PLACE REPRESENTED: Hawaii , USA
ITEM: Mug
NOTES: A mug celebrating the Hawaii of years past. There is a retro charm to this which still appeals.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2013
MADE FROM: glass
MADE IN: China
MANUFACTURER: ABC Stores
DIMENSIONS: 11cm (including handle) x 9cm high (boxed it is 10cmx10cmx10cm)
PLACE REPRESENTED: Los Angeles, specifically Hollywood, California , USA
ITEM: Key Chain
NOTES: Vivid and incredibly kitsch (just like Hollywood today?) key ring in the letter of someone you love …
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s
MADE FROM: steel
MADE IN: China
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 3.5cm x 3.5cm long (7.5cm long with the ring)
PLACE REPRESENTED: Anaheim, California, USA specifically Disneyland.
ITEM: Bowl
NOTES: Disneyland in a wavy plate with various “lands” depicted. Yes, I know Anaheim is now in greater Los Angeles.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s
MADE FROM: glass
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 17.5cm diameter
PLACE REPRESENTED: Los Angeles, California , USA
ITEM: Display Plate
NOTES: Los Angles depicted ona chokin plate.
Chokin is a technique of surface decoration based on work developed centuries ago in Japan. Many chokin pieces today are extravagant kitsch. This plate is spectacular, 24kt gold edged, blue stone shell background … down town Los Angeles never looked better.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s
MADE FROM: ceramic material , gold
MADE IN: Japan
MANUFACTURER: The Art of Chokin
DIMENSIONS: 15cm diameter
PLACE REPRESENTED: Las Vegas , USA
ITEM: Fan
NOTES: A beautifully kitsch plastic souvenir fan from the 60s or early 70s. The pictures are vivid.
These fans must have been exported everywhere because they turn up everywhere. Not as collectible as the souvenir spoons or snow globes but quite commonplace, at least in place with warm climates. Though as a cooling device the fan is of minimal value … it’s not sturdy enough for vigorous fanning.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s
MADE FROM: plastic
MADE IN: China (it’s written on the red bit at the bottom)
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 18cm tall , 3.5cm wide (when folded in) or 25cm (when open up)
PLACE REPRESENTED: New York City , USA
ITEM: Piggy Bank
NOTES: Literally – a piggy bank in vibrant yellow depicting the best of NYC.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2013
MADE FROM: ceramic material
MADE IN: China
MANUFACTURER: City Merchandise
DIMENSIONS: 14cm long , 11cm wide , 10cm high
And a companion piece to the similar, but different, blue New York City piggy bank already posted …
PLACE REPRESENTED: Hawaii , USA
ITEM: Ashtray
NOTES: Hawaiian kitsch ashtray with hoola girl giving you the “Aloha”. Effective and perfect for the mancave or exotica room.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: hard resin
MADE IN: Hawaii
MANUFACTURER: Coco Joe ( there is a number pressed into the side “138”)
DIMENSIONS: 10.5cm across , 11cm high
PLACE REPRESENTED: New York City , USA
ITEM: Piggy Bank
NOTES: Literally – a piggy bank in vibrant blue depicting the best of New York City.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2013
MADE FROM: ceramic material
MADE IN: China
MANUFACTURER: City Merchandise
DIMENSIONS: 14cm long , 11cm wide , 10cm high
PLACE REPRESENTED: New York City , New York, USA
ITEM: Drinks Tray
NOTES: A bamboo drinks tray depicting famous structures of New York City. Bamboo isn’t native to NYC as far as I know but the stencils of the structures can’t be mistaken for any other place in the world. The Twin Towers take pride of place in this pre-2001 souvenir.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: wood
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 33cm diameter
PLACE REPRESENTED: Alaska , USA
ITEM: Herb Knife
NOTES: I’m sure there are herbs in Alaska but a herb knife as a souvenir? Well, at least you can use it.
The knife has a curved blade to get a rocking action and is also known as a ‘Hachoir’ or ‘Herb Chopper’.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s
MADE FROM: steel , wood
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 10.5cm high x 14.5cm long (herb knife) 10cm long x 2cm high (base)