About 300 years ago, groups of religious refugees from the Rhine region of Germany migrated to southeastern Pennsylvania. These settlers, peasant farmers, came to take advantage of the religious freedom being offered by William Penn. They included Amish, Mennonites, Lutherans and other Reformed groups. These people became known as "Pennsylvania Dutch". Bringing their old-world customs and traditions to Pennsylvania, the "fancy" farmers decorated their distinctive bank barns with large, colorful geometric patterns. Mystical bird and floral designs graced birth and marriage certificates, family bibles and some furniture. These very colorful symbols, now called Hex Signs, had meanings or "legends". A design was selected based on both its aesthetics and meaning for the family. Some of the more popular symbols included, but not limited to: sun wheel for warmth and fertility, hearts for love, birds (called Distlefink) for good luck and happiness, tulips for faith and stars for luck. The specific colors used also had meaning: red for your emotions, yellow for love of man and the sun, green for growing things, blue for protection, white for purity, and brown for Mother Earth. Early hex signs were painstakingly hand painted directly on walls, doors, books, etc. Jacob Zook, an 11th generation PA Dutchman, had a boyhood fascination with hex symbols that developed into a "Love Affair" as he grew older. On or about 1942, he began experimenting with hand silk screening of these symbols on round disks. Silk screening would make hex signs available at a modest cost for everyone's enjoyment. Hex Signs are still made this way today. Most hex symbols are screened using four paint colors. Each color is applied as a separate step with about a day allowed for the paint to air dry before applying the next color. It's only after the fourth or final color is applied that the hex design becomes recognizable.



Artists who design and hand paint Hex Signs are known as "Hexologist", there are many silkscreen manufactures producing silkscreen signs today, but only a few Hexologist are practicing their art today and offer their Hex Signs hand painted such as Ivan Hoyt. In my online store https://unclejacksdelights.com/hexspec.htm and eBay, that it is my pleasure to offer both Jacob Zook (Zook's Dutch Novelties) and Ivan Hoyt (Conestoga) designed "silkscreened" Hex Signs. My Hex Signs are now being enjoyed throughout the world. Their color, beauty, originality and affordability make them unusual delightful gifts for family and friends. Symbol Meanings





The Symbol Its Meaning Circle Eternity or Infinity Distelfink (Bird) Good Luck and Happiness Dove Peace and Contentment Eagle Good Health, Strength and Courage Four Pointed Star Bright Day Heart Love and Kindness Horse Head Protect Animals from Disease and Building from Lightning Maple Leaf Contentment Oak Leaf Strength Quarter Moons (4) Four Seasons of the Year Raindrops Abundance, Fertility, Rain Rosette Good Luck. Keep Away Bad Luck and Evil Star Good Luck Triple Star Success, Wealth and Happiness Tulip Faith Tulips (Trinity - 3) Faith, Hope and Charity Twelve Pointed Rosette A Joyous Month for Each Month of the Year Unicorn Virtue and Piety. Belief in God Wavy Border Smooth Sailing Through Life

Indoor Use / Outdoor Use 8" Size : Put one small rustproof screw or nail (Brass) in the hole near the center of the Hex Sign.

16" size : Put one small rustproof screw or nail (Brass) in the hole near the center of the Hex Sign. Drill 3 small holes, equally spaced, near the outer edge. Fasten with 3 rustproof screws or nails (Brass).

24" size: Put one small rustproof screw or nail (Brass) in the hole near the center of the Hex Sign. Drill 4 small holes, equally spaced, near the outer edge. Fasten with 4 rustproof screws or nails (Brass). All signs must be mounted on a flat surface tightening the screws or nails on an uneven surface will damage the sign.



For Outdoor Use : it is strongly suggested to seal the back and outside edge of the Hex Sign with a

Clear Acrylic Coating .

If the sign will be placed facing direct sunlight it is suggested to use a UV-Resistant Clear Acrylic Coating to the front of the sign .



There may be a hole in the center and a notch located on the outside edge that was used in the silk screen process which can be used to hold down the outside edge. Each sign is made individually using high quality paints on the front of the sign but no coating on the back therefore the back of the sign should never be exposed to the weather .



Each pattern and sign are unique in some way. Enjoy you silk screen art!