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Signs For Sale
Period: 20th Century
Period: Mid-20th Century
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
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
Big Wooden Wrench, a Trade Sign, USA 1930
Located in Milan, IT
Big wooden sign of a machine shop depicting a wrench, with mechanic’s address and phone number. USA 1930 ca.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Signs
Materials
Fruitwood
Vintage Solo Margarine Enamel Mid-Century Sign
Located in Norwich, GB
A wonderful bright vintage enamel sign advertising Solo margarine. Belgian - Circa 1940's.
The sign is in very good condition for its age, ther...
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Signs
Materials
Enamel
Vintage Elizabeth Arden Signs in Wood and Painted Aluminum
Located in Milano, IT
Rare advertising sign of Elizabeth Arden, an entrepreneur who founded, in that name, her cosmetics company, dating from the 1950s, taken from the Lake...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Materials
Aluminum
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
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
8 Foot Illuminated KIDDIE RIDES Metal Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
8 foot metal sign from an old carnival. Metal sign with wood backing. Hand painted wording - KIDDIE RIDES. Marquee lighting on each letter. Perfect working...
Category
1980s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Steel
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
Large Porcelain Sign Mauxion Chocolat, 1920s, Germany
Located in Antwerp, BE
Large porcelain sign for Mauxion Chocolat Products circa 1925.
Antique porcelain sign - enamelled sign - advertising wall sign.
This spectacul...
Category
Early 20th Century German Art Deco Signs
Materials
Metal
Edwardian Art Nouveau Copper & Oak Shop Sign "Townrow" Hatter Hosier
Located in Norwich, GB
A wonderful English Art Nouveau period polished copper & oak mounted shop sign, "Townrow". Circa 1905.
There is some damage to the left hand side oak mount, please refer to the late...
Category
Early 20th Century British Art Nouveau Signs
Materials
Copper
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
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 Porcelain Water Level Sign Blue and White
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage European porcelain water level sign in blue and white.
This enamel sign to measure depth of the water in the great colors
blue and white is a great decorative sign.
The blue and white gives a stripes idea.
It's great wall decoration - decorative wall sign which is made of enamelled metal.
Suits as well an industrial setting, a modern one, child's room as well in a mancave.
Vintage signs - porcelain signs - enamel signs - striped wall decoration - blue and white wall decoration - vintage european sign...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Modern Signs
Materials
Porcelain
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
Vintage School Crossing Safety Guard Folk Art Trade Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Original hand painted school safety crossing guard sign. Sheet metal and wood. Great original surface. Has original leaning brace mounted on back, but c...
Category
1950s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Sheet Metal
Trade Sign Depicting a Huge Skimmer Ladle, France, 1900
Located in Milan, IT
Outdoor trade sign of a kitchen tools store, for advertising. The sign depicts a huge skimmer ladle, made out of boxwood and iron, with 2 painted letters E X. France 1900 ca.
Category
Early 20th Century Signs
Materials
Iron
Antique Ingersoll Watches Adverting Trade Sign, circa 1900
Located in San Francisco, CA
Antique double sided trade sign for Ingersoll Watches in the shape of a pocket watch.
Excellent old sign in original condition.
American, late 19th-ear...
Category
Early 20th Century American Other Signs
Materials
Metal
Los Angeles Freeway Sign 'Beach Cities"
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Monumental Los Angeles freeway sign from the 90s. Beach Cities sign showing people which way to Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and other cities. Reflectiv...
Category
1990s American Signs
Materials
Aluminum
Telephone Company's Trade Sign USA 1950
Located in Milan, IT
A window trade sign of an American telephone company, depicting a big phone. Carved out of fruit wood, and white enamel painted. USA 1950 ca.
Category
1950s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Plastic, Wood
Novelty "World's Largest" Chippendale Chair
Located in Hanover, MA
High quality carved solid mahogany giant Chippendale style armchair with upholstered seat. Very sturdy. Great for an event prop, advertising or promotional display.
Measures: Seat h...
Category
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Signs
Materials
Mahogany
Chinese Signboard with Red Coloured Calligraphy from Hardwood, C. 1900
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
With a wood coloured base this signboard (crafted entirely from wood) highlights two large red coloured Chinese Characters. The signboard dates to the early 20th Century and has aged...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Signs
Materials
Wood, Paint
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
Original Card Map Poster, Pickfords Depositories
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Original Card Map Poster, Pickfords Depositories
This is a good original advertising sign, showing the locations of Pickfords Depositories
The Sign is C...
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Signs
Materials
Paper
2 French Market Haberdashery Stall Hanging Signs
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
2 French Market Haberdashery stall hanging signs
These are Great pieces from a French market stall near Tours, they are hanging signs with applied adve...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art Signs
Materials
Wood
Champagne Sign Jules Bertier, circa 1900, France
Located in Antwerp, BE
Antique French Champagne Sign circa 1900.
This Art Nouveau metal sign - tin sign was made for Wine & Champagne House Jules Bertier & Cie, Brest, France.
It's an embossed sign with a bottle of sparkling wine alongside a wooden storage or transport case.
View all the details on this lithographic sign !
This antique advertising sign...
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Signs
Materials
Metal
Unusual Set of German Mid-20th Century Shop Trade Sign Tools
Located in London, GB
Unusual set of German mid-20th century shop trade sign tools
Every now and again we are lucky enough to acquire items that firstly we have never seen and secondly, we will never see...
Category
1950s German Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal, Brass
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
Pair of Mid-20th Century French Enameled Blue and White Hommes and Dames Signs
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This pair of mid-twentieth century French enameled signs are marked Hommes and Dames which translates to Gentlemen and Ladies. In a charming blue an...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Signs
Materials
Enamel
Monumental Cobblers Boot Trade Sign
Located in Staffordshire, GB
Monumental Cobblers Boot Trade Sign.
Provenance: By Repute Crosby Cobblers - Liverpool Est 1841
Originally hung outside the cobblers in Crosby, Liverpool. Hand forged metal strap work and solid brass laces...
Category
Early 20th Century British Signs
Materials
Metal, Brass
19th Century Boucherie Chevaline French Tradesign
Located in London, GB
Boucherie Chevaline
We are proud to offer a late 19th century Boucherie Chevaline, zinc gold leaf hand beaten butchers advertising trade sign. These items have become rare over the years especially the original gold leaf finished examples. Untouched in form in very presentable condition, with age related wear you may come to expect from an item of its age. This highly decorative object comes with its own bespoke cast iron display...
Category
Early 1900s French Victorian Antique Signs
Materials
Zinc
Vintage Crime Watch Street Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique vintage street sign that reads "Citizens Crime Watch Neighborhood" Green lettering on a reflective silver background. Great vintage condition.
Category
1970s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
Large Wm. Youngers Ales Stained Glass Pub Sign from Scotland
Located in Austin, TX
A large rectangular Scottish pub sign panel advertising Wm. Youngers Ales - a famed brewery with roots in Edinburgh.
Featuring a wood frame with colored stained glass panels with a ...
Category
Early 20th Century Scottish Signs
Materials
Lead, Metal
Vintage Children at Play Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique vintage street sign that reads 'SLOW - Children at Play' Black lettering on a reflective yellow background and black trim. Fun graphics depicting two children on a teeter totter...
Category
1980s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
Vintage Letter I, 1950s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage letter I comes from the old advertising banner. It is made from dyed concrete.
Weight: 2 kg.
Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Industrial Signs
Materials
Concrete
Vintage Letter N, 1950s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage letter comes from the old advertising banner. It is made from dyed concrete. It weighs 6 kg.
Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Industrial Signs
Materials
Concrete
Selection of Connecticut Subway or Bus Signs
Located in Atlanta, GA
Selection of Connecticut Subway or Bus Signs, American, circa 1950's, possibly earlier. These signs would have rotated through a window at the front of the bus or subway, showing the...
Category
1950s American Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Canvas
Vintage "We Love Our Children" Street Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fun vintage street sign that reads "Please Drive Slowly. We Love (Heart) Our Children". Black lettering and trim on a reflective silver background. Fun details like a red heart to re...
Category
1980s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
Vintage Make Sure Door Locks Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique vintage street sign that reads "Make Sure Door Locks Securely behind You" Red lettering on a reflective silver background. Great vintage co...
Category
1980s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
1950s Hand-Painted Olympia Beer Advertising Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
Oversized 1950s hand-painted advertising sign for Olympia Beer.
Category
1950s North American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Wood
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
Giant Art Deco Brass Fountain Pen and Mechanical Pencil Display Models
By Wahl Eversharp Co
Located in Hanover, MA
Oversized retail advertising presentation brass fountain pen and mechanical pencil display signs from the early 1920s when they would have been featured within a wood and glass display cabinet at the pen counter of a stationary store.
Originally the fountain pen would have been marked on its side "Wahl Pen...
Category
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Signs
Materials
Brass
Large Midcentury Porcelain Letter "B" from the Stix Baer and Fuller Sign
By Bauhaus
Located in St. Louis, MO
Large 44.75" H porcelain letter B, from the former Stix, Baer & Fuller sign. This letter was once on the Mid-Century Modern Stix, Baer & Fuller department store in the Westroads Shop...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Materials
Porcelain
1950s Shopsign
Located in Brecht, BE
Extra large and quirky, this iron shopsign ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Signs
Materials
Metal, Iron
Painted Tin Letter of Luminous Signs U, Rewired with Bulbs, USA, 1930
Located in Milan, IT
Painted tin letter of luminous sign (U) red color, rewired with bulbs, USA, circa 1930. The Letter U has been rewired for the US.
Category
1930s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Tin
Antique Sign Cream Separator Melotte Belgium by National Works Smethwick
Located in Antwerp, BE
Antique large tin sign for the Belgian cream separator brand Mélotte, which was based in Belgium in Remicourt in the province Luik - LIège.
This large...
Category
Early 20th Century Belgian Industrial Signs
Materials
Tin
Vintage Yellow Handicap Stencil
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique vintage handicap stencil used to mark the handicap spots on the asphalt. Made of plywood. This sign has tons of character with thick, excess paint and splatter around the imag...
Category
1970s American Vintage Signs
Materials
Wood, Paint
Late 19th Century Milk Glass London England Street Sign
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous etched milk glass street sign from the City of Westminster, England.
Original Arts & Crafts style frame in excellent vintage condition.
Category
1920s English Industrial Vintage Signs
Materials
Milk Glass, Oak
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
Double Sided Painted Wood Doll Furniture Sign
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Midcentury, Folk Art, double sided, painted wood "Doll Furniture" sign with jagged edges.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Wood
Pub Sign "The Grove Tavern (Taylor Walker)"
Located in Austin, TX
An authentic English pub sign (one-sided) featuring a painting of a path through a grove of trees with a deer in the foreground, entitled: Taylor Walker - The Grove...
Category
20th Century English Signs
Materials
Metal
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
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
1950s Light Up Double Sided Beer Mug Yellow Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
1950's light up double sided beer mug sign. It works.
Category
1950s North American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Metal
"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
1950 Vintage American Folk Art Band Stand Hand Painted Goofy Jazz Music Stand
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Hand painted band stand folding music stand, circa 1950s. Great folk art design and Goofy dog painted. Possibly from the Jazz Mill in Phoenix. Great wall han...
Category
1950s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Materials
Composition, Metal
Large Pop 1970s Wrangler "No-Fault" Jeans. Denim Store Display / Banner
By Denisco
Located in Buffalo, NY
Large pop modernist circa 1970s Wrangler "No-Fault" Jeans and Jackets, silkscreened on Denim, store display / banner, amazing original condition, appears to be new-old stock, Great i...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Signs
Materials
Fabric
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, 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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