The Speckled Hen Antiques

07/08/2026

Remember tomorrow the rooster, the hen and the little chick are all in Echlin st (from 10am to 4pm) and the city shop is closed.

31/07/2026

People often imagine that being an antique or second-hand dealer is simply a matter of buying something cheaply and selling it for an enormous profit. If only! If that were true, we'd be surrounded by antique dealers travelling in private jets and driving Lamborghinis.
Jokes aside, I think most antique dealers are in this business because they genuinely love preserving the past, each for their own reasons. For me, it's because I'm acutely aware of how quickly time slips by. Saving even the smallest fragment of history feels like reaching back and touching another moment in time.
That's why I've always been drawn to documents and ephemera. These are the everyday pieces of life that were never considered valuable enough to keep, so many simply disappeared. They are the fleeting snippets that so often fall through our fingers, yet they can tell us as much about the past as any priceless antique.
These few photos are also a reminder that antique dealers are rarely "off duty." On 2 January 1996, while many people were probably still recovering from New Year's celebrations, I was busy packing china using pages from that morning's Bulletin. I only unpacked it yesterday—proof that nothing happens particularly quickly around here!
Those old newspapers have now become unexpected time capsules. Thirty years later, they offer little windows into another day, another year, and perhaps even memories for those who lived through it. I hope you enjoy these small snippets from your past as much as I enjoyed rediscovering them.

24/07/2026

Remember that the Warehouse is only open on Saturday from 10 to 4pm.
Featuring the good, the bad and the ugly, also the pretty, the 'need tender loving care', and 'the best I bought in all my life'. You have to be there to see it.

18/07/2026

What we hope to achieve.

Here's some justification for your flea-market habit.

17/07/2026

Fishy, fishy, fishy fish 🐠
A great talking point for your next dinner party!
The Warehouse is open on Saturday from 10am. Pop on down to see what treasures you can find.

14/07/2026

And now the Royal Doulton Teddy Bear plates

14/07/2026

Today is Tuesday—my day of rest—and as it's also the 14th of July, it feels like a little bit of a special day. So instead of cleaning, sorting, restoring, packing, researching or listing antiques, I'm taking a break to help a dear friend find new homes for some treasured childhood gifts.

These beautiful vintage Teddy Bear collector plates have been lovingly displayed and enjoyed over the years, but now it's time for someone else to cherish them. We even have a delightful Teddy Bears' Picnic plate!

All plates are in pristine condition, complete with their original boxes, and most still include their certificates of authenticity.

Prices:
• Franklin Mint plates – $20 each
• Royal Doulton plates – $25 each

As these are being sold on consignment, I'm unable to hold or reserve plates. The first to collect will be the lucky new owner.

I hope these charming plates bring as much joy to their next home as they have to their current one. 🧸 First the Franklin Mint

10/07/2026

✨ Old is gold! ✨

Take a look at this stunning transformation! On the left, a piece of history waiting for a second chance. On the right, the same piece beautifully restored and ready for its next chapter. 🪑❤️

Love finding unique treasures or giving vintage pieces a new lease on life? Come explore what’s waiting for you! For everything you never knew you always wanted.

🏬 The Speckled Hen Warehouse is open tomorrow - Saturday
⏰ Hours: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Stop by, browse and find your next perfect piece. See you tomorrow! 🐓✨

04/07/2026

The Warehouse is open again today till 4pm.
Come and find everything you never knew you always wanted.

27/06/2026

The Warehouse is open today.
Pop on down to find everything you never knew you always wanted.
Echlin street, West End