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Signs For Sale
Period: 20th Century
Period: Late 19th Century
Vintage French Christian Dior Advertising Statue, 1960s
Located in HEVERLEE, BE
Beautiful and intruiging advertising statue for Christian Dior.
This would have been used on a shop counter or to draw attention in a shop windo...
Category
1960s French Art Deco Vintage Signs
Materials
Plaster
Early 20th Century American "Chiropractor" Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
Own a piece of Wisconsin's history with this early 20th century hand-painted sign from an early 20th-century chiropractor's office. The sign, found in a barn in the heart of Wisconsi...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Wood
Dairy Products Trade Sign Geo Fitchett 1940s
Located in Wallkill, NY
Wonderful 1940s Geo Fitchett Dairy Products Trade sign, this wooden trade sign is in wonderful original condition. It has hooks on the top for hanging, it is double sided as you can ...
Category
1940s American Primitive Vintage Signs
Materials
Wood
Large Woolworth & Co Gilt Metal Number Ten Sign Wall Sculpture
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Very large cast metal “10” from one of the iconic F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10 cent store front signs. Made in the 1920s, these numbers letters have become v...
Category
1920s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
U-haul Neon Sign, 1990s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage U-haul sign with newly added neon. U-haul company name against background of white over orange and four different colors of neon. High gloss shine with UV protection. Brand n...
Category
1990s North American Industrial Signs
Materials
Tin
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
Antique American Art Deco Early Frigidaire Metal Advertising Sign
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce, likely one-of-a-kind, antique American Frigidaire enameled metal advertising sign, early 20th century, period Art Deco styling, the sign reads: "See Arkadelphia Hardware Co...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Signs
Materials
Metal, Enamel
1950s Sign with Farmers for Fodder
Located in Antwerp, BE
1950s Advertising sign with lots of farmers for fodder.
A large metal sign dated 1957 - Made by Sobi Brussels.
Gauverit cattle fodder sign.
With a design of a farmer wearing typic...
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Rustic Signs
Materials
Metal
English Pub Sign, "The Fox & Hounds"
Located in Austin, TX
An authentic English pub sign (one-sided) featuring a painting of a fox being chased by three hounds entitled: The Fox & Hounds
A very fine exampl...
Category
20th Century English Signs
Materials
Metal
Vintage Metal Stable Sign, mid-20th Century
Located in Chappaqua, NY
Vintage Metal Stable Sign, mid-20th Century. A sheet metal sign of a horse head profile. Original black paint with aged surface.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Country Signs
Materials
Sheet Metal
Vintage School Sign, 1960s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Distressed vintage embossed School sign. Reads "SCHOOL" in bold black lettering embossed on a bright yellow background with a black border. Great piece of transportation and cultural...
Category
1960s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
Wrought Iron Bracket with Sign Panel and Grape Design
Located in Chicago, IL
Wrought iron bracket with sign panel and grape design. Nice quality. For your wine bar.
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Signs
Materials
Wrought Iron
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
Large 19th Century Wooden Painted Lounge Sign This Is an Original Hotel Sign
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
A Large 19th century Wooden Painted LOUNGE Sign
This is an original Hotel sign it is made in wood, it is 73” long
This is a lovely old sign it has pa...
Category
Early 1900s Art Deco Antique Signs
Materials
Pine
Large Early 20th Century American Usg Sheetrock Advertising Porcelain Sign
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce antique, circa 1920s /1930s, USG (United States Gypsum) porcelain enameled advertising sign, early 20th century, industrial American Art Deco Modern taste.
The large blu...
Category
Early 20th Century American Industrial Signs
Materials
Metal, Enamel
Rare 1880s Handmade Copper/Bronze Sign, Plaque "J.W.Williams Drop Forgings"
By E. N. Little & Sons 1
Located in Buffalo, NY
Rare 1880s handmade copper/bronze sign plaque "J.W.WILLIAMS DROP FORGINGS." Monumental sign/plaque salvaged from the turn of the century J W WILLIAMS factory in Brooklyn New York, ex...
Category
1880s American Industrial Antique Signs
Materials
Bronze, Copper
Vintage French Christian Dior Advertising Statue, 1960s
Located in HEVERLEE, BE
Beautiful and intriguing advertising statue for Christian Dior.
This would have been used on a shop counter or to draw attention in a shop windo...
Category
1960s French Art Deco Vintage Signs
Materials
Plaster
Vintage Blue and White 'Hairdressing' Sign
Located in Cirencester, GB
This French 'Coiffure' sign is mid 20th century. The silvery/blue Zinc letters are on a painted white ply board.
There are lots of bumps and scrapes and plenty of character to thi...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Signs
Materials
Zinc
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
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 and trim nailed to the front of the main ply of the cap giving it its desig...
Category
1960s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Wood
C1945 Cast Aluminum Trade Sign Form of a Key Keil Charlestown N.H. Keys Made
By Keil Company
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous cast aluminum trade sign circa 1945 depicting a actual key in red and silver. Perfect casting which retains its true color and material. Keil from Charlestown N.H. cast into...
Category
1940s American Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Aluminum
Vintage Illuminated Letter N, 1980s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage Industrial illuminated letter N was made in Netherlands during the 1980s and comes from an old advertising banner. It features a grey m...
Category
1980s Dutch Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
Mid-20th Century French Shop Sign
Located in Burton, TX
Found in the South of France, this vintage handmade wood sign once hung in a French village shop. Constructed of wood, this piece will add a touch of whimsy to your home.
56"W x...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Signs
Materials
Wood
Early Timber & Iron Railway Sign
Located in Downham Market, GB
An early vintage railway notice sign.
A wonderful, early & exceptionally original timber platform sign in original painted finish with applied cast iron lettering & a fantastic pati...
Category
20th Century British Sporting Art Signs
Materials
Enamel
Early 20th Century Grey Whale Shop/Trade Sign
Located in Hastings, GB
'Thar She Blows' a fabulous rare shop/trade sign of great scale, hand made in riveted zinc and hand painted. This superb piece sits on an iron stand and would have spun outside of a ...
Category
1920s French Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Zinc
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
Large Red Liebig Sign, 1950s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Large Red Liebig Sign from the 1950s.
A French porcelain sign - enameled metal sign for Liebig Soup - Liebig Potage,
made by A.A.F.
Great looking wall decoration in the colors red and white with charming traces by age.
Vintage sign - vintage porcelain sign wich will look great in your interior or kitchen, in a soup bar, restaurant, tavern, catering facility etc ....
Vintage signs - Vintage wall decoration - vintage wall signs...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Modern Signs
Materials
Metal
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
Vintage Neon Chemist Sign in a Perspex Box, 20th Century
Located in Faversham, GB
A commanding vintage neon chemist sign in a perspex box that reads ‘prescriptions’ once illuminated.
Support chains are included on either side of the p...
Category
20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Signs
Materials
Plastic, Acrylic, Fiberglass, Glass
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
Monumental Antique American Painted Turned Wood Barber Pole, circa 1875
Located in San Francisco, CA
An uncommon and towering seven-and-a-half-foot tall circa 1875 American painted turned wood barber pole trade sign.
Very impressive in both its rar...
Category
1870s American Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Wood, Paint
Vintage Green Metal "Exit/Uit" Sign
Located in San Francisco, CA
Rare vintage sign from The Netherlands. "UIT", Dutch Flemish (translates to EXIT in English). This piece may be mounted on a wall or ceiling, placed...
Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch 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 Signs
Materials
Wood, Paint
Singer Sign with Tailor and Singer Sewing Machine, 1930s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage Singer sign.
A 1930s tin advertising sign for Singer Sewing and Embroidery Machines.
An antique sign with a design of a tailor behind his Singer Sewing Machine...
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Deco Signs
Materials
Tin
Handmade Neon Hanger, 1980s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Eye catching piece of wall art comprised of neon tubes bent into the shape of a clothing hanger. Fragile glass tubes bent by hand into its design and a bright white color give this p...
Category
1980s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
Early 20th Century Double Sided Metal Boot Makers Trade Sign
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century double sided metal boot makers trade sign.
A highly decorative double sided hand painted metal French boot makers trade sign, Still attached to its original hin...
Category
1930s French Folk Art Vintage 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
Large Midcentury Vintage 'Hove' Advertising Light Box
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Large mid century vintage 'Hove' advertising light box.
The box is made from fiberglass and contains a modern LED light fitting.
The item has a...
Category
1990s British Industrial Signs
Materials
Fiberglass
Hellesens Advertising Pocket Knife
By Stocker
Located in East Geelong, VIC
Designed as a copy of their dry cell battery, this Hellesens advertising pocket knife measures 49 mm (2 inches) in length, is 17 mm (2/3 rds of an inch) w...
Category
1930s German Vintage Signs
Materials
Steel
Vintage Grants Scotch Whisky Enamel Advertising Sign, Early 20th Century Whiskey
Located in Bristol, GB
Antique Scottish Sign
Advertising ‘Grants Whisky, Agents Drossos & Co. Ltd. Proprietors William Grant & Son Ltd. Distilleries Dufftown, Glasgow and London.’
Alongside a pictorial image of a bottle of their blended Scotch whisky...
Category
Early 20th Century Scottish Signs
Materials
Enamel, Metal
English Pub Sign, "Nag's Head"
Located in Austin, TX
An authentic English pub sign (one-sided) featuring a painting of a horse's head in a bridle entitled: Nag's Head.
A very fine example of vintage advertising artwork, ready for di...
Category
20th Century English Signs
Materials
Metal
Early 20th Century Milkmaid Milk Advertising Clock
Located in Downham Market, GB
An early English grocer's advertising clock for Milkmaid Milk.
A superb & highly original antique advertising clock, the timber carcass with a pressed tin / zinc surround, finished in original paint. With wonderful age related patina & original face & hands, a rare, totally unmolested example which are now near impossible to find in this condition.
Early 20th century
Wear commensurate with age, in beautiful unrestored condition, the clock has been fitted with a modern quartz...
Category
20th Century British Country Signs
Materials
Zinc
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
Large Painted Decorative Wood And Metal “Etoile” Sign
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A Decorative sign. In separate white painted metal capital letters with applied mirror fleur-de-lis motifs on the ends on a gray painted wood ground.
Dimensions: 74" L, 2" D, 12 1/...
Category
20th Century Hollywood Regency Signs
Materials
Metal
Princeton University Pennant Banner, circa 1920-1940 (FREE SHIPPING)
Located in San Francisco, CA
Vintage Princeton University pennant banners with sewn letters and tassels.
Creator A & Co. New York, Wright & Ditson Athletic.
Date of manufa...
Category
Early 20th Century Industrial Signs
Materials
Felt
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
Vintage Large Painted 3d Industrial Builders Trade Wall Sign Plaque, C.1940
Located in London, GB
A large and unusual builders advertisement trade sign. circa 1940
Scratch built to the very highest quality for a builder local to Leamington Spa. Ca...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Industrial Signs
Materials
Aluminum
French Hand-forged Blacksmith Sign
Located in London, England
Beautifully crafted blacksmith trade sign.
Hand-forged and riveted, not welded.
A seriously striking decorative piece of 20th century folk art.
In exceptional original co...
Category
1950s French Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Iron
Harvard University Pennant Banner, circa.1920-1940
Located in San Francisco, CA
Vintage university pennant banner with sewn letters and tassels.
Creator A & Co. New York, Wright & Ditson Athletic.
Date of manufacture circa.1...
Category
Early 20th Century Industrial Signs
Materials
Felt
Light Up Paper 'Yield' Sign, 1980s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage light up Yield sign with a white wire metal frame and rice paper body. Made with great attention to detail and skill. A very unique piece that...
Category
1980s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
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
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
Large Vintage Hamm's Beer Lakeside Plastics Advertising Hanging Lighted Sign
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Large vintage Hamm's beer lakeside plastics advertising hanging lighted sign. Item features a large impressive size, lighted interior, "Hamm's Beer, Take Home Cool Refreshment," orig...
Category
Mid-20th Century Modern Signs
Materials
Metal
Vintage Illuminated Nut Crackers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large signs plastic nut crackers.
Set of two nut crackers, industrial plastic and illuminated sign from the Bullock department store in L.A.
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Materials
Plastic
Recycled Pine Wine Bar Menu, Black Board a Good Handsome Piece
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Recycled pine wine bar menu, black board
A good handsome piece simply made with 4” old pine and waxed and polished
The attractively bordered board is r...
Category
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Materials
Pine
Huge Antique Garage Trade Sign, Chas Baldwin Automobile Engineer
Located in Downham Market, GB
A massive painted timber English garage sign.
A fantastic & delightfully original piece of signage impressive scale for 'Chas Baldwin, Automobile Enginee...
Category
1910s British Rustic Vintage Signs
Materials
Pine
20th Century American Folk Art Swimmer Cutout on Custom Wall Mount
Located in Chicago, IL
A playful and cheeky mid-20th century American Folk Art wooden cutout of a blond swimmer flexing in his black and white striped swimsuit, mounted on a custom steel wall mount so he c...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Plywood
in Use, Vintage Hospital X-Ray Sign, circa 1980
Located in Faversham, GB
Vintage London hospital x-ray sign that hung above the x-ray room door of the inpatient ward. The words ‘In Use’ illuminate when switched on.
London,...
Category
20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Signs
Materials
Aluminum
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.
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