SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CALIFORNIA, USA – Wall Plate

PLACE REPRESENTED: San Juan Capistrano, California , USA

ITEM: Wall Plate

NOTES: San Juan Capistrano is in California and is the site of a Catholic mission (founded in 1776 and named after Giovanni da Capistrano (1386–1456), the Franciscan Saint from Capistrano, in the Italian region of Abruzzo) for which it is named. San Juan Capistrano is also known for its cliff swallows (birds) and there are parades, legends and songs (“When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano”) about the same. Swallows migrate 6,000 miles from Goya, Argentina to San Juan Capistrano in large groups and the town welcomes visitors from all parts of the world to witness the return of the swallows, a tradition that has been celebrated since the early 1930s. Their origin? In his book, “Capistrano Nights”, Catholic Priest Father St. John O’Sullivan, Pastor of Mission San Juan Capistrano, tells how the swallows were being shooed away he said “Come on swallows, I’ll give you shelter. Come to the Mission. There’s room enough there for all.” and the next day they were building nests in and around the Mission. All the sites of this small town are there including the statue of Saint Junípero Serra,a franciscan priest who founded many mission in the area. including this one. http://www.missionsjc.com/about/swallows-legend/

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN: Korea

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 20.5cm diameter

CALIFORNIA, USA – Trinket Box

PLACE REPRESENTED: California , USA

ITEM: Small Trinket Box

NOTES: A small ceramic jewellery or trinket box which is an ode to California – all flowers and oranges apparently.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1990s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN:  Brazil

MANUFACTURER: Porcelana Schmidt

DIMENSIONS: 11cm  across x 8cm deep x 8.5cm high x 5cm high

   

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – Keychain

Hollywood - key ring (1)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)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – Display Plate

Los Angeles -  Chokin Plate (1)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

CALIFORNIA, USA – hors d’oeuvres forks

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM: Forks

PLACE REPRESENTED: California , USA

NOTES: There is nothing quite like a “Little Fork”. But, why the little fork?     I suppose its easier than saying hors d’oeuvres forks. The “California” on the handle is a bonus. Sun, surf, and hors d’oeuvres.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s

MADE FROM: steel , plastic

MADE IN:  Japan

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 10.5cm high    (The forks are 10.5cm high. The box is 11.5cm x 6.5cm)