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Rustic Signs

RUSTIC STYLE

For some, the phrase “rustic style” suggests a house like “La Pitchoune,” the late chef Julia Child’s cottage in Provence, with its exposed wooden beams and well-worn antique furniture. For others, rustic furnishings and decor prompt images of a place like the Lake Placid Lodge in Upstate New York, with its stone fireplaces and knotty pine paneling. Indeed, rustic furniture design takes many forms: twig furniture, a plank trestle table, a hand-stitched quilt, a chandelier made of deer antlers.

The rustic style originated in the late 1800s in England, where it was heavily influenced by Romanticism. By the 20th century, it had spread to the United States, adopted by wealthy New Yorkers and the National Park Service alike. Although there are many categories of rustic furniture, one of the most popular and familiar manifestations of the style is Adirondack furniture and the low-slung 1903 Thomas Lee Adirondack chair.

Rustic design is perhaps mostly about texture and humble materials: hand-hewn reclaimed wood, woven rush seating, wrought iron, coarse stone and weathered metal. As a decor, it exudes warmth and honesty, while a single piece of countrified design adds an intriguing visual counterpoint in a sleek, modern environment.

Easily identifiable by its rough textures, earthy colors and natural materials, rustic wares help bring the beauty of the outdoors inside.

As you can see on 1stDibs, vintage rustic chairs, dining tables and other pieces of rustic furniture offer endless inspiration.

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Style: Rustic
Antique Vintage Rustic Folk Art Metal Farm Sign
Antique Vintage Rustic Folk Art Metal Farm Sign

Antique Vintage Rustic Folk Art Metal Farm Sign

Located in Stockbridge, GB

Antique Metal Farm Sign An original metal hanging sign which would have hung at the entrance to Crosscombe Farm in Somerset, the sign is double sided with identical signage on both ...

Category

Mid-20th Century English Rustic Signs

Materials

Cut Steel

20th Century Original Painted Machine Quilting Street Sign
20th Century Original Painted Machine Quilting Street Sign

20th Century Original Painted Machine Quilting Street Sign

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This double sided sheet metal with iron frame sandwich board reads : WE DO MACHINE QUILTING and it is on both sides. This is a all original painted doub...

Category

20th Century American Rustic Signs

Materials

Metal

19th Century Rustic English Private Land Owners Trespassers Sign
19th Century Rustic English Private Land Owners Trespassers Sign

19th Century Rustic English Private Land Owners Trespassers Sign

Located in Godshill, 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 Antique Rustic Signs

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century Wood and Canvas Painted Produce Sign
Early 20th Century Wood and Canvas Painted Produce Sign

Early 20th Century Wood and Canvas Painted Produce Sign

Located in Troy, MI

Wooden produce sign found in England, circa 1920s. Wood foundation is covered in strips of canvas which have been hand painted by unknown artist.

Category

Early 20th Century English Rustic Signs

Materials

Canvas, Wood

Related Items
Folk Art Sign
Folk Art Sign

Folk Art Sign

$1,221

H 8.27 in W 21.66 in D 0.79 in

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An Edwardian Folk Art sign with overscale finger, insribed ‘Left Luggage’.

Category

20th Century English Rustic Signs

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Circa 1890 Hardware Store Wood Trade Sign Carved Smaltz Black and Gold Paint
Circa 1890 Hardware Store Wood Trade Sign Carved Smaltz Black and Gold Paint

Circa 1890 Hardware Store Wood Trade Sign Carved Smaltz Black and Gold Paint

Located in Santa Monica, CA

Exceptional late 19th century hand carved letters with black and Gold paint and black smaltz background. Excellent typography. Great wall art. Simple and bold.

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Late 19th Century American Antique Rustic Signs

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Wood

Vintage Mid Century Hand Painted Wooden Luncheonette Hot Coffee Diner Sign
Vintage Mid Century Hand Painted Wooden Luncheonette Hot Coffee Diner Sign

Vintage Mid Century Hand Painted Wooden Luncheonette Hot Coffee Diner Sign

Located in Milford, NH

A vintage polychrome hand painted luncheonette or diner sign on plywood featuring hot coffee, sandwiches, and tonics, signed lower right Cooley-Alton, with an additional support boar...

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Mid-20th Century American Rustic Signs

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Framed Vintage Gilded "Gudgeon & Sons" Sign from 19th Century, England
Framed Vintage Gilded "Gudgeon & Sons" Sign from 19th Century, England

Framed Vintage Gilded "Gudgeon & Sons" Sign from 19th Century, England

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This distinguished sign reading "Gudgeon & Sons," rendered in gilded and ebonized wood, hails from the era of English auctioneers based in Winchester. The piece showcases a striking ...

Category

19th Century English Antique Rustic Signs

Materials

Wood

1920's English "Private Bar" Etched Glass Sign
1920's English "Private Bar" Etched Glass Sign

1920's English "Private Bar" Etched Glass Sign

$2,500

H 40.75 in W 27 in D 1.75 in

1920's English "Private Bar" Etched Glass Sign

Located in Chicago, IL

1920's English "Private Bar" etched glass sign framed in oak frame.

Category

1920s British Vintage Rustic Signs

Materials

Glass, Oak

American Folk Art 'PAN FRIED TROUT' Hanging Sign
American Folk Art 'PAN FRIED TROUT' Hanging Sign

American Folk Art 'PAN FRIED TROUT' Hanging Sign

Located in Chicago, IL

Three words, three fish, and not a hint of subtlety. Hand-carved from wood and painted to resemble rainbow trout, the trio reclines inside an oversized wooden frying pan as if awaiti...

Category

20th Century American Rustic Signs

Materials

Metal

Antique Hand Painted Double-Sided French Cafe Wall Trade Sign. c.1920
Antique Hand Painted Double-Sided French Cafe Wall Trade Sign. c.1920

Antique Hand Painted Double-Sided French Cafe Wall Trade Sign. c.1920

Located in London, GB

A mid-20th century hand painted French trade sign. c.1940 Double sided French trade sign for CAFES MAURICE, a company still in existence today. Wonderful patination and depth of col...

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1940s English Vintage Rustic Signs

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Metal

Vintage American Folk Art Showroom Trade Sign
Vintage American Folk Art Showroom Trade Sign

Vintage American Folk Art Showroom Trade Sign

$410

H 9 in W 28.75 in D 1.75 in

Vintage American Folk Art Showroom Trade Sign

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

Charming vintage wooden trade sign for Showroom. The sign was original painted in with green and white colors and have been through a later restoration when a thick lacquer that has ...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Rustic Signs

Materials

Wood, Paint

English Pub Sign, "The Falcon"
English Pub Sign, "The Falcon"

English Pub Sign, "The Falcon"

$3,895

H 45.63 in W 33.5 in D 1.25 in

English Pub Sign, "The Falcon"

Located in Austin, TX

An authentic English pub sign (one-sided) featuring a beautiful painting of a falcon perched on a tree stump, titled The Falcon. A very fine example of vintage advertising artwork, ...

Category

20th Century English Rustic Signs

Materials

Metal

Early 20th Century Porcelain Heinz Advertising Sign
Early 20th Century Porcelain Heinz Advertising Sign

Early 20th Century Porcelain Heinz Advertising Sign

Located in Dekalb, IL

c. 1900s; H.J. Heinz Co. - Pittsburgh Large circular, single-sided porcelain Heinz advertising sign. This piece features the iconic Heniz 57 Varieties typeface with the iconic pick...

Category

Early 20th Century American Rustic Signs

Materials

Porcelain

Previously Available Items
Early 20th Century American Adirondack 'Timber Club' Sign
Early 20th Century American Adirondack 'Timber Club' Sign

Early 20th Century American Adirondack 'Timber Club' Sign

Located in Chicago, IL

Step into the early 20th century with this captivating Adirondack birch wood and painted canvas sign for the 'Timber Club' from a summer camp. Crafted in the heart of the Adirondack ...

Category

Early 20th Century American Rustic Signs

Materials

Canvas, Birch, Paint

Hand Made Wooden Key Sign, c.1950
Hand Made Wooden Key Sign, c.1950

Hand Made Wooden Key Sign, c.1950

Sold

H 12 in W 29.5 in D 1.5 in

Hand Made Wooden Key Sign, c.1950

Located in San Francisco, CA

About An original hand made wooden sign used in a store to advertise keys. The sign is painted gold on one side and shows some wear to the paint consistent with age and use. Cr...

Category

Early 20th Century Rustic Signs

Materials

Wood

French 19th Century Carved Solid Wood Rooster Shop Display
French 19th Century Carved Solid Wood Rooster Shop Display

French 19th Century Carved Solid Wood Rooster Shop Display

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

French 19th century carved solid wood rooster shop display circa 1880. Here we have a rare item which is likely to be a french shop sign, which would ...

Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Rustic Signs

Materials

Wood, Oak

Hand Carved Wood "Deposit Trash Here" Sign c.1940
Hand Carved Wood "Deposit Trash Here" Sign c.1940

Hand Carved Wood "Deposit Trash Here" Sign c.1940

Located in San Francisco, CA

About This is an original hand craved and hand painted wooden "Deposit Trash Here" sign. Creator: Unknown. Date of manufacture: c.1940. Materials and techniques: Wood, paint....

Category

Early 20th Century Rustic Signs

Materials

Wood

Early 20th C. Church Bulletin Board with WW2 Photos, c.1940
Early 20th C. Church Bulletin Board with WW2 Photos, c.1940

Early 20th C. Church Bulletin Board with WW2 Photos, c.1940

Located in San Francisco, CA

About An exterior wooden church bulletin board with glass door and original WW11 black and white photos.  Creator unknown. Date of manufacture c....

Category

Early 20th Century Rustic Signs

Materials

Wood, Glass, Paper

Hand Painted Double Sided SFPD Sign, circa 1950
Hand Painted Double Sided SFPD Sign, circa 1950

Hand Painted Double Sided SFPD Sign, circa 1950

Located in San Francisco, CA

About This is an original large, hand painted wooden San Francisco Police Department street closed sign. The sign is double sided and shows some wear to...

Category

Early 20th Century Rustic Signs

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Wood

Vintage Primitive Rustic Extra-Large Santa Fe Railroad Red & White Painted Metal
Vintage Primitive Rustic Extra-Large Santa Fe Railroad Red & White Painted Metal

Vintage Primitive Rustic Extra-Large Santa Fe Railroad Red & White Painted Metal

Located in Topeka, KS

Awesome vintage extra large Santa Fe Railroad red and white painted metal sign. It is in outstanding primitive and rustic condition with lots of gorgeous age patina including missing paint and fading. Please see photos, circa mid-20th century. Need some incredible wall décor for your industrial loft or boho chic living space? Or maybe you collect railroad memorabilia...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Rustic Signs

Materials

Metal

Solid Bronze and Enamel Theatre Sign, circa 1920
Solid Bronze and Enamel Theatre Sign, circa 1920

Solid Bronze and Enamel Theatre Sign, circa 1920

Located in San Francisco, CA

ABOUT This is an original solid bronze sign with white enamel letters. CREATOR Unknown. DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1920-1940 MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES Bronze, Enamel. CON...

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Early 20th Century Rustic Signs

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

“S.D. Maddock “ Antique Carved And Painted Trade Sign
“S.D. Maddock “ Antique Carved And Painted Trade Sign

“S.D. Maddock “ Antique Carved And Painted Trade Sign

Located in Bridgeport, CT

Black painted wood with rounded ends and carved and gilt letters- S.D. Maddock. Wear to the paint and gilt, chips to the front and edges- all expected ...

Category

19th Century Antique Rustic Signs

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Wood

Early German Hand-Painted Hat Maker Sign
Early German Hand-Painted Hat Maker Sign

Early German Hand-Painted Hat Maker Sign

Sold

H 19 in W 26.5 in D 0.5 in

Early German Hand-Painted Hat Maker Sign

Located in Peekskill, NY

This is a beautifully painted Iron two sided sign. It was for a cap and Hat maker. One side shows a civilian hat and the other shows a military or police ca...

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Late 19th Century German Antique Rustic Signs

Early And Rustic Parasol and Umbrella Store Sign
Early And Rustic Parasol and Umbrella Store Sign

Early And Rustic Parasol and Umbrella Store Sign

Located in Peekskill, NY

I'm guessing this tomb stone shaped wood sign is early 19th century. It stands an impressive 6 foot tall and had tons of rustic character. It reads 158, EP ...

Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Rustic Signs

Large Antique Store Snake, Germany circa 1820
Large Antique Store Snake, Germany circa 1820

Large Antique Store Snake, Germany circa 1820

Located in Berghuelen, DE

a very rare so called "shop snake" from a german general store. these snakes have been hanged above the counter in general and village stores in the 19th century, and have been used ...

Category

19th Century German Antique Rustic Signs

Materials

Wood

Rustic signs for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Rustic signs for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, 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 and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, pine and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Rustic signs made in a specific country, there are Europe, United Kingdom, and Belgium 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 $619 and tops out at $2,995 while the average work can sell for $1,744.