Signs
Early 20th Century British Industrial Signs
Metal, Enamel
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Signs
Wood
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Bakelite, Plexiglass
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Iron
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Signs
Tin
1980s British Industrial Vintage Signs
Iron
1920s Early Victorian Vintage Signs
Metal
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Iron
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Iron
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Iron
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Signs
Metal
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Iron
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Bakelite, Plexiglass
1970s American Vintage Signs
Metal
Mid-20th Century Canadian Industrial Signs
Steel
Late 19th Century American Antique Signs
Steel
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Aluminum
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Iron
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Iron
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Iron
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Bakelite, Plexiglass
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Gold Leaf
1980s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Chrome, Iron
20th Century English Signs
Metal
Early 20th Century English Industrial Signs
Alabaster
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Iron
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Signs
Metal
1970s American Vintage Signs
Metal
20th Century French Signs
Concrete
Mid-20th Century German Modern Signs
Other
1920s French Vintage Signs
Iron
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Metal
Early 20th Century British Signs
Glass
1960s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Brass
1980s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Metal
Early 20th Century English Signs
Glass
1920s North American Industrial Vintage Signs
Metal
1960s American Vintage Signs
Wood
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Iron
Early 20th Century Belgian Art Deco Signs
Metal, Other
1950s Modern Vintage Signs
Metal
Early 1900s American Antique Signs
Enamel, Iron
Late 20th Century American Signs
Metal
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Plastic
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Signs
Brass
20th Century British Sporting Art Signs
Iron
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Plastic
1950s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Plywood
Mid-20th Century Belgian Modern Signs
Tin
Early 1900s English Antique Signs
Metal
Mid-20th Century French Folk Art Signs
Metal, Chrome
Early 20th Century English Signs
Wrought Iron
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Masonite, Paint
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Signs
Other, Tin
20th Century British Sporting Art Signs
Iron
Late 20th Century American Signs
Metal
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Signs
Wrought 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.