BARILOCHE, ARGENTINA – Wall Tile

PLACE REPRESENTED: Bariloche , Argentina

ITEM: Wall Tile

NOTES: According to wikipedia … “San Carlos de Bariloche, usually known as Bariloche, is a city in the province of Río Negro, Argentina, situated in the foothills of the Andes on the southern shores of Nahuel Huapi Lake”. Depicted is a church (I assume) though i’m not sure which one. It isn’t either of the two most famous ones Cathedral of San Carlos de Bariloche or Capilla de San Eduardo. Anyone from Bariloche? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bariloche

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: tile

MADE IN: Argentina

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 15cm x 15cm

VIENNA, AUSTRIA – Wall Plate

PLACE REPRESENTED: Vienna (specifically Donaustadt) , Austria

ITEM: Wall Plate

NOTES: Donaustadt (literally, Danube City) is the 22nd district of Vienna, Austria. The city is old but but the district is new (established 1946).Most of the sites are from other districts though the Donauturm tower (opened 1964) is depicted.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 18cm diameter

MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA – Salt and Pepper Shakers

PLACE REPRESENTED: Melbourne, Victoria , Australia

ITEM: Salt and Pepper Shakers

NOTES: Rustic colonial style pottery depicting three sites from Melbourne: Flinders Street Station, the trams, and Captain Cooks cottage (which Captain Cook never lived in, well, not in Australia – it was brought to Melbourne in 1934 from England.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 5.5cm diameter x 6cm (each)

IRELAND – Tea Towel

PLACE REPRESENTED: Ireland

ITEM: Tea Towel

NOTES: Irish Family names on a map of Ireland with the usual symbols of Ireland : the thatched roof cottage, Glendalough Round Tower, a Celtic cross, a drinking cup and a gold collar. I’m not sure how accurate it is an ancestry location locator but many, many Irish surnames are shown.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: 52% linen, 48% cotton.

MADE IN: Ireland

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 45cm x 65cm

ISRAEL – Wall Plate

PLACE REPRESENTED: Israel

ITEM: Wall Plate

NOTES: A stylish, old school looking brass plate depicting Moses and “Israel” in English and Hebrew along the bottom. Moses was the leader of the Israelites dating back to the 13th century BC. The most important prophet in Judaism and one of the most important prophets in Christianity, Islam, the Druze faith, the Baháʼí Faith, and other Abrahamic religions.The plate, like Israel, is intricate, substantial and permanent.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: steel (brass?)

MADE IN: Israel (I suspect)

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 25cm diameter

 

SLAVONIA, CROATIA – Box

PLACE REPRESENTED: Slavonia , Croatia

ITEM: Box

NOTES: A very familiar Croatian souvenir from the “Yugoslavia era”, though still manufactured now. Wood, pyrography (wood decorated with burn marks), some basic colours and a postcard glued into place. As I have said before, I love these souvenirs. They are sturdy, vivid and distinctive. This one depicts five towns (Đakovo, Valpovo, Osijek, Vinkovici, Vukovar) in Slavonia, Croatia’s north easter region. Functional and decorative.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: wood

MADE IN: Croatia (probably)

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 20cm x 16.5cm x 5cm high

QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – Wall Ornament

PLACE REPRESENTED: Queensland , Australia

ITEM: Wall Ornament

NOTES: “I got a boot out of Queensland”. I’m sure you did. Getting a boot can be good or bad, depending who you ask, though it’s generally meant to be favourable. A souvenir of the “insert place name here” variety, this boot is usually used for ‘cowboy country” type places. So, in that respect it does apply to Queensland, at least inland and the outback.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 13.5cm across x 16.6cm high

HERVEY BAY, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – Coffee Mug

PLACE REPRESENTED: Hervey Bay (specifically Pialba), Queensland , Australia

ITEM: Coffee Mug

NOTES: Pialba is a coastal town and central business suburb of Hervey Bay, Shown is the Urangan Pier (which is actually in Urangan … though much of a muchness). The Hervey Bay railway line from Maryborough to Pialba opened in 1896 and was used to transport harvested sugarcane to the Maryborough Sugar Mill in addition to daily passenger trains. The extension to Urangan and the Urangan Pier ( 1107 metres) opened in 1913 and was used for the transfer of cargo between rail and ships. It was closed in 1985, and 239 metres of it was demolished, but, due to public outcry, 868 metres of the pier was left. The photograph on the mug is taken from the end of the (then railroad) pier looking back to the mainland.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: plastic

MADE IN: Australia

MANUFACTURER: Patina

DIMENSIONS: 11cm high x 7.5cm diameter

     

VENEZUELA – Wall Plate

06LACE REPRESENTED: Venezuela

ITEM: Small Wall Plate

NOTES: A small wall ornament depicting the Venezuelan coat of arms from 1954 – 2006. The horse changed it’s position subsequently and perhaps its politics. It faces right here, and now faces left. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Venezuela

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 9cm diameter

MACKAY, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – Thermometer

PLACE REPRESENTED: Mackay, Queensland , Australia

ITEM: Thermometer

NOTES: I’m not sure why there is a nautical theme here (apart from the obvious “buy souvenirs in bulk and write town name here” aspect). Mackay is in central or northern Queensland (depending on who you ask) coast, though not a port town. The CBD of Mackay is on the Pioneer River as it empties into the ocean, It has Harbour Beach, a marina, and Bluewater Lagoon (a city water park) all of which still don’t really relate to the deep sea seafaring themes depicted (though design is quite good – a ships wheel and anchor combined with a sailing ship).

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: steel

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 14cm across x 15cm high