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a small sampling of 19th and early 20th century american folk art trade signs

the trade signs found on or around the exterior and/or interior commercial building storefronts took on many forms in early american cities. when education was a privilege and literacy rare, the ideal trade sign immediately caught the attention of a passerby and, because of its design, was completely self-explanatory in terms of the trade it represented.

 

several skilled artisans, such as  wood carvers and painters, created two and three-dimensional signs that bore imagery or symbolism  designed to visually represent  the type of establishment or the services found within that shop or office. in most cases these trade signs usually carried double-sided imagery and/or fanciful shadowed lettering and were hung from a tall wood or iron post  or fanciful scrolliated wrought iron brackets mounted at right angles to the street, so as to be visible to travelers approaching  from either direction.

 

the more elaborate and  highly sought after early american  three-dimensional carved wood trade signs were often crafted by the hands of highly talented artisans  that worked in the woodshops where figureheads and other ship ornaments were produced. over time however, more and  more shops were created that specialized in this type of signage. consequently, storefronts and sidewalks of main street america in the 19th and early 20th-century were heavily populated with brightly painted polychromatic freestanding cigar store indians, punches, barber poles, molars, mortars and pestles, pretzels, eyeglasses and several other highly unique and visually distinctive signs representing any and all  trades.

 

the downfall or steady decline of early artistic signage happened around the turn of the century, when the introduction of electric signage, using flashy incandescent light bulbs and  later, richly colored  neon tubing, gained widespread popularity - primarily for its capability of promoting a business in the evening hours.

 

the existing stock of hand-crafted trades signs or figures bearing the original painted  finish is few and far between - with the majority of this form advertising being tucked away in private collections, local historical society basements and a few museums containing folk art exhibitions. because these signs were often displayed or showcased outdoors, the elements, vandalism and  frequent urination from dogs and other wandering animals would  make it necessary to paint over the wear and discoloration time and again. thus, finding a trade sign with the original or "first" paint makes it very rare and incredibly desirable on today's market.

 

the trade signs featured in the post represent a small sampling from the bldg. 51 museum collection.

 



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