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Signs For Sale
Early 20th Century "Store" Gilded Cast Iron Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
Early 20th century "Store" gilded cast iron sign on wooden board.
Category
Early 1900s North American Antique Signs
Materials
Iron
Antique Chinese Wooden Sign Board with Calligraphy from the 19th Century
Located in Yonkers, NY
This antique Chinese horizontal sign board made during the 19th century displays Chinese characters carved in wood in a splendid calligraphic style. The frame is enhanced by red and ...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Signs
Materials
Wood
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
Antique 1900s Reis Men's Underwear Clothing Advertising Framed Paper Sign Poster
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare Reis of New York men's underwear printed advertising sign/poster dating from the early 1900's. This is in an old frame and under glass. Would have hung in a men's clothing store...
Category
Early 20th Century American Signs
Materials
Paper
Advertising Sign for an Optician, from 1920s
Located in Vienna, Austria
Hand painted metal advertising sign for an optician.
The shield was attached to the facade on an optician shop and is painted with the same motive on both sides.
Signed from the si...
Category
1920s Czech Modern Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
$1,813 Sale Price
20% Off
Large Vintage Green Iron Facade Letter I , 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial facade letter “ I “was made during the 1970s in former Czechoslovakia and comes from an old advertising banner. The weight of the letter is 4 kg.
Category
Late 20th Century Czech Industrial Signs
Materials
Iron
1950s Shopsign
Located in Brecht, BE
Extra large and quirky, this iron shopsign ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Signs
Materials
Metal, Iron
$2,922
Vintage Red Facade Letter R , 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial plastic facade letter R was made in Italy during the 1970s and comes from an old advertising banner “ ROSTICCERIA”. The weight of the letter is 0.5 kg.
Category
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Plastic
Large Vintage Green Iron Facade Letter L , 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial facade letter “L“was made during the 1970s in former Czechoslovakia and comes from an old advertising banner. The weight of the letter is 4 kg.
Category
1970s Czech Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Iron
'Boulder' Colorado Hand Painted Wood Road Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rustic hand painted Boulder road sign in black and white. Painted on a 3/4" thick plank of wood give this piece interesting character. Taken down from a nearby trail. Sign can...
Category
2010s American Signs
Materials
Wood, Paint
1950s Light UP "ROOMS FOR LET" & "Chambres a Louer" SIGN, fRENCH & eNGLISH
Located in Buffalo, NY
Charming 1940s / 1950s Light UP "ROOMS FOR LET" & "Chambres a Louer" SIGN, Unusual written in fRENCH & eNGLISH,,
Category
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
Vintage Early 20th Century Oil Painting on Canvas Landscape and Cattle. c.1910
Located in London, GB
A charming early 20th century landscape oil painting. c.1910
Very skilfully painted landscape scene focusing on a herd of cattle.
Some very minor damage to the edges as pictured.
Category
Mid-20th Century English Signs
Materials
Canvas
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
A late 19th Century hanging trade sign, modeled as a Pocket watch.
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
A late 19th Century hanging trade sign, modeled as a Pocket watch.
The double sided cast iron shop sign with remains of original paint and gilt bezel with winder.
Inscribed to th...
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Signs
Materials
Metal
Large Vintage Grey Iron Facade Letter C , 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial facade letter “C” was made during the 1970s in Italy and comes from an old advertising banner. The weight of the letter is 1,5 kg.
Category
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Iron
Camel Boots Shop or Store Sign in hardwood, Circa 1960s
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a good original shop or store advertising sign made for CAMEL BOOTS.
The sign is shaped as a prism with a triangular cross section and is made of...
Category
Mid-20th Century American American Classical Signs
Materials
Hardwood
SS United States Sign Notice and Information for Passengers
Located in Hanover, MA
Hefty enameled solid aluminum framed passenger safety and information sign from Passenger Stateroom 139 on the Main deck of the SS United States.
Fo...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Materials
Aluminum
French, 19th Century Iron Shoemakers Shop Sign
Located in Buisson, FR
Original riveted sheet iron shoemakers shop sign. Unique find,
France, circa 1800-1850. Traces of red paint visible.
Weathered.
Category
19th Century French Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Iron
$685 Sale Price
41% Off
Life-Sized 1950s Metal School Girl Speed Limit Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning metal sign of a school girl letting you know the speed limit in the school zone. 48" tall. Double sided. Great coloring, with grey, light blues an...
Category
1950s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Steel
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 Blue Iron Facade Letter U, 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial facade letter “U” was made during the 1970s in Italy and comes from an old advertising banner. The weight of the letter is 0,8 kg.
Category
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Iron
Early 20th Century Double-Sided "Kings Head" Hand Painted Metal English Pub Sign
Located in Brooklyn, NY
English two-sided handmade and painted metal pub sign depicting a king of clubs with the text "Flowers" above and "Kings Head" below (ca. early 1900s, England).
Identical imagery and...
Category
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Signs
Materials
Metal
Oversized Advertising Store Display Scissors
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Brass oversized scissors
probably used for advertising and or store display.
These will add interest to any room, wall, hair salon or fashion fashi...
Category
1960s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Brass
Art Nouveau Moriz Jung Cabaret Fledermaus Vienna Enameled Advertising Sign
Located in Vienna, AT
A domed, black & white enameled Art Nouveau advertising sign for Cabaret Fledermaus in Vienna. Artwork by Moriz Jung from the early 1900s, the production date is around the 1960s. Hi...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Signs
Materials
Metal, Enamel, Iron
Princeton University Pennant Banner, circa 1920-1940
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
$125 Sale Price
44% Off
"De Laval" Tin Advertising Sign, American, circa 1905, Near Mint
Located in Incline Village, NV
Having started in Sweden, the company opened up in America in 1888 as the "De Laval Cream Separator Company" in New York City, with a production plant ...
Category
Early 1900s American Folk Art Antique Signs
Materials
Tin
Large Vintage Yellow Iron Facade Letter O, 1960s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial facade letter “O” was made during the 1960s in former Czechoslovakia and comes from an old facade inscription POŠTA. In czech language Post Office. The weight...
Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Industrial Signs
Materials
Iron
Early 20th Century oversized English Trebor sweet shop trade sign.
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century oversized English Trebor sweet shop trade sign.
A wonderful example of massive scale, Trebor Barley Sugar & Fruit Centres sweet jars. Bea...
Category
1920s British Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Sheet Metal
Vintage Illuminated Letter N , 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage Industrial illuminated letter L 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
405 Freeway Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Interstate 405 freeway sign. Cool piece of California signage. Good vintage condition. Little stars imprinted thought the metal sign.
Category
1990s American Signs
Materials
Steel
$395
Large Vintage Green Iron Facade Letter A, 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial facade letter “ A “was made during the 1970s in former Czechoslovakia and comes from an old advertising banner. The weight of the letter is 4,5 kg.
Category
1970s Czech Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Iron
Large Vintage Green Iron Facade Letter V , 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial facade letter “V”was made during the 1970s in former Czechoslovakia and comes from an old advertising banner. The weight of the letter is 4 kg.
Category
1970s Czech Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Iron
An English Victorian Cast Iron Painted Doorstops, 19th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
An English Victorian Cast Iron Painted Doorstops, 19th Century
Provenance: Private Australian Collection.
Dimensions;
Height: 25cm.
Width: 16cm.
Depth: 6cm.
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Signs
Materials
Iron
Vintage Red Iron Facade Letter C, 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial facade letter “C” was made during the 1970s in France and comes from an old advertising banner. The weight of the letter is 0,5 kg.
Category
1970s French Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Iron
English Pub Sign, "Fountain Head"
Located in Austin, TX
An authentic English pub sign (one-sided) featuring a painting of a Classical urn or fountainhead spouting cascades of water in a park setting, entitled: Worth Brewery - The Crickete...
Category
20th Century English Signs
Materials
Metal
1950s Aluminum on Wood General Electric Logo, Sign Plaque
Located in Buffalo, NY
1950s aluminum on wood General Electric logo, sign plaque. Salvaged from General Electric Buffalo NY office, stunning, original plaque, cast aluminum depicting famous G E Logo, mount...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Signs
Materials
Aluminum
English Victorian Painted Shoemaker's Boot Sign
Located in Queens, NY
English Victorian red & blue painted and decorated wood carved shoemaker's boot sign.
Category
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Signs
Materials
Metal
19th Century Reliquiae Sanctorum Sign
Located in Pease pottage, West Sussex
Remarkable original "Reliquiae Sanctorum" sign on sheet metal.
Later mounted to weathered backboards.
Italy, Circa 1850.
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Signs
Materials
Sheet Metal
Tradesign in the Form of a Brick Storehouse
Located in Greenwich, CT
An advertising device or tradesign in the form of a brick storehouse, with ten arched windows or pigeonholes to display merchandise, constructed as a roofed box mounted on wheels, fo...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Signs
Materials
Wood
Convex enamel plaque, André Stouls, Lutterbach beer, 1648, ALS Strasbourg
Located in NANTES, FR
This enamel plaque is typical of the 1930s, with a very geometric design.
It is signed André Stouls 21, and was manufactured by Email ALS. The marking reads "STRASBOUP," with some l...
Category
20th Century European Art Deco Signs
Materials
Metal
19th Century French Antique Metal Sheet - Wall Décor Sign
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A dark-brown, antique thin metal sheet from a shoe shop in Lyon. The black wall décor is in good condition. Minor fading, scratches due to age. Wear cons...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Signs
Materials
Metal
$2,720 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Red Iron Facade Letter T, 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial facade letter “t” was made during the 1970s in France and comes from an old advertising banner. The weight of the letter is 0,6 kg.
Category
1970s French Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Iron
Vintage Red Iron Facade Letter R, 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial facade letter “R” was made during the 1970s in France and comes from an old advertising banner. The weight of the letter is 0,7 kg.
Category
1970s French Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Iron
1950's Commercial Sign "All - Stainless Inc"
Located in Hanover, MA
Vintage commercial business sign from early 1950's for All - Stainless, Inc.
78" long by 12" high panel of patinated blue colored aluminum with 1/4" th...
Category
1950s American Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Aluminum
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 Yellow Iron Facade Letter Š, 1960s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial facade letter “Š” was made during the 1960s in former Czechoslovakia and comes from an old inscription POŠTA. In czech language Post Office. The weight of th...
Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Industrial Signs
Materials
Iron
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
Porcelain Handicapped Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage porcelain handicapped sign. Great colors. Newly framed and floating in a shadow box. Great vintage condition.
Category
1950s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Porcelain
Hand Painted Wooden Circus Ticket Office Sign
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
A hand painted circus ticket office sign.
CREATOR Unknown.
DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.2000-2005.
MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES Painted Wood.
CONDITION Good. Wear con...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Industrial Signs
Materials
Wood
19th Century Rustic English Private Land Owners Trespassers Sign
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
19th century rustic private land owners trespassers sign
This sign is made in elm with metal lettering set in relief it says
Notice
No road
Trespassers Wil
Be prosecuted
By...
Category
Mid-19th Century Rustic Antique Signs
Materials
Wood
Hand Painted Studebaker Wagons Sign c.1930
By Studebaker
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
An original Studebaker hand-painted wooden sign, originally from a 1930s wagon shop. Emblazoned with "Studebaker Wagons" at the center and "New" and "Used" on either side, thi...
Category
Early 20th Century Industrial Signs
Materials
Wood
Vintage Red Iron Facade Letter N, 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial facade letter “n” was made during the 1970s in France and comes from an old advertising banner. The weight of the letter is 0,7 kg.
Category
1970s French Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Iron
20th Century Blacksmith's Sign on Custom Mount
Located in Chicago, IL
A bold and striking 20th century American blacksmith's sign with an arm swinging a hammer against a block of metal on an anvil, and with sparks flying from the impact. We've had this...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Industrial Signs
Materials
Steel
$1,837 Sale Price
25% Off
Large Illuminated Advertisement for HB cigarettes, 1970s
Located in Praha, CZ
Large wall advertisment light
Good original condition with signs of use
The top part is missing some plastic
Category
1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Materials
Iron
Large Vintage Yellow Illuminated Letter T , 1980s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial facade illuminated letter T was made in Italy during the 1970s and comes from an old advertising banner. It features a metal body and a plexiglass cover. It i...
Category
1980s Italian Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Chrome, Iron
English Pub Sign "The Magdalen"
Located in Austin, TX
An authentic English pub sign (one-sided) featuring a painting of a monastery abbey ruin, entitled: The Magdalen.
A very fine example of vintage advertising artwork and ready for d...
Category
20th Century English Signs
Materials
Paint, 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
Rare Engraved Glass on Metal Sign from a London Cigarette's Seller, circa 1900
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This rare engraved sign is made of glass on metal. This is a a very unusual piece from a London cigarette's seller. English. Circa 1900.
Category
Early 1900s English Art Nouveau Antique Signs
Materials
Metal
Vintage Swiss Two Sided Train Signal Sign
Located in San Diego, CA
Super cool and hard to find vintage Swiss two sided train signal sign, circa 1940s. The sign is made of metal and painted yellow with the number "5" in bl...
Category
Mid-20th Century Swiss Signs
Materials
Metal
$400 Sale Price
20% Off
Oversized Metal Key Trade Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Massive metal bit-key trade sign from the UK. Marked BOLTON, 1925. Great patina to metal. Well made and in very good condition. Cool oversized piece.
...
Category
1970s British Vintage 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.