In France shop signs served as house numbers until the French Revolution. The first signs appeared in the early 13th century and were coat of arms. Carved above the main entrance door, they indicated private houses or mansions.
Inns and hostels soon followed the example so that their provincial and foreign customers could find them easily. The use of signs increased during the 14th century to become common a century later when every house, inn, restaurant, hostel and shop had its own.
Made of painted metal sheet, they were as large as possible to draw attention and advertise a specific trade and were hanging at the end of a metal or wooden pole.
Shop and house signs became so popular that their overwhelming number eventually became a problem. Not only did they darken the narrow and busy alleys of our medieval towns, cities and villages, but they were also noisy and dangerous as they threatened to fall at the slightest gust of wind.
It was not until the mid-18th century that these hanging signs were banned and were replaced with painted boards placed on the facades. House and shop signs then gradually disappeared with the numbering of the houses.
But they reappeared in the last decades and shop keepers compete of ingenuity and creativity to produce the most original design. This series shows you some contemporary signs that are largely inspired by the medieval ones and seem to revive a long gone tradition, they are fun yet elegant, draw attention and represent perfectly the trade they advertise.
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Very interesting! My husband’s town in Italy still has a few signs like this, although they are gradually disappearing.
Thanks Liz! People love these signs as they are very attractive. There are more and more of them as they also give off a feeling of “old traditions”.
Very charming!
Such an interesting post, DeeBee!
Thanks Sandra,
They add so much to the atmosphere of a street and they are all a mini “masterpiece” !