It isn’t often that you see well-preserved, handmade cardboard advertising signs from the 1940s for sale — so when we spotted nine fantastic vintage furniture store signs from ebay seller wafa510, we just had to feature them. The best thing about these signs is that they were all hand lettered — a real art form that is dying out in this age of computers, fonts and fast, easy printing. Let’s take a look.
Just think about how steady-handed the person who painted these signs had to be — especially to make perfectly straight rules under the words. All of the signs are impeccably lettered and centered within each cardboard panel. That takes some serious skill, folks!
There are very few people left today who still practice the art of sign painting. About two years ago, Faythe Levine & Sam Macon produced a documentary about sign painting — called Sign Painters.
Above: Per reader Anna, a video about the sign painters at the recently closed Honest Ed’s in Toronto. <3
This one even has 3D lettering!
When it comes to artwork for our walls, we like to mix up our media — paintings [oil, watercolor, acrylic], drawings, lino prints, posters, collages, assemblages, fiber arts, needle arts, chalkware, a ceramic wall pocket, a shadow box, a vintage clock. Hey: The perfect spot for a hand-lettered advertising sign somewhere, too???
Mega thanks to ebay seller wafa510 for allowing us to feature photos of these fantastic vintage furniture store signs.
Link Love:
Jay says
Very interesting! I can just imagine what those living room suites looked like: I sat on quite a few mohair and velour furniture as a kid when taken on visits to relatives’ homes.
Marsha says
I took a couple of drafting classes in high school and college. I remember how VERY particular the instructors were when it came to lettering. There was no A for effort.
Pencils says
My dad did sign painting on the side all through my childhood. He loved a yellow wash in the background. He was a NYPD officer, but went to Manhattan’s High School of Music & Art (not Art & Design, it doesn’t exist anymore, I think it was merged with another school) where he had training. It does make me sad that there aren’t hand-painted signs anymore, it was such a familiar part of my childhood. My dad occasionally paints decorative signs for the family–he’s doing a “Montauk” one for my sister right now–and he does amazing greeting cards. But it’s not the same, and as far as I know he doesn’t have any of his signs, they all were used. However, you can see some of his signs in the movie Death Wish III (a terrible movie) which was partially filmed in his precinct and some signs my dad lettered were hanging on the walls. It’s been years since I’ve seen it–as I said, a BAD movie.
pam kueber says
Wow! Now I want to create a major campaign to bring back hand lettered signs!
Kathy says
I saw the film on Independent Lens on PBS about a year ago. It is terrific, and I am sad to see these old beauties go. The book, “Mastering Layout: On the Art of Eye Appeal” by Mike Stevens, was mentioned in the movie and is still in print.
In the past 15 years or so, MCM storefronts and their signs have been recognized as worth preserving or adapting, even when new businesses move in. It worth taking a look at the State of Illinois Historical Society web site for that and their redesigns that honor the mid-century design heritage, and a terrific early document that helped bring these old beauties to be appreciated again:
http://www.illinois.gov/ihpa/preserve/mid-century/pages/midcentury.aspx
tammyCA says
As much as I appreciate the computer age for a lot of things, I absolutely adore hand lettering & art. When I look at my vintage magazines every page is really filled with works of art. Same with old movies and the gorgeous script in credits. Old cartoons, too..I just can’t get into the computer made animation of today. Recently, I noticed a beautiful vintage Aqua neon jewelry store name in script was replaced to plain white block letters! Makes me sad as the sign had been there for gosh knows how long & it was so pretty.
Steve H says
I would like to see what the $249.00 mohair suite looked like. That had to have been a pretty deluxe price back in the 1940’s.
pam kueber says
Furniture was very expensive back in the day. Way more expensive in real dollars than today. But then, it was all made in the U.S. and I would speculate, with much better materials.
Steph says
I don’t know, man. $79 in 1940 is only $1324 in 2015 (according to the CPI Inflation Calculator). I don’t know if you can get a *comparable quality* 3 piece living room suite for $1324 now.
pam kueber says
Yes, you are right. Me no know.
ElectraChime says
i love the variety of things posted on this blog!
pam kueber says
Thanks, Robert!
ElectraChime says
These are so beautiful. Sadly it does seem to be a dying art.
There are some restaurants and coffee shops around here that take pride in their hand written menus or chalkboards although it isn’t quite the same thing although I admire them.
Woody Guthrie was a sign painter before setting out for glory.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5029946
Siri says
Willem de Kooning was also a sign painter! You can see it in his brushstrokes! When I used to “paint” … my favorite ever brush was a traditional sign-painter’s brush! What an incredible art, and I’m so glad that an appreciative bunch of young(er) people are keeping the art alive, even at small, limited scales. (Along with letterpress…)
Anna says
The sign painters of Honest Ed’s – a Toronto institution
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOrAeW7soVI
http://thevarsity.ca/2014/03/17/honest-eds-holds-massive-sign-sale-before-closing-in-2016/
pam kueber says
Thanks, Anna! I added the video to the story!
Holly says
Thanks for the video link. Very interesting. Shopping at Honest Ed’s was such an experience.
While shopping there in the 90’s I never really thought about the signs on the merchandise. They were just there. And so many! Amazing to see all the work that went into those.
The charitable spirit of the store is true. It was tradition for the store give away a limited amount of turkeys around Christmas. Crazy, crazy line ups.
Very sad the store is scheduled to close soon enough.
Mary says
I took a lettering course in college, and was actually hired as a sign maker for Safeway, which I never started because the union dues were more than I would have made. I’ve always admired the hand lettered signs in grocery stores, and also when people paint scenes on the windows of stores.