Antique Advertising & Displays
Original antique advertising sourced from old stockrooms, estate clearances and commercial spaces. Every piece genuine, every piece unrepeatable.
Our collection of antique advertising brings together original commercial art and promotional material spanning the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. From antique lithograph signs and vintage brand signage to early printed promotional materials and antique advertisement posters, these pieces represent the visual language of an era when advertising was designed to last.
Vintage commercial art was produced for a wide range of industries including tobacco, food and drink, patent medicines, motor oil and household goods. Many pieces were created by commercial artists whose work was never credited, yet the quality of draughtsmanship, colour and composition stands alongside anything produced in a formal artistic context. Antique promotional material from this period reflects the sophistication of early commercial design at a time when every element was considered and every colour mixed by hand.
Early 20th century antique advertising marked a significant period in the development of visual communication. Lithograph signs and antique advertisement posters from this period were produced using printing techniques that gave them a richness and depth that modern reproduction cannot replicate. Original pieces carry the marks of their commercial lives, the fading and wear that comes from decades of public display.
Today antique advertising is collected for its graphic quality, historical significance and connection to a vanished commercial world. Each piece in the Heimwee collection is selected for its originality, visual character and the story it carries.
Advertising
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Antique advertising refers to original commercial promotional material produced over one hundred years ago. This includes lithograph signs, printed posters, enamel signs, painted boards and early promotional printed materials produced during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries for commercial businesses and public institutions.
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Most antique advertising and vintage commercial art was produced by specialist commercial printing and sign making businesses rather than individual artists. Many of the commercial artists who designed these pieces worked anonymously. Despite this, the quality of illustration, typography and colour in early 20th century advertising reflects a high level of craft that is increasingly recognised by collectors and designers.
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The value of antique advertising is determined by a combination of factors including rarity, condition, subject matter, graphic quality and the brand or industry represented. Pieces advertising well known historical brands or featuring exceptional commercial illustration tend to command the most interest. Original pieces in good condition with minimal restoration are always preferred by serious collectors.
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Antique lithograph signs were produced using a printing process in which designs were drawn onto stone or metal plates and transferred onto paper, card or tin using oil based inks. The process allowed for detailed illustration and rich colour and was widely used for commercial advertising during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Lithograph signs produced on tin are particularly durable and have survived in greater numbers than paper based advertising materials.
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Original antique advertising will show consistent ageing across the entire surface including the reverse side and edges. Later reprints and licensed reproductions typically use modern printing techniques that produce a uniformity of colour and texture not found in genuine antiques. Examining the printing method, fixings and any marks or labels on the reverse can help establish whether a piece is an original or a later reproduction.
