Antique French Shop Signs Photos

Early French shops used merchandise symbols to lure in people who could not read. Many such signs are now in museum collections.

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Wrought iron cantilevered shop signs at Wrought Iron Museum. Rouen, France.Wrought iron cantilevered shop signs at Wrought Iron Museum. Rouen, France.Wrought iron cantilevered shop signs at Wrought Iron Museum. Rouen, France.Wrought iron cantilevered shop signs at Wrought Iron Museum. Rouen, France.
Wrought iron cantilevered shop signs at Wrought Iron Museum. Rouen, France.Wrought iron cantilevered shop signs at Wrought Iron Museum. Rouen, France.Wrought iron cantilevered shop signs at Wrought Iron Museum. Rouen, France.Wrought iron cantilevered shop signs at Wrought Iron Museum. Rouen, France.
Wrought iron cantilevered shop sign at Wrought Iron Museum. Rouen, France.Wrought iron cantilevered shop sign at Wrought Iron Museum. Rouen, France.Wrought iron cantilevered shop sign at Wrought Iron Museum. Rouen, France.Wrought iron shop sign holding grapes from Paris at Wrought Iron Museum. Rouen, France.
Wrought iron cantilevered shop sign at Wrought Iron Museum. Rouen, France.Wrought iron cantilevered shop sign at Wrought Iron Museum. Rouen, France.Wrought iron cantilevered shop sign at Wrought Iron Museum. Rouen, France.Wrought iron shop sign holding grapes (18thC) from Paris at Wrought Iron Museum. Rouen, France.
Iron wall sign of A la Tour d'Argent cabaret from Paris at Wrought Iron Museum. Rouen, France.Iron wall sign of A la Barbe d'Or barber shop from Paris at Wrought Iron Museum. Rouen, France.Iron wall sign of A l'Homme Armé at Wrought Iron Museum. Rouen, France.Iron wall signs from various shops at Wrought Iron Museum. Rouen, France.
Iron wall sign of A la Tour d'Argent cabaret (18thC) from Paris at Wrought Iron Museum. Rouen, France.Iron wall sign of A la Barbe d'Or barber shop (19thC) from Paris at Wrought Iron Museum. Rouen, France.Iron wall sign of A l'Homme Armé at Wrought Iron Museum. Rouen, France.Iron wall signs from various shops at Wrought Iron Museum. Rouen, France.
Gallery with antique metal shop signs & stained glass windows. Paris, France.Gold crown sign advertising an inn from Bourbon Restoration era at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.At the Three Rats possibly a sign for a cheese merchant at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.À La Bonne Rénommée i.e. To the Good Name shop sign at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.
Gallery with antique metal shop signs & stained glass windows. Paris, France.Gold crown sign advertising an inn from Bourbon Restoration era (c1814-30) at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.At the Three Rats (18thC) possibly a sign for a cheese merchant at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.À La Bonne Rénommée i.e. To the Good Name shop sign (18thC) at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.
Little Swiss wine merchant shop sign at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.Veterinary practice sign with carved animals at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.Clairon de Plaisance Café sign advertising breakfast special at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.Insurance Company sign displaying firefighter at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.
Little Swiss wine merchant shop sign (18thC) at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.Veterinary practice sign with carved animals (19thC) at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.Clairon de Plaisance Café sign (late 19thC) advertising breakfast special at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.Insurance Company sign displaying firefighter (late 19thC) at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.
Sailing ship sign for unknown business at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France."To the Millionaire", symbol used by an itinerant bread & milk seller who had the idea to mold his deformed hand for his sign at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.Sign of a well-known jeweler & clockmaker on Rue Saint-Denis at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.Salvaged shop front with large scale model of scissors shop sign beyond at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.
Sailing ship sign (18thC) for unknown business at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France."To the Millionaire", symbol used by an itinerant bread & milk seller who had the idea to mold his deformed hand for his sign (19thC) at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.Sign of a well-known jeweler & clockmaker on Rue Saint-Denis (1st quarter 19thC) at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.Salvaged shop front with large scale model of scissors shop sign beyond at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.
Large pair of glasses used as sign of an optician at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.Au Gourmand, Corcellet grocer's sign painted by Philibert-Louis Debucourt at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.At the Auterlitz Vigil showing reunion of Emperor Napoleon with his officers on wine merchants sign at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.Tobacco of the Great Conqueror tobacco merchant sign showing Napoleon riding across flags of Italy, Prussia, Russia & Turkey at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.
Large pair of glasses used as sign of an optician (early 20thC) at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.Au Gourmand, Corcellet grocer's sign painted (c1801) by Philibert-Louis Debucourt at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.At the Auterlitz Vigil showing reunion of Emperor Napoleon with his officers on wine merchants sign (19thC) at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.Tobacco of the Great Conqueror tobacco merchant sign (19thC) showing Napoleon riding across flags of Italy, Prussia, Russia & Turkey at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.
Mosaic sign of bar server wrapped in snake-like orange peel on rue de Seine in Latin Quarter. Paris, France.At the Thought painted sign for Henry's menswear, glove & perfume shop by Adolphe Willette at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.La Maison Rose restaurant sign at Montmartre. Paris, France.Painted corner sign for former bakery & pastry shop at corner of Rue des Francs-Bourgeois & Rue de Sévigné. Paris, France.
Mosaic sign of bar server wrapped in snake-like orange peel on rue de Seine in Latin Quarter. Paris, France.At the Thought painted sign (c1900) for Henry's menswear, glove & perfume shop by Adolphe Willette at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.La Maison Rose restaurant sign at Montmartre. Paris, France.Painted corner sign for former bakery & pastry shop at corner of Rue des Francs-Bourgeois & Rue de Sévigné. Paris, France.
Bakery shop sign painting showing harvesting & milling of wheat. Paris, France.Bakery shop sign painting showing harvesting of wheat. Paris, France.Former bakery storefront with quaint painting. Paris, France.Traditional cake pan used as shop sign. Riquewihr, France.
Bakery shop sign painting showing harvesting & milling of wheat. Paris, France.Bakery shop sign painting showing harvesting of wheat. Paris, France.Former bakery storefront with quaint painting (8 rue des Chartreux). Paris, France.Traditional cake pan used as shop sign. Riquewihr, France.
Rabbits on painted shop sign. Riquewihr, France.Half-timbered building & shop sign for clocks. Vannes, France.Restaurant sign of sailor at ship's wheel. St Malo, France.Some of many signs along Grande Rue. Mont-St-Michel, France.
Rabbits on painted shop sign. Riquewihr, France.Half-timbered building & shop sign for clocks. Vannes, France.Restaurant sign of sailor at ship's wheel. St Malo, France.Some of many signs along Grande Rue. Mont-St-Michel, France.
Ornate shop sign advertising postal service along Grande Rue. Mont-St-Michel, France.Old metal sign with a sailing ship advertising hotel along Grande Rue. Mont-St-Michel, France.Fanciful sign above Paul's bakery. Angers, France.Ornamental wrought iron shop sign for Midi au Soleil. Amboise, France.
Ornate shop sign advertising postal service along Grande Rue. Mont-St-Michel, France.Old metal sign with a sailing ship advertising hotel along Grande Rue. Mont-St-Michel, France.Fanciful sign above Paul's bakery. Angers, France.Ornamental wrought iron shop sign for Midi au Soleil. Amboise, France.
Baker's shop sign. Arras, France.Wine shop in Latin Quarter. Paris, France.Charcuterie shop sign. Colmar, France.Shop sign of cellist on half timbered building. Rouen, France.
Baker's shop sign. Arras, France.Wine shop in Latin Quarter. Paris, France.Charcuterie shop sign. Colmar, France.Shop sign of cellist on half timbered building. Rouen, France.
Antique sign for an insurance company. Arles, France.Revealed commercial painted signs including hat shop of father of painter Paul Cezanne on cours Mirabeau. Aix-en-Provence, France.Antique commercial sign on wall of old town building. Aix-en-Provence, France.Painted sign with storks eating a pretzel in Alsace. France.
Antique sign for an insurance company. Arles, France.Revealed commercial painted signs including hat shop of father of painter Paul Cezanne on cours Mirabeau. Aix-en-Provence, France.Antique commercial sign on wall of old town building. Aix-en-Provence, France.Painted sign with storks eating a pretzel in Alsace. France.
Metal stork & baby sign in Alsace. France.Enameled sign at Saint-Paul Asylum. Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France.All You Can Eat sign in Marseille Old Town. Marseille, France.
Metal stork & baby sign in Alsace. France.Enameled sign at Saint-Paul Asylum. Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France.All You Can Eat sign in Marseille Old Town. Marseille, France.

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All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.

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