On Lviv’s Ghost Signs: ‘The House with a Stained Glass Window’

On Lviv’s ghost signs from the book “The House with a Stained Glass Window” (by Żanna Słoniowska, 2015), which takes place in the early 1990s: I had always tried my best to read the city like a great book, but it turned out he was the one who knew its […]

Ruins of Mikolasch Passage

Mikolasch Passage was a glass-covered shopping arcade, which housed two cinemas, restaurants, cafes, and shops. The passage was built between 1898 and 1900. One entrance was from Kopernyka Street, through the entrance of Piotr Mikolasch’s famous pharmacy. (In 1853 in Piotr Mikolasch’s pharmacy, Jogann Zeh and Ignacy Lukasiewicz invented the […]

French Ghost Sign in Lviv Theater

Inside of Les Kurbas Theater in Lviv is a ghost sign in French. The building was built in 1909 and originally functioned as a variety theater. The sign dates from the first era (1909-1918), or possibly from the interwar period since I see “Polonia” written there (though seems that during […]

Ghost Sign on Former Bookstore

A ghost sign on a former bookstore called Nowości, which existed in the interwar period. Today the space houses a small store selling art and office supplies, among other things. Here’s a listing of the bookstore in a directory from 1939:

Ghost Sign: Gothenburg

Gothenburg’s Sandwich Shop Fresh butter Fresh eggs  

Ghost Signs: Stockholm

In Memoriam: Soviet Fox Sign

Today I was very sad to discover that my favorite Soviet sign has vanished. This lovely fox sign, a remnant of a Soviet-era fur studio, used to protrude from my building, but as of recently, it’s been removed (and rather mysteriously I’d say because the storefront has been empty for […]

Remnants of the Past in Klosterneuburg

Traces of the past in Klosterneuburg, an ancient town right outside of Vienna. Boot Scraper Guard Stones Hoisting Beam for Lifting Goods Building Number and Conscription Number Metal Shutter

Ghost Signs: Vienna

I was a bit surprised to find almost no ghost signs in Vienna. Here’s what I did find…

Zniesienczanka Laundry Ghost Sign in Lviv

On Saturday I went on a bicycle excursion to the Pidzamche neighborhood in Lviv and found this amazing very recently uncovered ghost sign! It must have been uncovered in the last month because it wasn’t visible when I was wandering around this neighborhood in May. Judging from the sign, in […]