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Signs For Sale
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

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

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

19th Century Barber's Pole Hand Carved Hand Painted
Located in San Francisco, CA
19th century barber's pole hand carved hand painted Antique barber's pole 5.5" diameter x 42" high The support measures 9" wide x 34" high Good antique condition The...
Category

Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Signs

Materials

Wood

Massive Hand Painted High School Track and Field Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage track and field sign from the early 1970s. Hand painted red sign with yellow lettering. Taken down from a California high school. Horizontal wo...
Category

1970s American Vintage Signs

Materials

Wood, Paint

Composition California State Seal
Located in Chicago, IL
Composition seal from the state of California. From a TV courtroom drama.
Category

1980s American Vintage Signs

Materials

Plaster

Spanish Provincial Style Carved Horse Head Wall Plaque Sign
Located in New York, NY
Spanish Provincial (20th Cent) style painted and carved horse head wall plaque/sign (La Taberna Caballoblanco) (Related item: 049724D).  
Category

20th Century Renaissance Signs

Materials

Wood

Antique English Enamel Pub Sign
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
‘The Friar’s Oak’ enamel pub sign with a wrought iron hanging bracket / frame. Reclaimed from a Public House in Shropshire. Double sided.
Category

Early 20th Century Signs

Materials

Enamel, Wrought Iron

St Paul’s Churchyard, City of London Glass Edwardian Street Sign
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
St Paul’s Churchyard, City of London glass Edwardian Street Sign This is a City of London Street sign, it is set in its Cast Iron Frame, it is ma...
Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Signs

Materials

Iron

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

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

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

19th Century Rustic English Private Land Owners Trespassers Sign
Located in Chillerton, 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

Late 19th Century Jewellers Trade Sign
Located in London, GB
Late 19th Century Jewellers Trade Sign We share what we love, and we love this untouched example of a watch makers, jewellers trade sign. Make from cast iron and zinc, double sided, with traces of the painted clock face on both sides. We have mounted this object to a cast iron bespoke stand for ease of display. It can be removed from the stand and hung if you wish. One of the best examples we have been lucky enough to uncover. Size of inches: H 31” x W 18” x D 3.5” (Includes stand) Condition: Aged Origin: European Age: late 19th century Note: This item weighs close of 30kg Completely solid in structure and form, Natural aging across all surfaces, an aged 100-year-old antique item, loss of paint, one side of the clocks zinc face...
Category

19th Century British Victorian Antique Signs

Materials

Iron, Zinc

1900s, French Zinc Shop Sign
Located in High Point, NC
This enigmatic shop sign was produced in France, circa 1900. A large zinc wall decoration hanging on a small chain, which may or may not be a piep, features a jug extremity with a lo...
Category

20th Century French Folk Art Signs

Materials

Zinc

Oversized Bonze Advertising Store Display Scissors
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Midcentury, oversized, advertising, store display, bronze scissors open and close as real scissors. Makes a great, rustic, folk art piece or wall art.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Industrial Signs

Materials

Bronze

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

Lifesize Johnnie Walker Shop Advertising Display Man
Located in Antwerp, BE
Lifesize Johnnie Walker display man. A lifesize advertising display - shop display - store display figure for Scotch whisky. The typical striding man with top hat, coat, boots and walking stick. A black and gold advertising figure for the Johnnie Walker black label, black label limited edition, gold label, Christmas edition, anniversary edtion. This Johnny Walker statue...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Signs

Materials

Fiberglass

1960s California Prison Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique California state prison sign that reads "KEEP OUT CALIFORNIA STATE PROPERTY". Yellow background with bold black print. Scuffs, scratches and rust gi...
Category

1960s American Vintage Signs

Materials

Steel

HOVIS, Etched Glass Bakery Advertising Window Sign
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
HOVIS, Etched Glass Bakery Advertising Window Sign A great piece of social history, this is a window, the old sash type, the glass is etched and ...
Category

Late 19th Century Edwardian Antique Signs

Materials

Art Glass

Wooden Boot Folk Art Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique wooden boot sculpture. Various woods/patinas give the boot texture, color and depth. Just under 2 feet wide. Additional details include, four eyelets with laces, a thick leath...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Signs

Materials

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

Dutch Folk Art Trade Sign
Located in Greenwich, CT
An 18th century trade sign from a Dutch West Indies shipping merchant. The carved and polychromed sign depicts a winged-foot mercury surrounded by ga...
Category

Late 18th Century Dutch Folk Art Antique Signs

Materials

Wood

Pressed Zinc Facade Panel
Located in Chicago, IL
Pressed zinc exterior panel from the Red Cross building.
Category

20th Century Signs

Materials

Zinc

Antique Vintage Industrial British Railway Station Enamel Advertising Sign
By British Railways
Located in Sale, GB
- An original British Rail sign, circa 1940. - This Midlands Region sign has the inscription 'Rights Of Way Act 1932 The British Transport Commission Hereby Give Notice That This Wa...
Category

Mid-20th Century British Signs

Materials

Enamel

Vintage California Historical Landmark Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Interesting vintage California highway sign for Adobe Rios-Caledonia. This is a California historical landmark and on the National Register of...
Category

1970s American Vintage Signs

Materials

Steel

Large Weathered Trade Sign "Carriage Shop"
Located in Greenwich, CT
A 12 foot long trade sign displaying the words Carriage Shop on one side and Horse Shoeing on the other. In weathered early hand painted lettering on wood, with molded edging on all ...
Category

1870s American Antique Signs

Materials

Wood

Vintage Enamel & Steel 'Pratt & Lambert Paint & Varnish' Advertising Store Sign
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine vintage double-sided enamel advertising sign. For the famed Pratt & Lambert paint company. With yellow & red decoration on a white ground. The text reads: 'PRATT & L...
Category

20th Century North American Signs

Materials

Enamel, Steel

Wall Mounted Telephone Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
Wall mounted telephone sign on an iron bracket. Old school and very fun!
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Signs

Materials

Metal

Antique Tray Chocolate Michiels- 1905 - 75 years Independence Belgium
Located in Antwerp, BE
Antique advertising tray - advertising sign made for Belgian Chocolate Michiels, which was located in Brussels Belgium. This Art Nouveau lithographi...
Category

Early 20th Century Belgian Art Nouveau Signs

Materials

Metal, Tin

1890's Gilt Painted Timber Printer's Trade Sign
Located in Downham Market, GB
An early printer's trade sign. A wonderful 19th century painted timber trade sign for 'Wheeler' printer's, delightfully original & untouched with the p...
Category

19th Century British Rustic Antique Signs

Materials

Pine

Vintage Blue Illuminated Letter Y, 1980s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial blue illuminated letter Y was made in Netherlands during the 1980s and comes from the old advertising banner. I featuers a grey iron b...
Category

1980s Dutch Industrial Vintage Signs

Materials

Iron

1930's Double Sided Cabin Neon Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
1930's double sided Cabin neon sign. It has new neon, new wiring and new transformer.
Category

1950s North American Folk Art Vintage Signs

Materials

Metal

Rare Early Enamel Sign Advertising Eley-Knoch Shot Gun Cartridges
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Rare early enamel sign advertising Eley-Knoch shot gun cartridges Very Rare old sign, is made in ceramic enamel it is a heavy piece with the usu...
Category

Mid-20th Century Industrial Signs

Materials

Enamel

Enamel Sign for Colman’s Starch
Located in Cheshire, GB
Enamel sign for Colman’s Starch, of rectangular form decorated in blue and white enamel. Dimensions Height 16 Inches Width 62.5 Inches Depth 0.5 Inches.
Category

Early 20th Century British Signs

Materials

Enamel

Matched Pair of Edwardian Milk Glass Shop Signs
Located in London, GB
Matched pair of Edwardian milk glass shop signs. We share what we love, and we love this rare, matched pair of Edwardian milk glass shop signs. One stating “All kinds of repairs” ...
Category

1910s British Edwardian Vintage Signs

Materials

Milk Glass

Gilt Verre Églomisé, Cheap Funerals Trade Shop Sign Oliver Twist
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A rather tongue-in-cheek reverse painting and gilt doubled sided trade sign, reading "CHEAP FUNERALS" flippant to say the least. The sign shows signs...
Category

Early 20th Century English Signs

Materials

Wrought Iron

Vintage Enamel Letter N, 1930s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial enameled letter N was made during the 1930s and comes from the old advertising banner.
Category

Early 20th Century European Industrial 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

Large Painted Wooden Advertising Sign, “HORNIMAN’S PURE TEA”
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Large painted wooden advertising sign, “HORNIMAN’S PURE TEA” This is a large painted wooden wall sign Shabby now but quite readable It is...
Category

Early 20th Century Rustic Signs

Materials

Wood

Boucherie Chevaline Trade Sign
Located in London, GB
Boucherie Chevaline Trade Sign A hand crafted Boucherie Chevaline, zinc gold leaf hand beaten butchers trade sign. A highly decorative wall hanging in untouched condition with or...
Category

Early 20th Century French Victorian Signs

Materials

Zinc

Vintage Desk Sign, circa 1944
Located in San Francisco, CA
About An original wooden desk sign for Carl J. Wilkerson from Fort Knox, Kentucky. His years of employment are written on the back as well as the signatu...
Category

Early 20th Century Signs

Materials

Wood, Plastic, Paper

Traditional Large Iron Hanging Pub Sign, The Boot
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Traditional large iron hanging pub sign. The Boot This is a large and heavy piece dating from the beginning of the 20th Century, it is double sided though the paint on one side is...
Category

Early 1900s Folk Art Antique Signs

Materials

Iron

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

Los Angeles Highway Trash Removal Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles trash cleanup sign. Emerald green background with a man in work clothes picking up trash. Great coloring and patina. Cool vintage graphics...
Category

Early 2000s American Signs

Materials

Steel

English Pub Sign, Squirrel
Located in Austin, TX
An authentic English pub sign (one-sided) featuring a painting of a squirrel with a nut, untitled. A very fine example of vintage advertising artwork and ...
Category

20th Century English Signs

Materials

Wood, Paint

Card Game Wall Decoration Sign, 1961
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage card game wall decoration sign. 1960s advertising sign with a typical card game scene: green playing card felt, playing cards, dice, a go...
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Modern Signs

Materials

Other, Tin

Enamel Sign for Colman’s Mustard
Located in Cheshire, GB
Enamel sign for Colman’s Mustard, of rectangular form decorated in blue and yellow enamel. Dimensions Height 16 inches Width 62.5 inches Depth 0.5 ...
Category

Early 20th Century British Signs

Materials

Enamel

Hand Signed Written Cart Yolk
Located in Alton, GB
Hand painted cart yolk from W.lowis.
Category

19th Century Antique Signs

Materials

Wood

Vintage Framed Signed Art
Located in Seattle, WA
Vintage framed signed art Dimensions. 72 W ; 36 1/4 H ; 3 D.
Category

1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs

Materials

Wood, Glass

Antique Painted Wood "No Dumping Here" Sign
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Antique, hand-painted, folk art, wood "No Dumping Here" sign.
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Wood

20th Century Italian Mix Metal Wall Art Car, C.1970
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
This classic car is handmade in Italy from brass, copper and steel, created in the mid 20th century as a piece of decorative fun and novelty. CONDITION In Good Condition - wear c...
Category

20th Century Italian Signs

Materials

Brass, Copper, Steel

Arts and Crafts Copper Milliners Trade Sign, Copper Top Hat
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Arts and Crafts Copper Milliners Trade Sign. Copper Top Hat This is an unusual piece, the Top Hat is made in beaten Copper it sits on an old wooden stand The hat and stand are bo...
Category

Late 19th Century Arts and Crafts Antique Signs

Materials

Copper

Glass Pedestrian Crossing Sign
Located in New York, NY
Colorful Pop Art Pedestrian Crossing sign on glass. Found vintage art at it's best! Front has 4 small rubber elements and back has rubber edging. Final ...
Category

1950s North American Vintage Signs

Materials

Glass, Rubber, Paint

"Antique - Old - Unusual" Clocks for Sale Hand Painted Sign, c.1920
Located in San Francisco, CA
"Antique - Old - Unusual" Clocks for Sale Hand Painted sign c.1920 Fine old school hand painted sign advertising clocks for sale Th...
Category

Early 20th Century American Signs

Materials

Glass, Wood

1900s Butcher's Pig Trade Sign
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Vintage carved and painted pine butcher's trade sign. Molded frame, insized text reading "Porkies Pen" pig in relief. 33" x 40" Period: First quarter of the 20th century or earlier ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Signs

Materials

Wood

Vintage 'No Bikes' Street Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage 'no bikes on sidewalk' sign with incredible sunburn weathering patina. Steel sign featuring a bicycle encircled by a red ring with a line through it. Great faded coloring give this piece unique character. Cool vintage graphics...
Category

1970s American Vintage Signs

Materials

Steel

Cast Case Iron Eagle Trade Signs, 1880-1900
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Pair of cast iron Case eagle signs. Depicts the company mascot "Abe" on a globe. Embossed "J.I. Case Threshing Machine Company, Racine, WI, USA." Original s...
Category

1890s American Antique Signs

Materials

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.

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