“Anything unusual, beautifully made or slightly bonkers tends to catch my attention.”

That probably tells you quite a lot about Dave Wilson, the North East vintage hunter behind Antique & Decor, who returns for his second I Love North Shields Vintage Market at Salt Market Social on Sunday 25 October.

Dave describes himself as a bit of a magpie.

His stall brings together traditional antiques, Mid-Century design, decorative pieces and the gloriously kitsch — with everything from colourful ceramics and glassware to brass, silver plate and unusual objects that are difficult to walk past without picking up.

And this time, Antique & Decor will also be featuring Kitsch in Sync, so expect the quirky end of vintage to be very well represented.

For Dave, however, finding the object is only half the fun.

He wants to know its story.

From Collector to Antique & Decor

Antique & Decor began with a fascination for antiques and vintage and that familiar thrill of finding something special that somebody else has overlooked.

Dave explains:

“I’m Dave, the face behind Antique & Decor. I’m a proud North East lad with a bit of an obsession for finding beautiful, unusual things that other people might walk straight past!”

What began as an interest quickly developed into buying, researching and collecting.

Before long, he was selling too.

“Every piece has had a life before it reaches me, and I get a real buzz out of finding it a new home where it can be loved all over again.”

It’s an approach that gets to the heart of what makes a good vintage stall interesting.

You’re not simply looking at a table of old objects. You’re looking at somebody else’s eye — the things they’ve spotted, researched and decided were worth rescuing.

The Stories Behind Old Things

Ask Dave what he loves most about vintage and his answer is immediate.

The stories.

“I love picking something up and wondering where it’s been, who owned it and what it’s seen over the years.”

And sometimes an unassuming find turns out to be something far more interesting.

“There’s nothing quite like finding something for a few quid and discovering it’s actually a beautiful piece with a fascinating history.”

That curiosity also means research is a big part of the enjoyment.

A maker’s mark, an unfamiliar design or an object he can’t immediately identify can send Dave down a completely new rabbit hole.

For him, that’s part of the appeal.

Why Vintage Instead of Mass-Produced?

There’s another reason Dave prefers old things.

Buying vintage gives existing objects another life rather than simply adding another newly manufactured product into circulation.

But it also gives your home something much harder to replicate with mass-produced interiors: individuality.

“Why buy something mass-produced when you can have something with character, history and a bit of personality?”

It’s something we strongly believe in at the I Love North Shields Vintage Market too.

Quality vintage doesn’t have to be expensive or pristine.

Sometimes the best thing on a stall might cost only a few pounds.

What matters is that it’s interesting.

Something beautifully designed. Something useful. Something strange. Something with history. Or simply something that makes you stop and think:

What on earth is that?

And, as Dave says:

“Let’s be honest, you can’t beat a good rummage!”

Quite.

What Will You Find on the Antique & Decor Stall?

The short answer is: a bit of everything.

Dave brings together vintage ceramics, quirky ornaments, decorative glassware, brass, silver plate and unusual home accessories.

Traditional antiques sit alongside Mid-Century pieces and kitsch finds, giving the stall an intentionally eclectic feel.

There’s no rigid formula governing what makes the cut.

If it catches Dave’s eye, there’s a reasonable chance it’ll eventually appear on his stall.

“I want people to come over, have a good rummage, pick things up, ask questions and maybe discover something they didn’t even know they wanted.”

That last bit might as well be the unofficial motto of vintage markets.

You arrive looking for nothing in particular.

Then twenty minutes later you’re carrying an object you didn’t know existed that morning and wondering how you’ve managed to live without it.

And don’t be frightened to make Dave an offer.

“I’m always open to a cheeky offer!”

You’ve been told.

Art Deco, Mid-Century and Things That Are Slightly Bonkers

Every vintage dealer has a weakness.

Dave appears to have several.

There’s Art Deco, Mid-Century design and colourful vintage ceramics.

Then there’s kitsch.

“I also love anything with a bit of kitsch charm. Sometimes the more outrageous, the better!”

But perhaps his biggest weakness is the thing he can’t immediately identify.

A mysterious maker’s mark.

An unfamiliar shape.

A design he’s never encountered before.

That’s when the detective work begins.

“What I really can’t resist is a mystery piece. Something with an unusual maker’s mark or a design I’ve never seen before. That’s when the detective work begins, and I absolutely love it.”

And that knowledge is another reason we want the people behind our stalls to be part of the market experience.

Ask questions.

If something catches your eye, talk to the person who found it. You might discover far more about it than you expected.

Back for Market Number Two

October will be Dave’s second I Love North Shields Vintage Market, and it’s the people he’s most looking forward to seeing again.

“I love North Shields, and there’s something brilliant about bringing together local independent traders, vintage enthusiasts and people who just fancy a good mooch.”

That sums up what we’re trying to create at Salt Market Social rather nicely.

Of course there’s the vintage — more than 50 independent traders across two floors — but there’s also the conversation, live music, food, drinks and the social side of spending a Sunday on the Fish Quay.

For Dave, Antique & Decor isn’t simply about selling old objects.

“It’s about celebrating their history, giving them a new lease of life and having a good laugh along the way.”

There is, however, one potential occupational hazard.

Dave says he’ll consider the day a success if he manages to resist buying half of the other traders’ stock himself.

We make no promises.

Meet Antique & Decor at the North Shields Vintage Market

Dave and Antique & Decor, featuring Kitsch in Sync, return to the I Love North Shields Autumn Vintage Market on Sunday 25 October 2026 at Salt Market Social.

Come for a rummage through the ceramics, glass, Mid-Century finds, antiques and wonderfully kitsch bits.

Pick things up.

Ask Dave what they are.

And remember: cheeky offers are apparently allowed.

Sunday 25 October 2026
Vintage Market: 10am–4pm
Food, drinks & live music until 7pm
Salt Market Social · North Shields Fish Quay · NE30 1HE
50+ independent vintage & antique traders · two floors
FREE ENTRY · Dog friendly · Wheelchair accessible

Follow Antique & Decor on Instagram and TikTok: Antique and Decor

Come for the vintage. Stay for the social. ❤️

SHOP THE MARKET · TASTE THE MARKET · PLAY THE MARKET