Skip to main content

Signs

572
to
43
323
234
572
572
572
90
84
51
42
16
11
11
4
1
6
79
15
153
219
138
17
9
22
23
19
49
27
35
17
371
181
70
66
64
254
250
231
91
50
5
2
1
1
1
Signs For Sale
Period: 20th Century
Period: 1970s
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

Store Display Boy Doll, Child Mannequin
Located in Antwerp, BE
Art Deco store display boy - store display doll - child mannequin doll. This antique child mannequin is a male child. He has a painted plaster body, painted eyes and a painted wooden base. This store display advertising doll is probably designed for a clothing line which was located in Holland - The Netherlands. This vintage store display - shop window doll - advertising doll - vintage mannequin doll is for the age still in very beautiful condition. He does have an old repair on a finger and on 1 foot. This boy mannequin doll will look great in your interior as a decorative object or in a collection of dolls and bears, antique mannequin dolls.
Category

Mid-20th Century Dutch Art Deco Signs

Materials

Plaster, Wood

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

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

Antique Industrial Art Deco Brass Glass 'Reception' Illuminated Sign. C.1920
Located in London, GB
A large illuminated glass and brass directional sign made in England. c.1920. Brass frame housing the internal illuminations above polished plate glass ...
Category

Early 20th Century English Art Deco Signs

Materials

Brass

Vintage Framed Print, Signed and Numbered
Located in Seattle, WA
Vintage framed print, signed and numbered Dimensions. 24 1/2 W ; 1 D ; 21 H.
Category

1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs

Materials

Wood

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

Vintage Illuminated Letter v, 1980s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial illuminated letter V was made in Italy during the 1980s and comes from an old advertising banner. It features a vhite metal ...
Category

1980s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs

Materials

Iron

Eastern Bloc Huge Lluminated Letter O in the Form of a Floor Night Lamp, 1970
Located in Prague 8, CZ
This advertising illuminated letter represents the ever so popular Vintage wall art. You can use the letter on the wall but better as a floor lamp in the room. The lamp shines in dar...
Category

Mid-20th Century Czech Industrial Signs

Materials

Metal

Vintage Elks Club Hand Painted Event Sign Donkey Armchair Races
Located in Santa Monica, CA
This was a really fun find! "All Elks and Their Ladies." Hand painted event and dance signs for Elks Club. These appear to have been used over a 40 year period. They would recycle each year by repainting dates and prices. Sometimes covering up with a new piece of cardstock and repainting the info. Admittedly done by an accomplished sign painter...
Category

1940s Vintage Signs

Materials

Paper

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

Vintage Blue Plastic Illuminated Letter O, 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial blue plastic illuminated letter O was made in Italy during the 1970s and comes from an old advertising banner. It is equipped with...
Category

1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs

Materials

Plastic

c 1920 Brass Star of David Chandelier from Chicago Synagogue
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Historical and significant brass electrified Star of David from the last grand Chicago synagogue, Agudas Achim. Beautiful when lit. Hard to believe these were hung as chandeliers in ...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Brass

Charming Pair of Male and Female Toilet Signs
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
A Charming pair of Male and Female Toilet Signs Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls no home should be without these, painted Quirky Cast Iron Loo signs ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Signs

Materials

Iron

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

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

Rustic Folk Art Hand Painted Gas Station Sign
Located in Oakland, CA
Vintage handcrafted gas station signage on board. The sign dates to pre 1975 when leaded gasoline was phased out. The state states “No Lead 99.9”, painted in yellow paint on a black ...
Category

1960s American Folk Art Vintage Signs

Materials

Scrap Wood, Paint

Industrial Enamel Telephone Sign, circa 1950s
Located in Faversham, GB
Original industrial enamel telephone sign in wonderful condition. Sitting atop its two original legs. Most likely used in a factory or possibly a mine. ...
Category

20th Century British Edwardian Signs

Materials

Enamel, Metal

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

Wood Carved Red and White American Folk Art Barber Pole Trade Sign Sconce, C1920
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great Americana! c. 1920s American Folk Art wood and iron carved barber pole. Layers of thick original red and white hand painted surface. Substantial iron mounts and iron strapping around neck of sconce. Unique wall sconce...
Category

1920s North American Folk Art Vintage Signs

Materials

Iron

Giant Wood Early 20th Century Hand Painted Americana Barber Shop Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Large and chunky Americana! Fantastic and original Barber Shop trade sign in the shape of a barber pole. Great statement piece. Layers of super graphic red and white original paint. ...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Wood

Eastern Bloc Huge Iluminated Letter U in the Form of a Floor Night Lamp, 1970
Located in Prague 8, CZ
This advertising illuminated letter represents the ever so popular Vintage wall art. You can use the letter on the wall but better as a floor lamp in the room. The lamp shines in dar...
Category

Mid-20th Century Czech Industrial Signs

Materials

Metal

Antique Folk Art Reverse Painted and Foil Exhibition Sign in Gilt Frame
Located in Nantucket, MA
Folk Art exhibition sign, reverse painted glass with reserved text backed in gold and silver crinkled foil reading "Exhibition / of / Paintings / on / Glass / By Edgar F. Curtis" E...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Foil

Rare & Hand Painted Near Antique Folk Art Metal Salmon Sign from Fish Monger's
Located in Lisse, NL
Large size and all hand-crafted metal salmon sign. This vintage salmon sign is another one of our recent great finds. The former owner told us how he, about three decades ago, had purchased this unique antique in France. Over the years we have seen and sold all kinds of antiques, but this was only the second time that we had the opportunity to purchase a vintage (or near-antique) fish sign and we were immediately thrilled. Not only because of the extraordinary size, but also because of the rarity, the details and the marvelous colors. This kind of workmanship you simply don't find anymore in this day and age. We have searched the worldwide web and you simply cannot find these sculptural signs anywhere. The aging has made this salmon even more beautiful and realistic, because the crazing of the paint makes it look like you can see its scales. This handcrafted, folk-art-like antique looks like it is made of zinc, but we think it is thick tin. This large salmon will look great in a fish monger's, but it can also be the perfect decoration in the office of a salmon farm, in a fisherman's lodge, in a mancave or in a fishing (gear) shop. It was originally made to hang, either in an open space or up against the wall (as shown in our photos) but with one or two brackets this work of art could also be displayed on a very large desk...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Folk Art Signs

Materials

Metal

Reverse Painted Glass Gilt Single Sided Sign Plaque Early 20th Century
Located in London, GB
An incredible and highly original early 20th century hand painted trade sign. Presumably painted by someone that sells signs? Reverse painte...
Category

Early 20th Century English Industrial Signs

Materials

Glass

Early 20th century barbers point of sale hair comb and brush
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century barbers point of sale hair comb and brush We share what we love, and we love this rare example of an oversized point of sale barbers hair...
Category

1930s British Folk Art Vintage Signs

Materials

Plastic, Wood

Hand Painted Oversized Fiberglass Cheeseburger Pop Art
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Oversized vintage cheeseburger pop art in fiberglass. Likely used as a store display. Hand made in fiberglass and hand painted with great detail. ...
Category

1970s American Vintage Signs

Materials

Paint, Fiberglass

Antique Reverse Painted Glass Drink Coca Cola Sign Ice Cream Parlour circa 1920
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous 10 x 21 reverse painted glass coca cola sign from the twenties. In excellent vintage condition with a bit of fixing on the upper right corner. Made by the Price Bros. from C...
Category

1920s American Industrial Vintage Signs

Materials

Brass

Antique Zinc Red Hat Maker Trade Sign, France, Early 20th Century
Located in Antwerp, BE
XXL Antique hat maker's trade sign, made in France circa 1900 - 1920. This large sign was used as advertising - eyecatcher on the storefront. A large facade sign - advertising sign in front of the hat shop - hat maker's store - red hat facade sign It's a spectacular XXL red hat - red top hat made of hand- painted and hand-crafted zinc. When you look at the spectacular shape, you see that the brim of the hat is completely curled, so can only be done by an art maker - craftsman. The original metal bracket is no longer with this hat trade sign...
Category

Early 20th Century French Folk Art Signs

Materials

Zinc

Fair Play 1960s Electro-Magnetic Basketball Scoreboard
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 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

"No Diving" POOL Sign, 1980s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage pool sign that reads "No Diving or Swimming Off Bridge". Bold reflective white letters on a classic green background. Great colors and scale...
Category

1980s American Vintage Signs

Materials

Metal

Italian modern Wall light sign by Lane Marzotto in plastic and metal, 1990s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Wall light sign by Lane Marzotto in plastic and metal, 1990s Rectangular wall light sign with rounded corners. On the central pla...
Category

1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern 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

Folk Art Hand Painted Wooden Trade Sign
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Folk Art hand painted double-sided wooden trade sign dating from the early 20th Century... 1920s? 1930s? A wonderful whimsical sign most likely...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Pine

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 Carnival or Casino Neptune's Trident Lighted Trade Sign Americana
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Unique lighted Neptune's trident carnival ride or casino trade sign. Really nice graphic piece. Original layers of golden yellow and red park paint. Provides a nice amount of warm li...
Category

1930s American Folk Art Vintage Signs

Materials

Metal

1961 Advertising Sign MARTINI BLANC , Apéritif Beverage
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage " MARTINI BLANC " or WHITE MARTINI Metal Advertising Sign. This Tin Sign has a gold colored metal frame, is mounted on Cardboard and dates from 1961. This Sign for the famous Italian Drink was made in Belgium for the Belgian Market by Etabl. J. Schuybroek S.A. Hoboken-Anvers ( Belgium ). It is in good but used condition. If you keep the sign in a certain angle to heavy light , you will see stains of teh old wrapping paper. Do view all our items , we do have a matching Rossi Sign...
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Signs

Materials

Tin, Other

Large Hand Painted Industrial British Railway Wall Sign Plaque, C.1940
Located in London, GB
Large vintage hand painted industrial signs used at a depot on the North Yorkshire Railway. c.1940 In original condition, hand painted on heavy duty aluminium. Price is per sign.
Category

Mid-20th Century English Industrial Signs

Materials

Aluminum

Double-Sided Steeley Lane Post Office Sign, circa 1920s
Located in Faversham, GB
Wonderful double-sided Steeley Lane Post Office Sign. Hand-painted and in completely original condition with its original hanging hooks. Cumbrian, circa ...
Category

20th Century British Edwardian Signs

Materials

Altuglas, Hardwood

Schweppes Table Waters Oak Trade Sign Board
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Schweppes table waters oak trade sign board This charming Oak Trade Sign would have been hung on the wall at the entrance to a hotel or bar, it has gold Shadow Writing announcing...
Category

Mid-20th Century Arts and Crafts Signs

Materials

Oak

1936 Port Sign, Les Portos Gibson, an Appetizer Drink
Located in Antwerp, BE
Art Deco Port Sign - Bar wall decoration. An advertising sign for the Port: Les Portos Gibson. This old sign for the Appetizer Drink Gibson's Port is dated 1936 and was made by the Company Jofico Brussels Belgium. This sign from 1936 is a publicity sign for the four different White Gibsons's Port: Carte Noir, Ambassador, Royal and Imperial. As well the lettering as the bottles are in relief on the sign. This tin wall sign is great wall decoration in your house, kitchen, home bar, office, pub, cafe or restaurant. Port Drinker, Port Gift - Old Tin...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Art Deco Signs

Materials

Tin, Metal

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

Art Deco Port Advertising Sign, 1930s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Art Deco port sign of Porto Rolaria. Old advertising sign for the aperitif drink Port - Porto. What a beautiful design: 2 bottles of Port:...
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Deco Signs

Materials

Paper

Plat Du Jour Rabbit Chalk Board
Located in Stamford, CT
A charming Plat du Jour Rabbit chalk board. The rabbit sits with a cluster of colorful fruits and vegetable atop a tablecloth covered table all above the plat du jour chalk board. Th...
Category

Late 20th Century French Signs

Materials

Wood

Action Sports Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
Wrought iron ACTION SPORTS sign.
Category

1960s French Vintage Signs

Materials

Wrought Iron

1979 New York City Stuyvesant High School Talent Show Poster
Located in Garnerville, NY
Stuyvesant high school concert poster. Bright orange background with black lettering. Circa 1979. A talent show showcasing. Good overall condition with wear commensurate with age and...
Category

1970s American Schoolhouse Vintage Signs

Materials

Paper

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

Easel Style Chalkboard
Located in Chicago, IL
Easel style chalkboard for little students and artists. Very fun.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Signs

Materials

Slate, Metal

No Loitering Street Sign, 1980s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage street sign that reads "No Loitering - Violators Subject to immediate Arrest". Red and white letters on a reflective white background. Goo...
Category

1980s American Vintage Signs

Materials

Metal

Amazing 1940s-50s Neon Sign "1 Hour Cleaners" Modernist / Art Deco
By American Neon Sign Co. 1
Located in Buffalo, NY
Wonderful vintage neon sign "ONE HOUR cleaner's"" Salvaged from old dry cleaners in downtown Buffalo NY,, Amazing colors,, design,, Hand delivery av...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs

Materials

Metal

1960s, Green & White Painted Steel 'Two Hour Parking' Street Sign
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine vintage traffic or street sign. With green text and border on a white ground. The text reads: 'TWO HOUR PARKING BETWEEN 7AM - 7PM SUND...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Signs

Materials

Steel

Large Hand Painted Industrial Railway Number Wall Sign Plaque, C.1940
Located in London, GB
Hand painted industrial signs used at a depot on the North Yorkshire Railway. c.1940 In original condition, hand painted on heavy duty aluminium. Some numbers are double sided and...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Industrial Signs

Materials

Aluminum

Antique Gold Leaf Black Sign "Gebhardt Park "
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique gold leaf sign Gebhardt Park. Framed in original wood frame.
Category

Early 1900s North American Folk Art Antique Signs

Materials

Wood

1930s Caruso's Old New York Restaurant Enamel Sign
Located in Garnerville, NY
Caruso's cobalt blue and white enamel wall mounted sign. From the restaurant in Poughkeepsie, NY's Little Italy neighborhood. Circa 1930-40. Originally mounted on the side of the bui...
Category

1930s American Industrial Vintage Signs

Materials

Enamel, Steel, Iron

Vintage Cock Robin Flour AW Hammond Co Round Wood Advertisement Plaque
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Cock Robin Flour AW Hammond Co round wood advertisement plaque. Circa Early to Mid 1900s. Measurements: 17" H x 17" W x 0.5" D.    
Category

Early 20th Century Victorian Signs

Materials

Wood

"Save a Life" Pool Sign, 1980s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage pool sign that reads "Save A Life". Bold blue letters on a white background. Great colors and scale. Small wave logo on the top middle of th...
Category

1980s American Vintage Signs

Materials

Metal

Vintage Porcelain Beer Sign
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage porcelain beer tray. This enameled metal beer tray was designed and made for the Belgian Beer: CTS Stout Wielemans, a dark Belgian Beer made by the Brewery Wielemans which was located in Brussels. Black orange yellow beer tray with the typical long Stout glass on. This porcelain beer tray is in used condition so does have some traces by age. It's a great beer sign - beer collectable - Belgian Beer Sign - Vintage beer tray...
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Signs

Materials

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.

Recently Viewed

View All