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Signs For Sale
Early 20th Century French Butcher's Shop Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
A playful early 20th century French painted steel butcher's shop sign in the shape of a pig, and mounted on a custom steel table-top mount. The sign...
Category
Early 1900s French Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Steel
Neighborhood Watch Street Sign, 1980s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage street sign that reads "This is a Neighborhood Watch Community". Black letters on a reflective white background. Used to have red accents wh...
Category
1980s American Vintage 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
Metal Restaurant Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
Metal restaurant sign from a restaurant in Buenos Aires. Nice size and paint.
Category
1950s Argentine Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal, Tin
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
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
Vintage Painted Wood Folk Art Showroom Trade Sign
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
American Folk Art trade sign with hand-carved "Showroom" letters and an arrow. The letters and backboard are in original paint, egg-white and petroleum green. The sign has recently b...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Pine
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
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
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
19th c Giant Wooden Advertising Thermometer NY Life Insurance Co "NYLIC"
Located in Savannah, GA
Giant sized forty seven inches tall wooden thermometer made by the Hoehn Company Thermomter Makers, Chambers Street, NYC. constucted of hard wood with a rounded top and beveled edges, it adverrtises NYLIC-New York Life Insurance Co. wanting Bright Young Men- Permanent Pay. Measuring Blood Heat, Summer Heat,Tempe Rate, Freezing and Zero, the glass thermometer...
Category
1890s American Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Metal
Traditional Large Hanging Pub Sign, Wethered’s Winterbourne Arms
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Traditional large hanging pub sign. Wethered’s winterbourne arms
This is a large and heavy piece dating from the first half of the 20th Century, it is double sided though the pain...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art Signs
Materials
Metal
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
19th Century, Apothecary Trade Sign
Located in Nantucket, MA
Figural trade sign in the form of a mortar and pestle, both the mortar and pestle are hand turned and gilded, with strong ring turnings. The top is capped with zinc and still bears i...
Category
Late 19th Century North American Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Zinc
Pair of Original Hand-Painted Wooden Fairground Signage, circa 1950s
Located in Faversham, GB
When in use, the panels were linked together with couplings to form an oval shape and the mechanics of the fairground ride would sit within the centre....
Category
20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Signs
Materials
Paint, Wood
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
1950’s Enamel and Neon TV Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
1950’s enamel and glass TV sign. It has new transformer and new wiring. There will be Additional fee for shipping crate.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Materials
Enamel
Large Old Hand Painted Wooden Sign for J.Drayton St Ives Cornwall England
Located in Llanbrynmair, GB
A lovely old hand painted sign J.Drayton Master Thatcher of St. Ives.
Known for its surf beaches and quaint costal villages with thatched cottages, this piece is a reminder of simpl...
Category
20th Century British Folk Art Signs
Materials
Softwood
1930s Sign for Bicycle Parts
Located in Antwerp, BE
1930s Sign for bicycle parts.
An Art Deco sign dated 1937.
Black advertising sign with soft yellow embossed lettering and design for Torpedo Bicycle Wheel Bra...
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Deco Signs
Materials
Metal
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 Princeton University Banner C.1914
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
An original large Princeton University banner class of 1914. Hand sewn letters and numbers.
CREATOR Unknown.
DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1914....
Category
Early 20th Century Industrial Signs
Materials
Felt
1950’s Liquor Neon Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
1950’s single sided Liquor neon and porcelain sign. New transformer and new wiring. It does work.
Category
1950s North American Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal, Enamel
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
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
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
American Folk Art Carved Marble Oval Building Marker, Dated 1813
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A haunting and unusual American carved marble building marker, probable New England origin circa 1813. The names inscribed are H. Missemer & S. Missemer. It...
Category
1810s American Antique Signs
Materials
Marble, Wrought Iron
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
19th Century Gold Giltwood Carved Letters William Trade Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Classic 19th century American wood trade sign with chunky hand carved and gold painted letters. Ready to display.
Category
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Wood
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
19th Century Large Apothecary Chemist Carboy Pharmacy Shop Trade Sign
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A 19th century hand blown glass chemist window display carboy. Used as a symbol of the pharmacy from the 17th century to the early 20th century.
A rare example with a hollow cut ...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Signs
Materials
Blown Glass
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
"B. Briscoe, Tailor" Sign with a Backwards S, circa 1810-1850
Located in York County, PA
Early American trade sign: “B. BRISCOE, TAILOR,” circa 1810-1850, with a backwards “S” and extraordinary surface
Early, painted, American trade...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Signs
Materials
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
Large Chinese Qing 19th Century Carved Temple Signboard with Red Calligraphy
Located in Yonkers, NY
A large Chinese Qing Dynasty period black signboard from the 19th century, with red calligraphy. Created during the Qing Dynasty, this large horizontal sign comes from a Chinese temple and features both carved and painted Chinese characters. Presenting a black ground, the sign showcases large carved Chinese characters with red painting, flanked with columns of smaller carved characters. Used to indicate the nearby presence of a temple, this 19th century Qing Dynasty Chinese carved temple signboard...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Signs
Materials
Wood
Antique English Wrought Iron Police Station Sign with Briggs Barrow Mark
Located in Port Chester, NY
An antique English wrought iron police station sign in good original condition. Manufactured at the Briggs Foundry, Barrow, as seen in the bottom right corner. There are holes at eit...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Signs
Materials
Wrought Iron
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
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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