Handmade Signs & Gold Leaf
We make carved quarterboards, gold leaf boat names, custom life rings, and dimensional signs and letters.
We also hand-gild house numbers and transom windows on historic homes in Annapolis, Baltimore and Washington, DC.
What We Do
We make handmade signs that last for generations: carved quarterboards, gold leaf boat names, custom life rings, dimensional signs and letters, and gold leaf house numbers.
Every sign is designed, built and finished in our Edgewater, Maryland shop, then installed or shipped wherever it needs to go.
Design
We draw up a custom design and refine it with you until it’s right.
Manufacture
We carve, paint and gild every sign by hand in our shop..
Install
We install locally or ship your finished sign, ready to hang.
Our History
Designs & Signs was founded in 1976 by Brendon J. Brandon, whose sign making career has taken him across Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain and the United States. He is a past President of the International Society of Gilders and spent six years as head editor of its magazine, “The Gilder’s Tip.” He has taught gilding and sign making for the Smithsonian Institution, the Fashion Institute of Technology and other organizations. Today, his son Travis Brandon, also a master gilder, runs the shop in Edgewater, Maryland, carrying on the same traditional craft.
From The Portfolio
Follow us while we work.
Carved Stone Lettering at the World War II Memorial in DC
Carved stone lettering at the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC, sandblasted on site by our stone carver Kevin Nick.
Gold Leaf Lettering for Boats: How We Gild a Boat Name
Discover the beauty of gold leaf lettering for boats. Customized designs deliver elegance and detail for every boat owner.
Architectural Mural on Brick: Bond Street Wharf, Baltimore
Explore the stunning architectural mural at Bond Street Wharf, a monumental artwork that showcases our passion for painting.
Community Entrance Sign: Brushed Metal Letters on Marine Pilings
Learn about the elegant Mariners Cove Community Entrance Sign, designed with marine materials and durable construction.
Gold Leaf Yacht Lettering: Audrey’s Hand-Rendered Boat Name
Experience the meticulous process of gold leaf yacht lettering. Our dedication guarantees beautiful results for your boat.
Teak Name Boards: Hand-Carved Gold Leaf Quarterboards
Teak boat name boards hand-carved and gilded in 23 karat gold leaf by Designs & Signs. See the Mallard quarterboards and why teak lasts.
Glass Gilding in Baltimore: Mt. Washington Tavern
Discover glass gilding techniques applied at The Mt. Washington Tavern. See how we create beautiful gold leaf designs.
Historic Building Mural: EJ Codd Co. in Baltimore
The E.J. Codd building showcases an Architectural Mural that captures the essence of classic factory painted signs.
Architectural Gilding at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Architectural gilding on carved monument letters at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, MD.
Burnished Silver Leaf Boat Name: Hummingbird on a Fleming
Hummingbird is another Fleming yacht with a boat name in burnished silver leaf. We lettered her name in a large, flowing script, and we set her hailing port, Pensacola, Florida, in capitals below. Like our silver leaf boat name for Pearl, this name pairs silver leaf...
Silver Leaf Boat Name: Pearl, a Fleming at Burr Yacht Sales
This silver leaf boat name belongs to Pearl, a Fleming yacht we lettered at Burr Yacht Sales in Edgewater, Maryland. We laid the name in burnished silver leaf in a beautiful brush script, and we set her hailing port, Venice, Florida, in classic capitals below. In the...
Mahogany Boat Sign: Gold Leaf and a Marlin for reKUPPERation
This mahogany boat sign for reKUPPERation is now on display at Burgee Bar. The name is a clever play on words, so we wanted the design to have some fun with it. As a result, a blue marlin sweeps across the board and curls right into the lettering. A Mahogany Boat Sign...
Palladium Leaf Quarterboard: Katalyst on Display in Key Largo
Katalyst is a palladium leaf quarterboard we made in our Edgewater shop. Today it hangs on display at the Burgee Bar in Key Largo, Florida. The board is mahogany with notched corners, and its bold, flowing script matches the energy of the name. Script Lettering with...
Fishing Boat Quarterboard: Fish Whisperer in Gold Leaf
Fish Whisperer is a fishing boat quarterboard we carved in mahogany in our Edgewater shop. The board measures 48 inches long and 10 inches tall. It also has notched corners and classic serif lettering. As a result, the name has a little personality. Carved Mahogany...
Mahogany Quarterboard: Chelsea, Carved and Gilded in Gold Leaf
We made Chelsea, a traditional mahogany quarterboard, in our Edgewater shop and shipped it to the Burgee Bar. The board is 47 inches long and 13 inches tall. Notched corners and tall, narrow letters give the name a classic nautical look. We carved the letters into the...
Let’s Get Started!
We’ve been making signs by hand since 1976, from gold leaf boat names and carved quarterboards to dimensional letters and glass gilding.
The quickest way to begin is to send us a message with your project details, and we’ll get back to you with ideas and pricing.
We look forward to working with you!