MENTAWAI ISLANDS, INDONESIA – Box

Posted on May 23, 2021 by Frankie

PLACE REPRESENTED: Mentawai Islands , Indonesia

ITEM: Box

NOTES: The Mentawai Islands are a chain of about seventy islands and islets off the western coast of Sumatra in Indonesia. They are famous for, amongst other things, their surf and surfing. Which, perhaps, explains how this ended up back in Australia ie: a lot of Australians love to surf. This is a nice rustic piece which doesn’t hold much … perhaps some dried parsley or something like that.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1990s

MADE FROM: wood

MADE IN: Indonesia no doubt

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 14.5cm x 7.5cm x 6cm high

GOA, INDIA – Wall Plate

Posted on May 16, 2021 by Frankie

PLACE REPRESENTED: Goa , India

ITEM: Wall Plate

NOTES: A cartoonish plate depicting a not very Indian looking scene. Goa was a Portuguese territory for 450 years (it was annexed by India in 1961) which explains all the Catholic churches and western architecture and the acoustic guitar.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 20.5cm diameter

TOKYO, JAPAN – Wall Ornament

Posted on May 9, 2021 by Frankie

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

BOURKE, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA – Ashtray

Posted on May 2, 2021 by Frankie

PLACE REPRESENTED: Bourke, New South Wales , Australia

ITEM: Ashtray

NOTES: Bourke is located on the Darling River 789 km north-west of Sydney, in New South Wales. Depicted is the famous North Bourke Bridge across the Darling which was completed in 1883. This bridge was designed to allow paddle-steamers to pass along the river. The bridge is a “lift up” or moveable-span bridge and is the oldest in Australia and is the sole survivor of its type in New South Wales. It served as a Gateway structure for 114 years before being bypassed in 1997. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourke,_New_South_Wales https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/portal/heritage/north-bourke-bridge-darling-river-1883

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN: Australia

MANUFACTURER: St Kilda Fine China

DIMENSIONS: 13cm diameter

IRELAND – Toy – NEW PHOTO

Posted on April 25, 2021 by Frankie

2021PLACE REPRESENTED: Ireland

ITEM: Toy

NOTES: A novelty blow up Irish Hammer. I assume it is for hitting people. The Irish would be well justified in hitting some people. The blow up hammer keeps the carnage to a minimum whilst still expressing an opinion.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s

MADE FROM: plastic

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 90cm when inflated (packet 15cm x 20cm)

MT MAUNGANUI, NEW ZEALAND – Trivet

Posted on April 18, 2021 by Frankie

PLACE REPRESENTED: Mt Maunganui, Tauranga , New Zealand

ITEM: Trivet

NOTES: Mount Maunganui is a town in the Bay of Plenty, located on a peninsula just to the north of Tauranga, at the top of the North Island of New Zealand. The Mount was independent from Tauranga until the completion of the Tauranga Harbour Bridge in 1988. Phil Rudd, the former drummer for AC/DC lives in Tauranga …but only since the 80s.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s

MADE FROM: Steel

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 13.5cm x 13.5xm .

VENICE, ITALY – Cap

Posted on April 11, 2021 by Frankie

2021

PLACE REPRESENTED: Venice , Italy

ITEM: Cap

NOTES: A sailors (or naval) cap indicating the former maritime trading nation of Venezia. Fair call. Water is still a part of life there and many sailors were from there or worked for the Venetians (as we all know).

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1990s

MADE FROM: cotton or polyester

MADE IN: China

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 58cm diameter

CANUNGRA, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – Tea Towel

Posted on April 4, 2021 by Frankie

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

HONG KONG, CHINA – Business Card Holder

Posted on March 28, 2021 by Frankie

PLACE REPRESENTED: Hong Kong , China

ITEM: Business Card Holder

NOTES: A business card holder depicting Hong Kong. Very obvious. This shiny, stel business card holder is very flashy, very crisp, much like a lot of Hong Kong. It depicts the corporate Hong Kong not the traditional Hong Kong. Or is that the traditional Hong Kong?

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s

MADE FROM: steel

MADE IN: Hong Kong (probably)

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 9.5cm long x 2cm deep x 7cm high

PATAUA, NEW ZEALAND – Wall Ornament

Posted on March 21, 2021 by Frankie

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

TRAVEL TRINKETS

Tourist souvenirs from around the world

Author Archives: Frankie

MENTAWAI ISLANDS, INDONESIA – Box

GOA, INDIA – Wall Plate

TOKYO, JAPAN – Wall Ornament

BOURKE, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA – Ashtray

IRELAND – Toy – NEW PHOTO

MT MAUNGANUI, NEW ZEALAND – Trivet

VENICE, ITALY – Cap

CANUNGRA, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – Tea Towel

HONG KONG, CHINA – Business Card Holder

PATAUA, NEW ZEALAND – Wall Ornament