A carved sign has its lettering or design shaped into the material, rather than printed or painted flat. That can mean raised letters, a recessed background, or letters cut deep into the surface. Either way, the result has real depth and shadow that a flat sign can’t match, and it holds up well outdoors. It’s one of the oldest forms of sign making, closely tied to wood carving.
Hand-Carved Signs and Quarterboards
At our shop in Edgewater, Maryland, we shape teak and mahogany by hand, with chisels and gouges rather than a machine. It’s slower work, but it gives a piece a character that’s hard to copy. Most of it ends up on boats, as quarterboards and name boards for yachts like Carinya. We also make house signs and welcome signs this way, like this mahogany welcome sign in Severna Park. Every piece is its own project, and a craftsman’s hand stays on it from the first cut to the final finish.
Machine-Cut Signs
Some signs, especially in HDU, come from a CNC router instead of hand tools. The router can cut incised letters and a textured background that look remarkably like handwork. We don’t combine the two approaches on the same piece. Instead, we choose one or the other, based on the project.
Carved Lettering in Stone
We also cut letters into stone, often on site. Our work includes lettering at the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC, and a memorial wall in Howard County. For the community of Campus Green in Arnold, we made a granite sign with gold leaf letters.
Carved Signs and Gold Leaf
Many of our finished pieces get genuine 23 karat gold leaf. In a letter groove, the gold catches the light and makes the name stand out. Teak and mahogany bring natural grain and warmth, while HDU resists rot and moisture, so it holds its shape for years. Read more about choosing wood for a sign.
See the Work
- Teak quarterboards for Carinya
- Mahogany quarterboards for Mystic Lady
- Mahogany welcome sign in palladium leaf
- Teak address sign with gold leaf
- Nantucket-style teak house sign
- Gilded sign for Old Stein Inn
- Stone lettering at the World War II Memorial
- Granite sign for Campus Green
Browse our handmade signs, routed HDU signs, quarterboards, monument lettering, and cedar signs. Our What We Do page shows everything we build.
Contact Designs & Signs
Thinking about a carved sign of your own? Send us a message through our contact form, or call (410) 798-5115.