PLACE REPRESENTED: London (specifically the Tower bridge) , England
ITEM: Copper Art Wall Ornament
NOTES: A copper art print depicting the famous Tower Bridge. Very 70s and there is nothing wrong with that.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: copper , wood
MADE IN: England
MANUFACTURER: Pleasure Reproductions
DIMENSIONS: 21.5cm x 14cm
PLACE REPRESENTED: Ireland
ITEM: Key Hook
NOTES: A key chain with, perhaps, the most famous of Irish catholic blessings or prayers (which was originally written in Gaelic). It is attributed to Saint Patrick and is often recited at weddings, funerals and christenings, sometimes even sung, as the hymn ‘St Patricks Breastplate’. Johnny Lydon (of Sex Pistols fame) also lifted parts of it for his Public Image Limited song “Rise” (1986)
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: wood , tile .
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 14cm x 20cm
PLACE REPRESENTED: Frankfurt , Germany
ITEM: Cap
NOTES: Nicely detailed cap for a nicely detailed city. That was lame. But, there is nothing lame about Frankfurt.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s
MADE FROM: 100% acrylic
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: Souvenir World
DIMENSIONS: 58cm
PLACE REPRESENTED: Croatia
ITEM: T Shirt
NOTES: A kids t-shirt in the familiar red and white checkerboard of Croatia with the coat of arms over the heart.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2017
MADE FROM: cotton
MADE IN: it is “Made for Croatia” …which means it was made somewhere else.
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: size 10
PLACE REPRESENTED: Veliko Tarnovo , Bulgaria
ITEM: Print
NOTES: A vivid print of housing in Veliko Tarnovo in north central Bulgaria which was the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire. The unique architecture, including these renaissance era houses, draw tourists and, errr artists.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1997
MADE FROM: Paper
MADE IN: Bulgaria
MANUFACTURER: T. Krastev
DIMENSIONS: 14c x 18.5cm (print)
PLACE REPRESENTED: Dubrovnik , Croatia
ITEM: Condiment Spoons
NOTES: Simple but effective condiment, dip spoons from Dubrovnik depicting olives and garlic.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2005
MADE FROM: ceramic material
MADE IN: Croatia (I assume)
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 15cm long x 3.5cm across spoon area
PLACE REPRESENTED: South Korea
ITEM: Fridge Magnet
NOTES: “Wonderful Korea”. A youth plays a traditional Korean Janggu drum. I assume it is “South Korea”…is drum playing allowed in the North, or tourist souvenirs, or tourists? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janggu
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s
MADE FROM: ceramic material
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 6.5cm diameter
PLACE REPRESENTED: Taos, New Mexico , USA
ITEM: Wall Tile
NOTES: The Mexican feel on the tile is apt given we are speaking about Taos (population in 2010 of 5716) in “New” Mexico where about 55% of the population are of Latin/Hispanic descent. According to the blurb on the back of the tile, many artisans and artists have made their home in Taos, which doesn’t explain why this is made in Tucson, Arizona (which is not dissimilar in temperament and 600 miles to the south). Still, it’s vivid.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2006
MADE FROM: tile
MADE IN: USA
MANUFACTURER: Earthtones
DIMENSIONS: 15cm x 15cm
PLACE REPRESENTED: Canberra, ACT , Australia
ITEM: Wall Plate
NOTES: A vivid wall plate with all the sites of Australia’s capital … I didn’t know there was so many.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s
MADE FROM: ceramic material
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 31cm diameter
PLACE REPRESENTED: Krakow , Poland
ITEM: Figurine
NOTES: A dancing couple (at least I think they are dancing) in the traditional clothing (at least I think it is traditional) of Krakow, Poland. This is beautifully detailed and I have no doubt the clothing is regionally correct. Why? Because: Fundacja “CEPELIA” has authorized this. Cepelia was a central union of handicrafts cooperatives, which ran trade outlets dealing with the sale of goods produced in associated cooperatives , made or inspired by the work of Polish folk artists between 1949-1990. Folk handicrafts and products inspired by native folklore are common gifts in Poland. Folk dolls are certified by the National Artistic and Ethnographic Commission of the “CEPELIA” Foundation – Polish Art and Handicraft in Warsaw.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1989
MADE FROM: wood , material
MADE IN: Poland
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 8cm diameter base x 14.5cm high
