PLACE REPRESENTED: Tokyo (specifically Tokyo Tower) , Japan
ITEM: Wall Ornament
NOTES: Tokyo Tower specifically celebrated on this wall ornament. Tokyo Tower is a communications and observation tower and the second-tallest structure in Japan. I assume the mountain in the background is Mount Takao.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s
MADE FROM: ceramic material
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 16cm diameter
TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA – Tea Towel
PLACE REPRESENTED: Tasmania , Australia
ITEM: Tea Towel
NOTES: A humorous tea towel depicting Tasmania and the "large desolate land off" its northern coast (Australia). All the negatives of the "large desolate land" are mentioned as well as all the postives in Tasmania. I can't speak to all the positives because a lot are value statements but the negatives are accurate. This map is made all that much more humourus by the fact that Australia, often, when depicted, leaves off the the large island state.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s
MADE FROM: 100% cotton
MADE IN: India
MANUFACTURER: Nucolorvue
DIMENSIONS: 44cm x 71cm
PLACE REPRESENTED: Hawaii , USA
ITEM: Key Chain
NOTES: Hawaii on a keychain.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s
MADE FROM: plastic
MADE IN: China
MANUFACTURER: Union
DIMENSIONS: 6cm x 3cm (at its widest)
BUNYA MOUNTAINS, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – Tea Towel
PLACE REPRESENTED: Bunya Mountains, Queensland , Australia
ITEM: Tea Towel NOTES: A tea towel with all the colourful flora and fauna of the Bunya Mountains, on the Great Dividing Range in south east Queensland.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s
MADE FROM: 100% cotton
MADE IN: India
MANUFACTURER: Souvenirs Australia
DIMENSIONS: 45cm x 70cm
EASTER ISLAND, CHILE – Wall Tile
PLACE REPRESENTED: Easter Island , Chile
ITEM: Wall Tile
NOTES: Easter Island, or Rapa Nui as it is known to its Polynesian locals is a Chilean Island about 3500 km west of Chile. It is most famous for its nearly 1000 large stone monumental statues, called Moai locally or "Easter Island Heads".
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s
MADE FROM: tile
MADE IN: Argentina
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 15cm x 15cm
PLACE REPRESENTED: Spain
ITEM: Bottle
NOTES: Well, not a bottle but a bottle bag. A Spanish Bota Bag which is their tradition canteen and was normally used to carry wine, their traditional beverage of choice. The “Rdo De Espana” is a “Remembrance of Spain”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bota_bag
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s
MADE FROM: leather , plastic
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 24cm tall x 14cm wide
PLACE REPRESENTED: Paris , France
ITEM: Coasters
NOTES: Four vivid picture coasters depicting various familiar Paris sights.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s
MADE FROM: wood perhaps
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 9.5cm x 9.5cm each
PLACE 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
PLACE REPRESENTED: Dubrovnik , Croatia
ITEM: Souvenir Spoon
NOTES: A souvenir spoon from Dubrovnik depicting its coat of arms though, strictly speaking, it is the coat of arms of the Republic of Ragusa as Dubrovnik was known during Renaissance times.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s
MADE FROM: steel
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 10.5cm long
PLACE REPRESENTED: Whitsunday Islands, Queensland , Australia
ITEM: Fridge Magnet
NOTES: A tacky souvenir for the Whitsunday Sands Resort, the beautiful islands off Queensland’s central north coast. Croc having a BBQ
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s
MADE FROM: plastic
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 8.5cm across, 5.5cm high