Folk Art Signs
FOLK ART STYLE
Folk art is a genre of art that shares the creator’s traditions, offering not just an artistic display but an opportunity to learn about a culture. Antique, new and vintage folk art typically reflects a heritage or location. It can include utilitarian objects and handmade art as diverse as weather vanes, duck decoys, portraiture and paintings, carnival art and quilts.
Quilts are a quintessential part of American folk art but their roots are international, with quilting dating back to Ancient Egypt. The practice spread to Europe and was especially prominent in the Middle Ages, with one of the oldest surviving examples being the Tristan quilt made in Sicily in the 14th century. They were made as bedcovers and clothing, including as a layer for knights to wear beneath their armor. Native American folk art includes functional objects reflecting their heritage, such as baskets, textiles and wooden pieces.
Elsewhere, the vast range of work associated with Mexican folk art includes masks made by Mexican craftspeople for traditional celebrations and ceremonial dances. Mexican masks are part of the country’s folk-art traditions that go back thousands of years and play a role in festivals and theater.
Works in the folk art tradition are valuable because of the skills involved, like weaving, hand-carving wood and even stonework. Many folk artists are self-taught, while some train as apprentices within their community. By using available materials and taking a personal approach to their creations, artists ensure each piece is unique and conveys a story.
During the Great Depression, artistic materials in America were hard to come by, so artisans used discarded wood from cigar boxes and shipping crates to make highly stylized, notched pieces — most often picture frames and boxes — that are today sought after by collectors. This folk art style is called tramp art and was popular from roughly 1870 until the 1940s.
Folk art brings vibrant culture and traditions into your home. Browse an extensive collection of antique, new and vintage folk art on 1stDibs.
42
to
33
9
42
42
42
42
40
27
23
11
1
1
3
25
84
1
33
42
2
5
1
3
9
4
15
3
1
26
22
9
5
4
29
26
8
4
3
Style: Folk Art
Period: Mid-20th Century
Wooden Trade Sign Advertising Model of Kissel Gold Bug Speedster
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Wooden Trade Sign Advertising Model of Kissel Gold Bug Speedster
A Car made famous by Amelia Earhart the Kissel Gold Bug Speedster thought of as one of the hottest cars on the road...
Category
1950s Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Plywood
Eye and Glasses Window Display Trade Sign
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Eye and Glasses Window Display Trade Sign
The sign is made in presses tin, it seems to be hand painted with the slogan Eye Glasses Sold Here
The sign is a ...
Category
1930s Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Tin
Early 20th century double sided metal fairground sign
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century double sided metal fairground sign
A charming authentic double sided metal fairground sign, date to the first quarter of the 20th Century with original hanging hooks and paint still present. Remnants of old faded signage lettering is still visible. This sign would have hung over an amusement fairground arcade to detail the cost of a game.
Size of inches: H 17” x W 24” x D 0.5”
Completely solid in structure and form, with natural wear and patination across all surfaces due to age and use. Flaking paint...
Category
1940s Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Metal
Set of Temperance Day Sheet Metal Road Signs, circa 1951
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Created by the Seventh-Day Adventists church in 1951 for their October 27th, 1951 Temperance Day "Weapons and Warfare" Campaign against alcohol consumption in the United States. The ...
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Sheet Metal
Large Hand Painted Double Sided Arrow "Radio Trade In" Folk Art Trade/Store Sign
Located in Buffalo, NY
Large Hand Painted, Double Sided Arrow "Special" Radio Trade In sale,,,,Folk Art Trade/Store Sign,,Wonderful size,,amazing crackle paint, patina..Great subject.
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Masonite, Paint
Unusual 1930s / 40's "Drugs" with arrow NEON sign..
Located in Buffalo, NY
Unusual 1930s / 40's "Drugs" with arrow NEON sign.. Two color...Nice early neon,, replaced / new transformer.. Great size, style Hand delivery avail to New York City or anywhere en r...
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Metal
Folk Art Giant Metal Scissors Industrial Store Display Sign
Located in Atlanta, GA
This is an industrial metal store display sign that showcases French Folk Art. The sign boasts gigantic scissors, which can be used as an advertisement for a barber or hair salon. It is possible that the sign was originally used as a trade sign for a tailor shop or a millinery store. The sign is made of chromed metal and has the same maneuverability as real scissors. Despite being an outdoor sign...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Folk Art Signs
Materials
Metal, Chrome
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 Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Brass
Authentic Antique Folk Art Equestrian Horse Farm Sign
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Charming hand made vintage horse farm sign that is finished front and back. The horse and letters are black wrought iron, and the wood has a distressed paint...
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Iron
Early 20th Century Double Sided Metal Boot Makers Trade Sign
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century double sided metal boot makers trade sign.
A highly decorative double sided hand painted metal French boot makers trade sign, Still attached to its original hin...
Category
1930s French Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Metal
1960s English Carnival Sign
Located in High Point, NC
1960s carnival art sign from England. It is advertising a cake walk on one side of the sign, and on the back has a charming message "Have a nice Victorian day". Great sign for any co...
Category
1960s English Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Wood
20th Century American Folk Art Swimmer Cutout on Custom Wall Mount
Located in Chicago, IL
A playful and cheeky mid-20th century American Folk Art wooden cutout of a blond swimmer flexing in his black and white striped swimsuit, mounted on a custom steel wall mount so he c...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Plywood
French Hand-forged Blacksmith Sign
Located in London, England
Beautifully crafted blacksmith trade sign.
Hand-forged and riveted, not welded.
A seriously striking decorative piece of 20th century folk art.
In exceptional original co...
Category
1950s French Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Iron
Rustic Folk Art Hand Painted Gas Station Sign
Located in Oakland, CA
Vintage handcrafted gas station signage on board. The sign dates to pre 1975 when leaded gasoline was phased out. The state states “No Lead 99.9”, painted in yellow paint on a black ...
Category
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Scrap Wood, Paint
1930’s Enamel And Neon Braumeister Beer Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
1930’s enamel and neon sign Milwaukee’s Choicest Braumeister Beer Sign. New transformer and new wiring. Please note that it will be additional fee for shipping crate.
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Enamel
Vintage Carnival or Casino Neptune's Trident Lighted Trade Sign Americana
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Unique lighted Neptune's trident carnival ride or casino trade sign. Really nice graphic piece. Original layers of golden yellow and red park paint. Provides a nice amount of warm li...
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Metal
Vintage Hand Painted British Motorcycle Shop Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Vintage graphic Motorcycles sales and service sign. Great hand-painted lettering. Wood with original paint surface. Found in the northeastern United States. Fun Americana with a Brit...
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art 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 Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Plastic, Wood
1950s Hand-Painted Olympia Beer Advertising Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
Oversized 1950s hand-painted advertising sign for Olympia Beer.
Category
1950s North American Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Wood
Mid Century Hand Painted Double Sided Pub Sign C1950
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Double sided pub sign from the United Kingdom. Hand Painted and in excellent condition. Rough hewn wood well constructed with a heavy duty frame ...
Category
1950s British Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Iron
Vintage "Your Father's Moustache" Wooden Pub Sign
Located in South Bend, IN
A fantastic vintage "Your Father's Moustache" three-piece wooden hanging pub restaurant sign.
Mid-20th century.
Measures: 44.5"W x 1"D x 23"H.
Good original vintage condition.
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Signs
Materials
Wood, Paint
Rare & Hand Painted Near Antique Folk Art Metal Salmon Sign from Fish Monger's
Located in Lisse, NL
Large size and all hand-crafted metal salmon sign.
This vintage salmon sign is another one of our recent great finds. The former owner told us how he, about three decades ago, had purchased this unique antique in France. Over the years we have seen and sold all kinds of antiques, but this was only the second time that we had the opportunity to purchase a vintage (or near-antique) fish sign and we were immediately thrilled. Not only because of the extraordinary size, but also because of the rarity, the details and the marvelous colors. This kind of workmanship you simply don't find anymore in this day and age. We have searched the worldwide web and you simply cannot find these sculptural signs anywhere. The aging has made this salmon even more beautiful and realistic, because the crazing of the paint makes it look like you can see its scales. This handcrafted, folk-art-like antique looks like it is made of zinc, but we think it is thick tin. This large salmon will look great in a fish monger's, but it can also be the perfect decoration in the office of a salmon farm, in a fisherman's lodge, in a mancave or in a fishing (gear) shop. It was originally made to hang, either in an open space or up against the wall (as shown in our photos) but with one or two brackets this work of art could also be displayed on a very large desk...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Folk Art Signs
Materials
Metal
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 Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Metal
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 Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Sheet Metal
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 Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Composition, 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 Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Metal
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
Early Corona Beer Porcelain Advertising Sign
Located in Ferndale, MI
Early Corona beer man cave or restaurant porcelain advertising sign. As found.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Steel
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 Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Metal, Brass
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
American Folk Art Workshop Wrench Wood Trade Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic and substantial wood and iron wrench tool sign. Hand written fractions and original yellow paint. Very sturdy and well made. Great industrial workshop turned folk art. The ...
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Iron
American Folk Art Wood and Iron Farm Bureau Weathervane Advertising Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great looking cartoon Midwestern Americana weathervane. Farm Bureau Insurance started in 1921. This great piece most likely was a premium or advertising piece. Hand painted wood with...
Category
1940s American Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Iron
Anonymous Abstract Geometric Painted Board
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Bold geometric abstract board found in Texas. We have a collection of these boards from an anonymous artist. Painted on recycled cupboard doors, table tops, stool tops and bread boar...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Wood
Caution School Zone WPA Style Wood Sign Red White and Blue Hand Painted
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Chunky red, white and blue hand painted school safety zone sign. Super graphic and bold. Nice thick construction.
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Wood
Anonymous Abstract X Geometric Painted Board
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Bold geometric abstract board found in Texas. We have a collection of these boards from an anonymous artist. Painted on recycled cupboard doors, table tops, stool tops and bread boards. Very dynamic when hung in collections.
This door appears to have been painted on an old cupboard...
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Wood
Collection of Three Vintage Carnival Midway Nickel Ride Red Signs
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fun collection of three vintage carnival midway signs. Nickel rides! Original professional sign painters handiwork. Excellent graphic skills. Great vintage age. All three signs have ...
Category
1940s American Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Wood
Signed Snap Wyatt Sideshow Banner
By Snap Wyatt
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic "Plenty For Two" sideshow banner painted by Snap Wyatt. Great manageable size.
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Iron
American Folk Art Tool Museum Sign 1950 Tool Assemblage
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Wentworth Tool Museum sign assembled with scrap tools and hardware. Assemblage include many wrenches, drill bits, saws and scissors. Heavy iron constructio...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Iron
Vintage Americana Mid-Century Neon Barber Shop Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic 13.5 foot long Mid-Century vintage neon barber shop sign. Total statement piece. Unusual three dimensional channel letters. Many layers of r...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Metal
Iron Perpetual Motion Folk Art Texas Zoo
Located in Santa Monica, CA
This black and white painted iron perpetual motion object was said to have been used to market the zebra exhibition at the San Antonio Zoo. The zebras...
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Iron
Iron Swordfish Created by a Nebraksan Farmer, circa 1940s
By Byron Groelz
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Iron swordfish created by Byron Groelz, a farmer from Phillips, Nebraska. Born around 1900, Mr. Groelz made decorative iron for an environment on his ranch.
Category
1940s American Vintage Folk Art Signs
Materials
Iron
Wood Carved Store Display Trade Sign Artist Paint Brushes Original Paint
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic hand carved giant wood artist paintbrushes. All original multi colored paint surface. Completely wood carved. Perhaps part of a retail w...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Materials
Wood
Folk Art signs for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art signs for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage signs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, wall decorations, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art signs made in a specific country, there are North America, United States, and Europe pieces for sale on 1stDibs. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for signs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $250 and tops out at $18,500 while the average work can sell for $2,280.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Carved Temple Signboard
Olympia Beer
Coca Cola Bottling Co. On Sale
Defense De Fumer
Vintage Crossing Guard Sign
Stella Artois Retro
Vintage Hovis
Giant Matchbox
Luxury Watches Nyc
Johnny Walker Statue
Vintage Stoplight
19 Th Trade Sign
Alfred E Neuman
Le Goullon
Stella Artois
Toronto Maple Leafs
Vintage Majorette Hat
Cartier Boutique Nyc