" sideshow banner painted by Snap Wyatt. Great manageable size.
Category
1950s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Iron
Antique Early 20th C Hanging Trade Shop Sign "Antiques" Star of David Solomon
Located in Lowestoft, GB
Hanging double sided trade sign, sheet metal with a black ground and gilt lettering. Two pretty cast iron riveted hanging brackets.
A small Star of Solomon is located in the corner ...
Category
Early 20th Century English Signs
Materials
Metal
Giant Art Deco Brass Fountain Pen and Mechanical Pencil Display Models
By Wahl Eversharp Co
Located in Hanover, MA
SATURDAY SALE
Oversized retail advertising presentation brass fountain pen and mechanical pencil display signs from the early 1920s when they would have been featured within a wood and glass display cabinet at the pen counter of a stationary store.
Originally the fountain pen would have been marked on its side "Wahl Pen...
Category
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Signs
Materials
Brass
Bell System Telephone Double Sided Flange Porcelain Sign
Located in San Mateo, CA
Flange mount double sided Bell public telephone porcelain sign. The porcelain has good color. There are some losses around the edges and in the sign.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Industrial Signs
Materials
Steel
Mid Century Hand Painted Double Sided Pub Sign C1950
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Double sided pub sign from the United Kingdom. Hand Painted and in excellent condition. Rough hewn wood well constructed with a heavy duty frame ...
Category
1950s British Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Iron
Set of Three Folk Art Straight Edge Razor Trade Signs
Located in Stamford, CT
Three whimsical American folk carved wood art trade signs in the form of straight edge razors. Used by barbers as interior advertisements. Two have...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Wood
1800s Skeleton Key Locksmith Trade Sign
Located in Peekskill, NY
This is one of the best locksmith trade signs we have offered. It’s early and all handmade in iron with original paint. It's very well done and a wonderful piece of Folk Art.
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Iron
A rare papier Mache adverting point of sale for Clarks Shoes
Located in London, GB
A rare papier Mache adverting point of sale for Clarks Shoes.
Modelled on Glastonbury tor this early 20th century hand crafted papier Mache point of sal...
Category
1930s British Late Victorian Vintage Signs
Materials
Paper
English Pub Sign, "Charrington - The Eagle Tavern"
Located in Austin, TX
An authentic English pub sign (one-sided) featuring a painting of an eagle in flight with mountains in the background, entitled: Charrington - The Eagle Tavern.
A very fine example of vintage advertising artwork, ready for display.
Charrington & Co. Ltd, Anchor Brewery, Mile End Road, Tower Hamlets, London E1
The partnership of Charrington and Moss was first recorded at Mile End in 1770.
Registered as Charrington & Co. Ltd in July 1897
In 1962 they merged with United Breweries Ltd (formerly Northern Breweries of Great Britain Ltd...
Category
20th Century English Signs
Materials
Metal
Art Nouveau Moriz Jung Cabaret Fledermaus Vienna Enameled Advertising Sign
Located in Vienna, AT
A domed, black & white enameled Art Nouveau advertising sign for Cabaret Fledermaus in Vienna. Artwork by Moriz Jung from the early 1900s, the production date is around the 1960s. Hi...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Signs
Materials
Metal, Enamel, Iron
Antique 19th Century English Lanscape Oil Painting - Signed Thomas Creswick RA
Located in London, GB
A large 19th century oil on canvas landscape oil painting. c.1852
Singed by the artist to the bottom left - T Creswick RA (1811-1869), inducted into the Royal Academy as a full me...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Signs
Materials
Canvas
19th Century American Trade Sign 'Crook', Medina, NY
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th century American trade sign 'Crook', Medina, NY
Craftsman made, with sand-painted back ground with 10" x 12" giltwood letters spelling 'Croo...
Category
19th Century American Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Giltwood, Wood
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.