RIJEKA, CROATIA – Clock

PLACE REPRESENTED: Rijeka , Croatia

ITEM: Clock

NOTES: A battery run clock in stone in the shape of a boat (naturally enough for sea faring types like the Croats) with a drawing of the clock tower from the old town in Rijeka. Rijeka, on the Croatian coast means “river”. Under the Italians the town was called “Fiume”, Italian for, err, river. The river isn’t very wide. Maybe they don’t have a word for “creek” in Croatian or Italian. The town is however a major port on the Adriatic and one of the centres of major shipbuilding.

This clock is very weighty and perhaps, today, would be considered to be some sort of weapon and not allowed in carry-on luggage.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1998

MADE FROM: stone

MADE IN:  Croatia

MANUFACTURER: Suveniri Rimanic, Pazin, Croatia.

DIMENSIONS: 20cm high , 15cm across

VELEBIT, CROATIA – Wall Ornament

Croatia - Velebit Wood Grb (1)ITEM: Wall Ornament

PLACE REPRESENTED: Velebit Mountains , Croatia

NOTES: A rustic depiction of the Croatian emblem on a slice of tree which is, no doubt, from the Velebit mountain range. This is simple and, because of it’s handcrafted nature, quite charming.

Quite aptly, perhaps, Croatia’s heart and soul lies in the Velebit mountain range which rises dramatically from the coast.

I can’t remember how much it cost but it was cheap and, thankfully, not “Made in China”.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1994

MADE FROM: Wood

MADE IN: Croatia

MANUFACTURER: It’s signed “AE” and is clearly handmade.

DIMENSIONS: 9cm across x 16cm high