Whimsical Signs
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Pine
Antique Mid-19th Century American Folk Art Signs
Wood
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century American Signs
Wood
Vintage 1940s Dutch Signs
Brass, Aluminum
Mid-20th Century American Decorative Art
Steel
Vintage 1970s American Signs
Steel
Vintage 1970s American Signs
Wood
People Also Browsed
Early 2000s Swiss Jewelry Boxes
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Folk Art Carnival Art
Canvas
Antique 18th Century French Paintings
Early 20th Century English Signs
Wrought Iron
Antique 1830s French Louis XVI Paintings
Canvas, Paint
20th Century American Adirondack Signs
Wood
Early 20th Century French Japonisme Wallpaper
Wood, Paper
Vintage 1940s American Country Beds and Bed Frames
Pine
Antique Late 19th Century American Folk Art Signs
Wood
Vintage 1960s American Signs
Aluminum, Steel
Antique 1880s American Folk Art Signs
Silk
1970s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas, Acrylic
Antique Late 19th Century Hungarian Bookcases
Glass, Wood, Paint
Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Blanket Chests
Pine
Vintage 1960s English Folk Art Carnival Art
Wood
1960s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Handmade Paper
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century American Signs
Antique 19th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
20th Century American Signs
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Signs
Paper
Vintage 1940s American Folk Art Signs
Fiberglass
Antique 19th Century Unknown Folk Art Signs
Iron
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Early 20th Century American Signs
Early 20th Century Irish Signs
Pine
Antique 19th Century Unknown Signs
Bronze
Antique 19th Century Signs
Vintage 1950s American Decorative Art
Metal
Vintage 1950s American Other Sports Equipment and Memorabilia
Copper
1990s North American Signs
Glass, Lucite
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Signs
Plywood
20th Century Swiss Folk Art Signs
Metal
20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Steel
20th Century French Architectural Elements
Iron
Vintage 1950s American Signs
Vintage 1940s Signs
Vintage 1930s American Signs
Wood
Early 20th Century American Signs
Wood
20th Century American Signs
Steel
Vintage 1960s American Signs
Wood
20th Century American Signs
Wood
20th Century American Rustic Signs
Vintage 1950s American Folk Art Signs
Steel
Vintage 1940s American Signs
Antique 19th Century American Signs
Metal
Vintage 1960s American Signs
20th Century English Signs
Wood
Vintage 1950s American Folk Art Signs
Aluminum
Vintage 1930s American Signs
Vintage 1930s American Signs
Sheet Metal
Early 20th Century American Signs
Wood
Vintage 1940s American Signs
20th Century American Signs
Metal
Vintage 1940s American Signs
Paper, Ink
20th Century American Signs
Vintage 1930s American Signs
Early 20th Century American Signs
Paint, Paper
Vintage 1930s American Signs
Wood
Early 20th Century French Signs
Sheet Metal, Iron
Vintage 1940s American Signs
Wood
20th Century English Paintings
Tin
20th Century English Decorative Art
Paint
Vintage 1950s American Signs
Sheet Metal
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Signs
Antique Early 1900s English Signs
Hardwood, Paint
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Signs
Steel
20th Century Signs
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Signs
Canvas
20th Century American Wall-mounted Sculptures
Steel
Antique 19th Century French Signs
Canvas
Antique 19th Century French Signs
Canvas
Whimsical Signs For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Whimsical Signs?
Finding the Right Signs for You
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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