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Signs For Sale
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
18th C "Stolen or Strayed" Gem Penned Notice Sign For its Return Giltwood Frame
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A stolen gem!!!! beautiful penned circa mid to late 18th century notice for it to be returned. Housed in a later glazed deep moulded gilt frame
“Stolen or strayed the 8th instant At...
Category
18th Century English Antique Signs
Materials
Art Glass, Giltwood, Paper
English Country Painted Golf Sign
Located in Queens, NY
English Country (20th Century) painted and carved wall plaque of golf sign.
Category
20th Century British Country Signs
Materials
Wood
1950 watch repair light box sign
Located in Surrey, BC
A vintage all original advertising light box sign depicting watch repairs in faded original glass.. a nice addition to sign collector or watch dealers ....
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Signs
Materials
Metal
English Pub Sign, "Free House, The Cask and Taverners"
Located in Austin, TX
An authentic English pub sign (two-sided) featuring a painting of two revelers or publicans in Carolingian costume enjoying the libations and victuals of a fine inn, entitled: Free House - The Cask & Taverners.
A free house in Great Britain is a public house...
Category
20th Century English Signs
Materials
Metal
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 sign was dedicated to the golf attire and equipment.
Category
1920s Scottish Vintage Signs
Materials
Wood
Holstein Milk Painted Metal Trade Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This folky original painted hand made Holsteins Milk metal farm trade sign has the original chain for hanging.It has spots that has paint loss and mino...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Metal
Vintage Neon "YOU" Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage neon sign, spelling Y - O - U. handcut metal channel letters with hand bent neon glass. Just over 6 feet long when lined up horizontally. Double r...
Category
1980s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
Vintage Late 20th Century French Wood Painted Two Sided Chef Sign
Located in Burton, TX
Found in the South of France, this life size wood hand painted chef was once used at a bistro in Provence. Painted on both sides, this unique piece of art could be displayed on a wal...
Category
Late 20th Century French Signs
Materials
Wood, Paint
Monumental 1930s Wood No Smoking Sign from New York City
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Monumental hand carved wood sign from the 1930s. Made by H.H. Upham & Co. Interestingly, this company owned a huge sign manufacturing business in the ...
Category
1930s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Wood
Early 1900s Embossed 'Slow Children' Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Extremely rare California ‘Slow Children' playing sign. Entire sign is embossed with an old-time child wearing knickerbocker trousers. From the early 1900s. Great piece of history. P...
Category
Early 20th Century American Signs
Materials
Steel
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
Vintage Hand-Painted No Smoking Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great vintage hand-painted sign. No smoking and a crossed out cigarette hand-painted on white steel. Good vintage condition.
Category
1960s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Steel
Large Opaline Glass Coffee Bar Sign Saved During Refurbishment, this very good
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Large Opaline Glass Coffee Bar Sign
Saved During Refurbishment, this very good quality piece is framed in solid Walnut, the sign itself “COFFEE” is on very attractive Opaline glas...
Category
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Materials
Art Glass
Large Heavy Duty Cast Iron Gentlemen Wall Sign Plaque, C.1920
Located in London, GB
A large and incredible heavy duty cast iron Gentlemen sign. c.1920
In original condition with an amazing patina. Likely once mounted outside a public...
Category
Early 20th Century English Industrial Signs
Materials
Iron
Giant Ice Cream Advertising Signs, Funky Quirky Nostalgic
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Giant Ice Cream Advertising Signs, Funky Quirky Nostalgic
These are a classic of the post war era, when a trip to the seaside was the ultimate treat, and here we are with a pair of ...
Category
1950s Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Fiberglass
Early 20th Century Folk Art Zinc Barbers Pole Trade Sign
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century folk art zinc barbers pole trade sign.
An early 20th century hand crafted zinc barbers pole trade sign. Hand painted and of naïve construction. Lots of characte...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Folk Art Signs
Materials
Zinc
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
19th Century Cast Iron Shoemaker’s Trade Sign
Located in London, GB
19th century cast iron shoemaker’s trade sign
A highly decorative example of a late 19th century cast iron French shoemakers shop trade sign. Hand crafted from a hand cut iron metal...
Category
1880s French Early Victorian Antique Signs
Materials
Wrought Iron
Rare 1970s Adult Peep Show, Books & Magazines, Large Plastic Embossed Sign XXX
By Terry Richardson
Located in St. Louis, MO
Large 1970s sign with embossed letters, Adult Peep Show - Books & Magazines. Sold without its original aluminum frame, can be back lit with LED. Small star crack to top of Red "S", minor loss of paint and scuffs. Subject matter is in the style of photographer Terry Richardson...
Category
1970s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Plastic
C1940 Advertising Sign "Nassau" Stainless Frame
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fantastic advertising sign from possibly a travel agency or transit system c1940. Excellent vintage condition with just the right amount of wear. Stainless border and mounting hardwa...
Category
1940s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Stainless Steel
Antique Industrial Art Deco 'Exit' Illuminated Glass Sign, circa 1920
Located in London, GB
A stunning illuminated directional sign made in England, circa 1920.
Black painted steel frame housing the internal illuminations above polished plate...
Category
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Signs
Materials
Steel
California ROADSIDE BUSINESS Freeway Sign, 1950s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Take a trip drown memory lane with this 1950s California freeway sign. Taken down from Nothern California decades ago, the sign features a black background with white lettering and c...
Category
1950s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Aluminum, Steel
Cast Iron Clock Face Surround from Observatory Clock Tower Double-Sided
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Very cool cast iron clock face surround, observatory time. Double-sided with great paint surface. Substantial heavy duty iron hooks. Lots of potential...
Category
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Iron
Advertising Glass Sign "Trink Coca Cola - Coke". 1950 - 1959
Located in CADALSO, ES
Great condition
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Signs
Materials
Glass
Rare Early Enamel Sign Advertising Eley-Knoch Shot Gun Cartridges
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Rare early enamel sign advertising Eley-Knoch shot gun cartridges
Very Rare old sign, is made in ceramic enamel it is a heavy piece with the usu...
Category
Mid-20th Century Industrial Signs
Materials
Enamel
Vintage DRUGS Street Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage DRUGS street sign with white background and black lettering. Interesting piece of transportation history. No drugs zone, with increased penalties. Probably used close to a school zone...
Category
1970s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Steel
Snip Snip! Giant French Wooden Scissor Trade Sign, Early 20th Century
Located in New York, NY
This early 20th-century hand-carved wooden trade sign, shaped like an oversized pair of scissors, is a striking example of French folk art. Measuring an impressive 40 inches in lengt...
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Signs
Materials
Wood
Advertising Tin Sign "The Delaware Insurance Company of Philadelphia" Circa 1885
By The Delaware Insurance Company of Philadelphia
Located in Incline Village, NV
This is a very rare and early (circa 1885) tin advertising sign, commissioned by the Delaware Insurance Company, located and founded in Philadelphia in 1835. It was probably made by noted late 19th century sign maker, Sentenne & Green, of New York City, established in the 1870's. With an Indian motif, the sign features a Native American Indian, front and center, decorated in a brown and green headdress; with red, cream and aqua clothing and a large gold medallion...
Category
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Tin
19th Century French Brown Boot Maker Store Sign, Antique Parisian Wall Decor
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique French exterior sign of a Parisian boot maker in painted metal of beige and brown color with a spur painted in a silver color mounted on a w...
Category
19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Signs
Materials
Metal, Wrought Iron
Vintage Iron Dog Black Painted Lawn Sign Dont Eat My Dog Why Would You Do That
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Fantastic patina on this vintage garden yard dog sign. Certainly a piece that would make a statement in any yard or garden.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Metal, Iron
Antique Vintage Industrial British Railway Station Enamel Advertising Sign
By British Railways
Located in Sale, GB
- An original British Rail sign, circa 1940.
- This Midlands Region sign has the inscription 'Rights Of Way Act 1932 The British Transport Commission Hereby Give Notice That This Wa...
Category
Mid-20th Century British Signs
Materials
Enamel
Chinese Signboard with Gold Coloured Calligraphy from Hardwood, C. 1900
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
With a wood coloured base this signboard (crafted entirely from wood) highlights 3 large gold coloured Chinese Characters. The signboard dates to the early 20th Century and has aged ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Signs
Materials
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Double Sided French Zinc Clock Smiths Trade Sign
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century double sided French zinc clock Smiths Trade sign
We are proud to offer a rare example of an early 20th century French double sided clock smiths trade sign. With i...
Category
1910s French Victorian Vintage Signs
Materials
Zinc
Full Length Opaline Glass Bar Sign, Spirits Saved During Refurbishment
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Full Length Opaline Glass Bar Sign, Spirits
Saved During Refurbishment, this very good quality piece is framed in solid Walnut, the sign itself “spirits” is on very attractive Opal...
Category
1960s Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Art Glass
J.W. Fiske Cast ZInc Horse Trade Sign
Located in Branford, CT
Rare, large size, cast zinc stable trade sign. Signed by J.W.Fiske, New York, late 19th century. Retains a very old, possibly original painted surface. Exceptional condition. The fin...
Category
1880s American Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Zinc
Vintage Double Sided Metal Motor Oil Sign c.1930
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
An original distressed double sided metal sign "Super Motor Oil" on one side and "Sonoco Hottest Brand Going" on the other side.
CREATOR Unknown.
DATE OF MANUFACTURE ...
Category
Early 20th Century Industrial Signs
Materials
Metal
1930’s Enamel And Neon Braumeister Beer Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
1930’s enamel and neon sign Milwaukee’s Choicest Braumeister Beer Sign. New transformer and new wiring. Please note that it will be additional fee for shipping crate.
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Enamel
Old Advertising Sign for Blood Oranges Displaying a Horse, Pottery, Italy, 1920s
Located in Vienna, AT
A decorative advertising sign, made of ceramic, dated around 1920s, made in Italy. An advertising sign for selling Italian blood oranges, displaying a white horse. Good condition wit...
Category
1920s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Signs
Materials
Pottery
Vintage Illuminated Letter T, 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage Industrial illuminated letter T was made in Italy during the 1970s and comes from an old advertising banner. It features a black metal ...
Category
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Iron
Original Antiques Store Hand Painted Wooden Sign With Dragon & Unicycle
Located in West Chester, PA
Orginal one of a kind double side antique store sign hand painted on both sides reading "Antiques Legal Junk, Funk & Gradue" with depictions of a d...
Category
Late 20th Century American Rustic Signs
Materials
Wood
Six Separate Hand Painted Hot Rod Car Theme Carry Bags or Purse
Located in Ferndale, MI
Six different hot rod auto related canvas tote carry bags. Hand painted here in Detroit. Image on one side only.
Category
2010s American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Canvas
Vintage Los Angeles County Horse Crossing Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very cool vintage sign from Los Angeles County. Massive yellow sign with black horse and rider. Marked Los Angeles County on front. Great piece for ...
Category
1970s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Steel
Vintage Weather-Bird Shoes SSP Neon
Located in Dekalb, IL
Vintage porcelain base neon sign advertising Weather-Bird Shoes, a line of outdoor waterproof shoes manufactured by Peters, Division of International Shoe Co., St. Louis, MO.
This p...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Signs
Materials
Porcelain, Glass
Antique Folk Art Sign Copper Folk Art
Located in Munich, DE
This unusual ornamental copper plate was used to write information on it, possibly the menue for a restaurant. We can see traces of writing.
The beautifull carving shows birds, leav...
Category
1860s European Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Copper
Vintage Yellow Illuminated Letter T , 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial plastic illuminated letter T was made in Italy during the 1970s and comes from an old advertising banner. It is equipped with a LED st...
Category
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Plastic
Early 20th century English Hand Painted “HELL” Sign
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century English Hand Painted “HELL” Sign
Originally this sign was reclaimed from a shoe shop named “Shellington Shoes” in Essex. Most of the sign was damaged but we luck...
Category
1920s British Victorian Vintage Signs
Materials
Pine
Vintage Motor Rythm Tin Litho Advertising Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
c. 1940s; R. M. Hollingshead Corp. - Camden, NJ
Vintage tune-up fluid advertising sign.
This piece advertises Whiz's "Motor Rythm", a now-defunct line of tune-up fluids. The sign m...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Signs
Materials
Tin
19th Century Tobacconist’s Trade Sign
Located in Greenwich, CT
English carved and polychrome decorated wood tobacconist’s trade sign in the form of a “Turk” wearing a distinctive headdress and dressed in a long robe, this advertising figure rela...
Category
19th Century British Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Wood
Vintage Americana Mid-Century Neon Barber Shop Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic 13.5 foot long Mid-Century vintage neon barber shop sign. Total statement piece. Unusual three dimensional channel letters. Many layers of r...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Metal
Giant Bayer Pill Pop Art
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Monumental vintage Bayer pill in cream plaster/ceramic. 7" diameter. Likely used as a store display. Whimsical desktop object or paperweight. Black felted bottom. Great piece of art ...
Category
1970s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Plaster, Paint
Early 20th Century Pharmacist Figural Trade Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
Antique figural copper and tin 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...
Category
Early 20th Century Signs
Materials
Copper, Wrought Iron, Tin
Manhole Cover Prototype Folk Art, 1960s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Extremely unique wooden sewer cap prototype. Made by by various wooden cubes and blocks as well as letters nailed to the front of the main ply of the cap giving it its design. The ba...
Category
1960s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Wood
Cigars Store / Trade Folk Art Wooden Carved Sign. c 1900
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
American Folk art wooden "CIGARS" sign from the 1920's.
Great old Store Trade sign. Wood cut to cigar shape. Lettered in Gold Paint.
In good conditions, it was a in doors sign. Perfect for any cigar smoker.
Cigars History:
A cigar is basically dried tobacco leaves that are rolled and wrapped by other tobacco leaves in order to give you a full tobacco smoking experience.
Cigars are becoming more popular all around the world recently because they are exposed to a pop culture where a lot of famous people like Michael Jordan and Arnold Schwarzenegger smoke them.
In order to understand why cigars have become very well-known, we need to take a good look at their history and where they came from. That way, we can truly understand this pop phenomenon. Here is a brief history of cigars.
Origin of Cigars
The exact origin of cigars is not entirely known but historians believe that cigars were first invented by the ancient Mayans.
The ancient Mayans would collect tobacco leaves and wrap them up in a plantain leave in order to smoke it. An ancient Mayan pot...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Wood
Fairgrounds Sign, 1980s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage 1980s Fairgrounds sign in a unique and bold oxblood base color with white font. Eye catching and fun, this piece has the trappings of Americana wall art...
Category
1980s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
Early 20th Century Double Sided French Pharmacy Metal Sign
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century Double Sided French Pharmacy Metal Sign
A rare double sided pharmacy trade sign, origins of France, dated to the early part of the 20th century, made from metal ...
Category
1920s Early Victorian Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
Vintage Illuminated Letter I, 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial illuminated facade letter I was made in Italy during the 1970s and comes from an old advertising banner. It features a black bakelite body and a white plexigl...
Category
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Bakelite, Plexiglass
Vintage Illuminated Letter A , 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial illuminated facade letter A was made in Italy during the 1970s and comes from an old advertising banner. It features a black bakelite body and a white plexigl...
Category
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Bakelite, Plexiglass
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.