FIJI – Clock

fiji-clock-1PLACE REPRESENTED:   Fiji Islands

ITEM: Clock NOTES: An ornate clock from Fiji  depicting all the island of Fiji. You could see this hanging in a tiki bar.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s

MADE FROM: wood (“treated wood” apparently – probably specified so tourists can take the same back to their country of origin, or think they can, or have, in this case).

MADE IN:   Fiji probably

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 22cm across , 29cm high

FIJI – Ornament

Fiji - Ornament  Carving (1)PLACE REPRESENTED:   Fiji Islands

ITEM: Ornament

NOTES: A stand up very simple wood carving of a traditional (?) Fijian beach village. Despite the handcraft in this, the slightly slapdash nature indicates these must have been churned out at a rapid pace. It’s as if the craftsman could see the boat load of tourists on the horizon.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1990s

MADE FROM: wood

MADE IN:  Fiji (probably)

MANUFACTURER: Handmade

DIMENSIONS: 15.5cm across x 12cm high

FIJI ISLANDS – Photo Frame

Fiji - Bula - Picture Frame (1)PLACE REPRESENTED:   Fiji Islands

ITEM: Frame

NOTES: A hand crafted photo frame from Fiji with the famous “Bula”, meaning “hello”… yet again!

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1990s

MADE FROM: wood

MADE IN:  unknown

MANUFACTURER: locally probably

DIMENSIONS: 18cm   x 15cm high

FIJI – Wooden Ornament

Bula - Souvenir Wood Knife (1)PLACE REPRESENTED:   Fiji Islands

ITEM: Ornament

NOTES: This trinket is not from Bula, Indonesia nor Bula, The Phillipines. It’s from Fiji and the “bula” is not a place but a famous local expression for “hello”.

I’m not sure why “hello” is on an object in the shape of a knife though … it’s hardly inviting.

Maybe tourists feel threatened and are more likely to buy when they are confronted by a local yelling “bula” and brandishing what appears to be a dagger?

I’m sure airlines won’t let you take this in carry-on luggage.

How many of these simple tourist trinkets can a local churn out in one hour?

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1990s

MADE FROM: wood

MADE IN:  Fiji (probably)

MANUFACTURER: Handmade

DIMENSIONS: 45cm long

FIJI – Coasters

PLACE REPRESENTED:   Fiji

ITEM: Coasters

NOTES: Excellent contemporary tiki coasters (six of them)  from Fiji.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1990s

MADE FROM:  wood or board , plastic   cork base.

MADE IN:  ?

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 8.5cm  diameter  (on the coasters) The holder is 10cm high