Sources of Symbols

Trade Signs

(Important Note: I have only uploaded the glyphs I have used in practice sentences and sample constructions. Therefore, not every glyph indicated on these "source" pages is available on my website at the moment. Instead, you'll probably see a lot of these little guys, , indicating that the image can't be loaded.)

Back in the days when most people couldn't read, shopkeepers would hang a picture outside to inform customers what services were being offered. Most of these signs were pretty basic -- glasses, a tooth, a boot, hmm... what could those mean? -- but a few -- barber poles, cigar store Indians -- are more interesting to a student of symbols. Somewhat related are the symbols imbedded into structures, such as the lion's head of a drinking fountain, or the devil on a chimney.

See also Corporate logos and Signs.