VENICE, ITALY – T Shirt

PLACE REPRESENTED: Venice , Italy

ITEM: T Shirt

NOTES: Venezia, Italy. There is no mistaking that. It is quite stylish though with the gondola quite vivid in its multi-coloured embroidery. The Italians famous for the their clothes had this made in Bangladesh though “designed” in Italy.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2017

MADE FROM: cotton

MADE IN: Bangladesh

MANUFACTURER: San Marco

DIMENSIONS: kids XL

CANUNGRA, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – Tea Towel

PLACE REPRESENTED: Canungra, Queensland , Australia

ITEM: Tea Towel

NOTES: A simple but hand made tea towel from the small Gold Coast hinterland town of Canungra. I think the vineyards are a relatively recent addition to the scene but a proud one, hence the grapes. Stylish

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2017

MADE FROM: material

MADE IN: Australia

MANUFACTURER: Marie May

DIMENSIONS: tea towel size

AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND – Key Ring

amsterdam - key chain (1)PLACE REPRESENTED: Amsterdam , Holland

ITEM: Key Ring

NOTES: A small key ring with a lot of sites crammed into its frame: Dam Square with Royal Palace,  Oude Kerk, the National Monument, the Magere Brug (bridge) and probably a few other things.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2017

MADE FROM: plastic , steel

MADE IN:  unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 9cm  (with chain) , 4cm x 3cm medallion

AUSTRALIA – Mug

australia - rainbow lorikeet - mug (3)PLACE REPRESENTED:   Australia

ITEM: Mug

NOTES: Birds of Australia collection on mugs. Here the famous Rainbow Lorikeet gets a showing. Painted by Natalie Jane Parker.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2017

MADE FROM: China

MADE IN:  China

MANUFACTURER: Ashdene

DIMENSIONS: 10cm tall x  8cm diameter

australia - rainbow lorikeet - mug (1)

 

AUSTRALIA – Stuffed Animal

Australia - stuffed flying fox (1)PLACE REPRESENTED: Australia

ITEM: Stuffed Animal

NOTES: The famous flying fox. I remember looking up into the night sky (in inner city Brisbane) and seeing hundreds of these cute critters flying from A to B. You don’t see that anymore. Though you still get stray ones attacking the local mango trees

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2017

MADE FROM: material

MADE IN:  China

MANUFACTURER: caaustralia

DIMENSIONS: 56cm wingspan, 24cm length.

Australia - stuffed flying fox (3)       Australia - stuffed flying fox (2)

AUSTRALIA – Stuffed Toy

australia - stuffed kangaroo (1)PLACE REPRESENTED:   Australia

ITEM: Stuffed Toy Kangaroo

NOTES: A cute  kangaroo in, err traditional stereotyped Australian bush wear. Well if a kangaroo did wear clothes it would be rural and not an urban suit I suppose. Yes. yes I know kangaroos hop down the sidewalks of city CBDs in Australia.

The product is “Made in China” though “under Australian licence and supervision” whatever that means

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2017

MADE FROM: material

MADE IN:  China

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 14cm tall

australia - stuffed kangaroo (4)     australia - stuffed kangaroo (2)

CANUNGRA, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – Hand Towel

canungra - hand towelPLACE REPRESENTED: Canungra, Queensland , Australia

ITEM: Hand Towel

NOTES: Canungra, is derived from the local Aboriginal word “gungunga” which means “a long flat or clearing” or  “caningera” after a small owl, or “coonoongra” meaning “the small grey owl that has its home along the creek” or, perhaps, “good place with plenty of game”. Either way, Canungra, is also called the “Valley of the Owls” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canungra,_Queensland

This is hand stitched onto a normal hand towel. This sort of Nana (grandmother) embroidery still exists. Perhaps it’s a dying art as more women flock to careers in the post-feminist world – do people sing the praises of knitting, quilting and home crafts? They should … the arts / crafts are evocative as expressions of identity, both individual and group.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2017

MADE FROM: Cotton

MADE IN:  Australia

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 41cm x 64cm