Signs
Early 20th Century Industrial Signs
Metal
Mid-20th Century Belgian Signs
Metal
Early 20th Century Victorian Signs
Wood
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Signs
Wood
1970s American Vintage Signs
Wood, Paint
1980s American Vintage Signs
Plaster
20th Century Renaissance Signs
Wood
Early 20th Century Signs
Enamel, Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century Industrial Signs
Iron
1920s North American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Iron
20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Metal
Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Signs
Tin, Other
Mid-19th Century Rustic Antique Signs
Wood
19th Century British Victorian Antique Signs
Iron, Zinc
20th Century French Folk Art Signs
Zinc
Mid-20th Century American Industrial Signs
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Deco Signs
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Signs
Fiberglass
1960s American Vintage Signs
Steel
Late 19th Century Edwardian Antique Signs
Art Glass
21st Century and Contemporary American Signs
Wood
Early 20th Century American Signs
Steel
Late 18th Century Dutch Folk Art Antique Signs
Wood
20th Century Signs
Zinc
Mid-20th Century British Signs
Enamel
1970s American Vintage Signs
Steel
1870s American Antique Signs
Wood
20th Century North American Signs
Enamel, Steel
1960s Italian Vintage Signs
Metal
Early 20th Century Belgian Art Nouveau Signs
Metal, Tin
19th Century British Rustic Antique Signs
Pine
1980s Dutch Industrial Vintage Signs
Iron
1950s North American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Metal
Mid-20th Century Industrial Signs
Enamel
Early 20th Century British Signs
Enamel
1910s British Edwardian Vintage Signs
Milk Glass
Early 20th Century English Signs
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century European Industrial Signs
Iron
Mid-20th Century American Industrial Signs
Steel
Early 20th Century Rustic Signs
Wood
Early 20th Century French Victorian Signs
Zinc
Early 20th Century Signs
Wood, Plastic, Paper
Early 1900s Folk Art Antique Signs
Iron
Early 1900s North American Antique Signs
Iron
Early 2000s American Signs
Steel
20th Century English Signs
Wood, Paint
Mid-20th Century Belgian Modern Signs
Other, Tin
Early 20th Century British Signs
Enamel
19th Century Antique Signs
Wood
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Wood, Glass
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Wood
20th Century Italian Signs
Brass, Copper, Steel
Late 19th Century Arts and Crafts Antique Signs
Copper
1950s North American Vintage Signs
Glass, Rubber, Paint
Early 20th Century American Signs
Glass, Wood
Early 20th Century French Signs
Wood
1970s American Vintage Signs
Steel
1890s American Antique Signs
Iron
Antique, New and Vintage Signs
Vintage and antique signs are popular collector’s items loved not only for the charm and pops of color they add to a space but also for the unique story each one has to tell. An interesting sign can help set the mood for a room and spark dozens of lively conversations.
Before and during the 18th century, many European peasants and colonists in the Americas couldn’t read, so shopkeepers, in an effort to promote their goods and services, hung trade signs with limited amounts of text.
Indeed, symbols and representational physical objects comprised early-day advertising efforts. In lieu of painted words on a wooden board, trade signs made use of handmade three-dimensional symbols to indicate the function of the shop. The iconic red, white and blue pole could be found outside barbershops, while a figural trade sign mounted to an apothecary’s storefront might be a mortar and pestle sculpted from bronze in order to indicate to passers-by that inside there were apothecary cabinets full of remedies for common ailments and a druggist to carefully dispense them.
As literacy rates improved, signs evolved into rectangular, round or square shapes that featured text. Short and sweet, early iterations were characterized by a mere few words, such as “tavern,” “boarding room” or “apothecary.”
During the 19th century, proprietors endeavored to render their signs more appealing. This meant the introduction of more color, font types and other pictorial representations. After the Civil War ended, logos, branding and advertising became increasingly more important, and the design of signage evolved. Trade signs were still in use during the 20th century, and you will likely find hand-painted tin eyeglasses for an optometrist’s office or an oversize bowling pin that likely had a home in the front window of a bowling alley.
Today, collectors and art aficionados alike collect and display antique and vintage signs. Old signs hearken back to a long-gone era, infusing any interior with warmth and nostalgia.
A vintage sign can help anchor a room — think of decorating with signs as you would arranging any kind of wall art. A large-scale sign in particular can prove a distinguishing feature in a living room or dining room, a focal point so prominent that it might lessen the burden of introducing any additional decorative elements to this particular space. Smaller signs work wonders too — pepper sparsely decorated corners with small colorful signs or add a humorous or graphic element to your gallery-style hang with a small text-based sign or two.
On 1stDibs, find metal, wood and glass antique and vintage signs that span a number of styles, including mid-century modern, industrial and folk art.