KAZAKHSTAN – Wall Ornament

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Kazakhstan

ITEM: Wall Ornament

NOTES: Okay so the image may have specific significance but I’m not sure what it is. It does seem to be a Eagle Hunter (associated with Kazakhstan) standing on a flying leopard (probably a snow leopard, the national symbol of Kazakhstan … though they don’t fly).

A former Soviet territory (liberated from the Soviets in 1991) Kazakhstan is the world’s ninth-largest country by land area and the largest landlocked country. Kazakh is widely spoken as is Russian. The population are ethnically Kazakh and are a Turkic ethnic group native to Central Asia and Eastern Europe. The population is mainly Muslim. Who says you can’t learn anything on the internet?

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s

MADE FROM: bakelite

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 12cm diameter

MEXICO – Ornament

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Mexico

ITEM: Ornament

NOTES: A colourful mini sombrero celebrating colourful Mexico. There are many variations of these out there in all colours and designs, this one in a vivid blue. And what better souvenir? The sombrero is wholly identified with and identifiable as Mexico.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s

MADE FROM: material

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

FIJI – Ornament

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Fiji

ITEM: Ornament

NOTES: A wooden ornament from Fiji apparently, though these is nothing particularly Fijian about it apart from the words on the bonnet. There is a lot of surfing in Fiji so that is, clearly, the market. The wood has been “Fumigated & Treated” so you can bring it back through customs.

In Fiji, bula (pronounced boo-lah) literally translates to “life” or “good health” and is famously used as a warm, all-purpose greeting meaning “hello” or “welcome”, while also serving as a toast similar to “cheers”.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s

MADE FROM: wood

MADE IN: Fiji

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 13.5cm x 13.5xm long x 7cm wide x 7.5cm high

JORDAN – Paperweight

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Jordan

ITEM: Paperweight

NOTES: Sand art is found wherever there is a lot of sand. Jordan has a lot of sand. Jordan is also famous for the street sand art bottles like this one. It is simple and quite the talking piece (Jordan is written on the inside of the bottle and the rest is layers of sand poked into shapes).

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s

MADE FROM: sand , glass

MADE IN: Jordan

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 13cm high X 5.5cm across

LONDON, ENGLAND – Mug

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PLACE REPRESENTED: London , England

ITEM: Mug

NOTES: A big brash and shiny mug depicting the famous London open platform double decker bus (known as the Routemaster) which is also big and brash though not always shiny. In the mid 2000s the routemasters were largely replaced (by other closed double decked buses and standard buses) but there are still a few around on heritage lines and as tourist buses.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN: China

MANUFACTURER: Wondabox

DIMENSIONS: 8cm diameter opening x 11cm tall. The box is 12cm x 12cm x 12cm.

SICILY, ITALY – Wall Ornament

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Sicily , Italy

ITEM: Wall ornament

NOTES: Ion typical Italian fashion an elaborate wall ornament. The rim of the plate has the major places of Italy. The center is where you insert your locality. Here they are celebrating Sicily, Wonderfully detailed and quite vivid.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 24cm diameter

ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA – Wall Ornament

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Adelaide, South Australia , Australia

ITEM: Wall Ornament

NOTES: A nice little dippled steel ornament depicting the exclusively Australian koala, kookaburra and kangaroo (where is the wombat and platypus!). The Adelaide in the middle is of the glue town logo in here variety.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s

MADE FROM: steel

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 12cm diameter

MILDURA, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA – Coffee Mug

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Mildura, Victoria , Australia

ITEM: Coffee Mug

NOTES: Mildura is on the Murray river in the northwest of Victoria. It is called Victoria’s Food Bowl and is famous for its citrus fruits (especially oranges), grapes (depicted on the mug), old paddlesteamers (depicted on the mug) and Calabrian mafia (not depicted on the mug).

Great colours on the print though it should be on the other side of the mug. Assuming most people are right handed when using the mug the image faces you … it should face out.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 9cm high, 8.5cm diameter

JAMAICA – Fridge Magnet

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Jamaica

ITEM: Fridge Magnet

NOTES: A vivid handmade (the wood is plain masonite) and hand painted fridge magnet from Jamaica depicting a traditional house. Quite wonderful, by fridge magnet standards.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s

MADE FROM: wood

MADE IN: Jamaica (maybe … it could be Haitian)

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 9cm 7cm

 

RIJEKA, CROATIA – Wall Ornament

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Rijeka , Croatia

ITEM: Wall Ornament

NOTES: The St. Vitus Church in the old town of Rijeka. The construction began in 1638 based on the design of the Jesuit architect G. Brian. The Venetian church, Santa Maria della Salute, served as s model. This simple hand made glazed pottery piece is quite effective and, suitably, old looking.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1997

MADE FROM: Pottery

MADE IN: Croatia

MANUFACTURER: Dekor-Rijeka

DIMENSIONS: 16cm x 12cm