Ghanaian Barber's Sign

Two braided heads gaze sideways in front of a striped flag.

This painted wood barber's sign from Ghana is by Unique Hair Do, from Ghana, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. Sign painting in Ghana is a lively local craft in which painters work on wood and metal with enamel paint, combining lettering, portraits and playful pictures. A cut-out painted panel shows two women with tight braids set against red and white stripes and a blue triangle with a white star. Red script lettering runs at right, and an artist's signature sits at lower left. It is 18 inches wide, 0.25 deep and 11 high.

Salon advertising, executed with more flair than most posters manage.