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
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
PLACE REPRESENTED: Darwin, Northern Territory , Australia
ITEM: Tray
NOTES: A tray showing the various sites of Australia’s wild north capital, Darwin. This is from the late 1960s or early 1970s and not much has changed since. Just kidding. In any event I leave it to Darwinians to tell me if this was before or after the devastating Cyclone Tracy which decimated Darwin in December 1974.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s
MADE FROM: steel
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 28cm diameter
PLACE REPRESENTED: Lovran , Croatia
ITEM: Wall Ornament
NOTES: A small wall ornament with a picture of the old town of Lovran on Croatia’s north coast. Rustic and pretty.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1973
MADE FROM: wood
MADE IN: Croatia probably
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 8cm diameter
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
PLACE REPRESENTED: Tirol , Austria
ITEM: Small wooden wall ornament display plate. NOTES: The region of Tirol (or Tyrol) exists in both Italy (Tirolo) and Austria (Tirol). The spelling indicates this is from the Austrian side but the wooden plate and rustic feel of it reminds me of Italian trinkets. I have another similar ornament and wondered if the flowers depicted are region specific or just random? Those there are similar to the ones here so they could be regionally specific. Small but stylish with pyrography and vivid colours.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: wood
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 8.5cm diameter
PLACE REPRESENTED: Ballina, New South Wales , Australia
ITEM: Cup NOTES: A plastic cup, ubiquitous amongst 1970s Australian souvenirs. Here a serene picture of the waterfront at Ballina, on New South Wales far north coast, offers you “greetings” The other photo is either testament to the fact that there isn’t much to photograph in Ballina, or, perhaps, Ballina by night.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: plastic MADE IN: Australia
MANUFACTURER: Patina
DIMENSIONS: 7.5cm diameter at top x 11cm tall FOR: Use CONDITION: Very Good.
REPRESENTED: Malaysia
ITEM: Coasters
NOTES: A quite intricate set of six coasters in bamboo depicting the Malaysian coat of arms and the thirteen state coat of arms.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: bamboo , glass
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 8.5cm diameter
PLACE REPRESENTED: Pataua , New Zealand
ITEM: Wall Ornament
NOTES: A simple wall ornament (in pokerwork / pyrography) from Pataua, in the north of New Zealand, a popular area for sea gulls and surfing. Wherever you find seagulls you find surfers it seems. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pataua_North
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: wood
MADE IN: New Zealand probably
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 9cm x 12.5cm
PLACE REPRESENTED: Amersham (specifically the Parish Church of St Mary’s), England
ITEM: Trivet
NOTES: Amersham (population 14000) is in the south east of England. St Mary’s Church is a Church of England church (formerly Catholic) built in the 13th century and located in Old Amersham. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amersham
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: plastic
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 15.5cm diamter