Signs
1950s English Modern Vintage Signs
Wood
19th Century French Folk Art Antique Signs
Iron
1950s Folk Art Vintage Signs
Plywood
Late 19th Century North American Folk Art Antique Signs
Zinc
Late 20th Century Belgian Modern Signs
Other, Tin
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Signs
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Signs
Pine
1950s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Sheet Metal
Early 1900s Folk Art Antique Signs
Tin
1930s Folk Art Vintage Signs
Tin
1920s Folk Art Vintage Signs
Enamel
20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Wood, Paint
1940s Folk Art Vintage Signs
Metal
Mid-20th Century Belgian Modern Signs
Other
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Signs
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Folk Art Signs
Metal, Chrome
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Metal
Mid-20th Century German Modern Signs
Other
1960s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Brass
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Gold Leaf
1920s French Folk Art Vintage Signs
Zinc
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Masonite, Paint
Mid-20th Century Belgian Modern Signs
Tin
1950s Modern Vintage Signs
Metal
1860s Belgian Folk Art Antique Signs
Zinc
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Signs
Wood
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Wood
20th Century British Folk Art Signs
Pine
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Wood, Paint
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Signs
Wood
1930s French Folk Art Vintage Signs
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Plywood
Mid-20th Century French Modern Signs
Metal
1870s American Folk Art Antique Signs
Wood, Paint
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Iron
1960s English Folk Art Vintage Signs
Wood
Early 1900s French Folk Art Antique Signs
Steel
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Brass
Mid-20th Century Modern Signs
Metal
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Pine
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Pine, Paint
1890s American Folk Art Antique Signs
Metal
Early 20th Century Folk Art Signs
Metal
1950s British Folk Art Vintage Signs
Iron
20th Century British Folk Art Signs
Softwood
1950s French Folk Art Vintage Signs
Iron
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Foil
1950s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Folk Art Signs
Metal
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Signs
Wood
1960s American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Scrap Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Wood
Early 20th Century Unknown Folk Art Signs
Zinc
1920s North American Folk Art Vintage Signs
Iron
1930s British Folk Art Vintage Signs
Plastic, Wood
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Wood
20th Century American Folk Art Signs
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.