1990s New York City Subway 'Bowery' Station Sign

Description

This is a striking piece of subway and design history in enviable, well-preserved condition. This is a five-foot sign from … more This is a striking piece of subway and design history in enviable, well-preserved condition. This is a five-foot sign from the Bowery station of the New York City subway's "J" and "Z" lines, which is located along one of New York City's most storied and historic thoroughfares. First a famously destitute avenue in the 19th century, then the stomping grounds of New York's punk rock scene (the iconic 'CBGB' was located on the Bowery), and now a chic stretch of museums, boutiques, supply stores, and more, the Bowery is one of the most famous streets in all of the five boroughs. This sign, cast in porcelain enamel upon steel, marks both an important piece of city history as well as design history.

The sign language dates to the legendary work of Italian designers Massimo Vignelli and Bob Noorda, who, at the helm of their storied Unimark corporation, redesigned the New York City subway beginning in 1966 with a set of graphic standards that has persisted to this day. Each aspect of this sign – from the modular layout, to the clean Helvetica text, to the simple white on black stripe – traces to the work of Vignelli and Noorda so many years ago. Today, the MoMA keeps multiple examples of such signs in their permanent collection, and any number of brands, artists, and other graphic design aficionados have copied a style that has come to signify New York and everything about it. The white bar atop the sign is meant to sandwich between a steel mount and the sign itself, creating the famous 'stripe' seen throughout the city subway.

This sign was likely installed in the early 1990s and removed from service about ten or fifteen years ago. Condition is excellent, with light discoloration and wear around the mounts atop the sign and some slight scratching along the face. The face is a matte finish that reflects light but does not mirror the room. This sign is fairly heavy, but can be shipped. less