29 Oct 2014

Ghostsigns in Amsterdam & Some Repainted

Fading painted sign on a wall and a bicycle
Ghostsign (c.1893) and bicycle on Spuistraat, Amsterdam

Last month I visited Amsterdam as part of my work on Better Letters. (Read more about it here, including lots more photos of lettering and signage.) While there I saw a number of ghostsigns, including many that have been repainted as part of the work that features in the book Tekens Aan De Wand. Below are a few of the photos I took, but also one for Fiat that I haven’t ever shared from my trip there in December 2007. This is unusual versus the rest which largely seem to be for small businesses as opposed to big global brands.

(Click here for more blog posts about ghostsigns in the Netherlands.)

Remains of painted sign for Fiat on a wall
Partial Fiat ghostsign
Painted sign on a wall for Motor Stalling
Repainted sign for Motor Stalling, featured as a restoration in the book Tekens Aan De Wand
Painted sign on the front of a building for Fijnstrijkerij Van Buiten
Repainted sign for Fijnstrijkerij Van Buiten, featured as a restoration in Tekens Aan De Wand
Painted sign on a wall for Cafe Sluterij
Sign for what at first glance appears to be Cafe Slutery, but is actually Cafe Sluterij
Painted advertising on a wall advertising two different companies
Repainted signs for two companies, featured as a restoration in the book Tekens Aan De Wand
Gold shop fascia lettering saying Comestibles
Fading fascia, part of a larger design on this corner building
Painted sign on a wall for A.v.Wees Cola Drink
Repainted sign for A.v.Wees Cola Drink, featured as a restoration in the book Tekens Aan De Wand

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