LJW Decorative & Antiques

LJW Decorative & Antiques Vintage & antique; bold graphics, vibrant colours, beautiful wear, perfect fading, wonderfully tatty

The British Empire Trophy was a motor race in the UK. Since its inception in 1932, the Empire Trophy was hosted at five ...
23/09/2026

The British Empire Trophy was a motor race in the UK. Since its inception in 1932, the Empire Trophy was hosted at five different circuits and awarded for eleven separate racing categories. The race was run a total of 44 times, spanning over eight decades, making it one of the longest running and most prestigious racing events.

This particular poster was for the race that took part at Donington Park on Saturday 4th April 1936. The artwork is by Jack Starr and this poster design has been described as ‘world famous’ by Sothebys… A decent, original example with flaws that keep it’s price significantly lower than others that have come to market…
It’s in the shop and on the website.

Well maybe this piece hasn’t travelled all that far in its life, or it’s a homing parrot as Sharp’s Toffee was manufactu...
17/09/2026

Well maybe this piece hasn’t travelled all that far in its life, or it’s a homing parrot as Sharp’s Toffee was manufactured in Maidstone, Kent.

This is a rare survivor - a reverse printed and foiled glass panel depicting the company’s trademark parrot. This style of advertisement is the same as printed examples that the company produced in the 1940s. I’ve not seen another example like this and doubt that there are many left. It’s hard to show in the photos, but the red, blue and gold layers are a metallic foiling - giving the piece a reflective sheen; similar to gold leaf on glass. It’s very effective and makes for a striking piece.

Full details are on the website and Hoarde Vintage | Antiques

It’s double-bubble with the Nectar Tea enamel signs on the website today … Both produced by the Patent Enamel Co. of Bir...
16/09/2026

It’s double-bubble with the Nectar Tea enamel signs on the website today … Both produced by the Patent Enamel Co. of Birmingham and both decent, glossy examples from around the 1920s/‘30s.
The white on blue fl**ge sign is really unusual, I’ve never owned one before … The die-cut teacup and saucer, well I’ve lost count of how many I’ve owned but it remains iconic - this is a good example complete with it’s paper distribution label addressed to the Station Master. Swipe through for more photos of each and / or visit the website or Hoarde Vintage | Antiques

A mystery object; or at least this was for me when I first bought it - perhaps you’re all a lot quicker than I was? This...
04/09/2026

A mystery object; or at least this was for me when I first bought it - perhaps you’re all a lot quicker than I was?
This antique, painted grandfather clock face is split vertically down the middle; one half is near perfect, the other half heavily crazed, worn and damaged... How? Had it ended up with half stuck into the ground? A freak chemical spill?
Then it dawned on me (a little belatedly) that it wasn’t that only half of the clock face had worn, but rather that only half of a worn clock face had been restored; a demonstration of the restorer’s skill - presumably for their workshop window.
Wonderfully decorative AND a great conversation starter, see it in person in the shop or make do with my photography and description on the website…

A curious thing to see in it’s disassembled state - this is the metal insert from a glass advertising sign for Wills’s G...
28/08/2026

A curious thing to see in it’s disassembled state - this is the metal insert from a glass advertising sign for Wills’s Gold Flake Ci******es.

Originally this would have had a piece of glass in front of it, reverse printed in the iconic yellow and red of the Gold Flake branding with the areas where the letters are left blank, with this embossed metal sheet behind giving the wording a wonderful, deep three-dimensional effect.

Without its glass frontage there are no crisp lines / defined details so this copper sheet is a bit abstract at first glance. The bare metal has darkened over the years and developed some surface verdigris around the edges. It displays well - a little more subtle than the vibrant advertising it would have once been.

I was trying to be sensible with my latest vehicular purchase, I really was… I mean, it has a roof rack AND it’s ULEZ co...
19/08/2026

I was trying to be sensible with my latest vehicular purchase, I really was… I mean, it has a roof rack AND it’s ULEZ compliant (exempt) so that’s something right?

As is frequently pointed out to me in the shop, it wasn’t all that long ago that enamel signage was worthless. I’ve foun...
14/08/2026

As is frequently pointed out to me in the shop, it wasn’t all that long ago that enamel signage was worthless. I’ve found examples that were used for shed roofs, allotment edging etc etc. This is the first example I’ve encountered that’s been turned into a coal shovel!

Originally this would have been a double-sided enamel sign advertising Wills’s Woodbine Ci******es c.1930s. A competent conversion that’s still usable in its new guise or it displays well as a piece of folk art.

In the shop and on the website.

Still not booked a summer holiday? These enticing sounding Motor Coach Holidays may no longer be available but these gor...
13/08/2026

Still not booked a summer holiday? These enticing sounding Motor Coach Holidays may no longer be available but these gorgeous, mid-century advertising posters for them are…
With their vibrant colours and quirky graphics, they’re simple, eye catching and just fun.
They’re listed on the website and hanging in the shop…

Perhaps it’s just me, but I find something rather joyous about oversized shop display items and this giant sized match b...
12/08/2026

Perhaps it’s just me, but I find something rather joyous about oversized shop display items and this giant sized match box with equally large matches is no exception... Union Matches are a Belgian brand; easily recognisable with their vibrant pink matchstick and contrasting yellow head. The smaller packets (pictured for scale) still turn up occasionally amongst old shop stock... These giant sized display boxes are likely to date to the 1950s/‘60s and are far less common.
As I’m lacking in mantlepieces to place this on, it’s available through the website or in the shop.

Here we have a fantastically original pair of antique armorial achievements, each finely hand-painted on paper and prese...
09/08/2026

Here we have a fantastically original pair of antique armorial achievements, each finely hand-painted on paper and presented behind a decorative verre églomisé mount, within their original gilded frames.

Dating to the first half of the 19th century, these two have clearly spent a lifetime together, the frames are showing signs of wear, the bottom edge of each has darkened with time but I love the faded-grandeur look and feel that they have; original, untouched and very striking.

On the website and glowing away in a corner of the shop…

Address

48-50 Northdown Road
Margate
CT92RW

Opening Hours

Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+447703104788

Website

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