Author Archives: Frankie

BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – Picture

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Brisbane, Queensland , Australia

ITEM: Wall Ornament

NOTES: A simple photo in a frame of a Brisbane long gone. Shown is the Victoria bridge (the fourth bridge which entered service in 1897, lasting until 1969, when it was demolished (In typical Brisbane fashion which is second only to Las Vegas in tearing or modernising anything old .. old being anything over 10 years). All that remains is he abutment at one end. Which has a quite fascinating (local) story. the William Jolly Bridge is in the background and (somehow) is still standing and in use. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Bridge_Abutment

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s

MADE FROM: steel , glass .

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 16.5cm x 13cm

DUBLIN, IRELAND – Pencil Case

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Dublin , Ireland

ITEM: Pencil case

NOTES: A fancy pencil case in vinyl depicting all the sites of Dublin. Weell, most of them. It is very stylish in it’s own way and would get talked about more than your standard pencil case. And, that’s what it is all about, isn’t it?

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1990s

MADE FROM: plastic

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 22cm x 16cm

MEDJUGORJE, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – Key Ring

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina

ITEM: Key Ring

NOTES: Medjugorje is a town located in southwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina, about 25 km southwest of Mostar and 20 km east of the border with Croatia. The town consists of an ethnically homogeneous Croat population of about 2300. And like, just about, every souvenir from there, they feature the Blessed Virgin Mary. Since 1981, when six local children said they had visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Medjugorje has become an unapproved destination of Catholic pilgrimage. It is inscribed “Kraljica Mira” or “Queen of Peace”.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s

MADE FROM: steel

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 10cm long

   

ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA – Wall Plate

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Adelaide, South Australia , Australia

ITEM: Wall Plate

NOTES: Adelaide with all its sites in wonderful 70s colours. In case you didn’t know the flower depicted is Sturt’s Desert Pea, which is floral emblem of South Australia and the bird is the Piping Shrike the State bird and on the State’s coat of arms.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN: Japan

MANUFACTURER: Rex

DIMENSIONS: 19cm diameter

GREECE – Brush

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Greece

ITEM: Brush

NOTES: An ornate clothes brush and holder designed to hang of a wall. Now this is something a little different. Clearly it’s Greek or perhaps specifcally a souvenir of Athens as there is the relief of the parthenon on the brush. The figure at the top is in traditonal clothing and has a gold 5-arched crown on his hat. I’m not sure what occupation he is. i would havbe thought a soldier but their traditonal hats are usually red. The Monarchy of Greece was the government in which a hereditary monarch was the sovereign of the Kingdom of Greece from 1832 to 1924 and 1935 to 1973. This souvenir seems t be from the 1950s or 1960s.

EAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s

MADE FROM: wood , brush , other material.

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 28.5cm high x 10cm wide x 6cm deep.

   

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 Jamaican (?) bus the “tap tap”. The question mark exists because the “Tap Tap” is associated with Haiti. Perhaps the “Jamaica” at the top is the result of Haitian souvenirs exported to Jamaica. . Either way, it is quite wonderful, by fridge magnet standards.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s

MADE FROM: wood

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

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 9.5cm x 8cm

 

VENICE, ITALY – Document Holder

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Venice , Italy

ITEM: Document Holder

NOTES: This looks to be a letter writing folder from Venice. Your pad and envelopes and pen would have gone inside. It seems to be of leather which has been embossed and painted (Printed, tooled and color dyed leather writing pad with punched and stitched edging) . It is quite beautiful and intricate in its own way and would even work as an object d’art if framed. Ahhh, those Venetians.

Pity no one writes letters anymore.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1940s

MADE FROM: leather

MADE IN: Italy probably

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 15cm x 19.5cm

   

 

CYPRUS – Copperart Picture

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Cyprus

ITEM: Copper Art Wall Ornament

NOTES: I love these copper art wall pictures. The copper art depicts the Kamares Aqueduct near Larnaca, Cyprus. Built in 1747 and in use until 19396. The doves in the foreground must refer to the peace that all Cypriots hope for and don’t always have. Bottom left proudly states “Handmade” in Cyprus … and rightly they should. I love the handmade travel trinkets. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamares_Aqueduct

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: copper

MADE IN: Cyprus

MANUFACTURER: Adonis Copper Art

DIMENSIONS: 30cm x 23cm

SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA – Pennant

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Sydney, New South Wales , Australia

ITEM: Pennant

NOTES: A pendant flag with only one major Sydney sight … clearly before the Opera House (1973), the gentrification of the Rocks (the 1970s) and Sydney Tower (1981)

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s

MADE FROM: material

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 18.5cm x 27cm