LOVRAN, CROATIA – Wall Ornament

PLACE REPRESENTED: Lovran, Croatia

ITEM: Wall Ornament

NOTES: I love these detailed souvenirs. Wood, shells and a picture of the old town of Lovran. This is vivid and makes me want to hop on a plane now. Lovran (or Laurana to the Italians, Lauran to the Austrians) is a small town on the Istrian peninsula on Croatia’s north coast and has been under many flags (Rome, Byzantium, The Franks, France, Italy, Austria, Yugoslavia, Croatian) in its history but is distinctly Adriatic southern Slav. – ie: Croatian. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovran

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1994

MADE FROM: wood , shell

MADE IN: Croatia probably

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 32cm long x 10cm wide

PLACE REPRESENTED: Rijeka , Croatia

ITEM: Wall Ornament

NOTES: Hand made and home made. i love it. Trsat is a steep hill overlooking Rijeka. On top is perched, not surprisingly, a castle / fortress and a church, Majka Bozja Trsatska (Our lady of Trsat). Building of the (current) church began in the 13th or 14th century but it has been significantly added to and remodelled over the years. Mary’s house in Nazareth is said to have appeared here then mysteriously disappeared sometime later, to be discovered in Italy, in Loreto, where it still stands today as a shrine. The church is famous for its numerous concessions and for the pilgrimages by numerous believers (from Croatia and abroad) throughout the year, and especially on the Assumption of Mary holiday. http://www.kvarner.hr/hodocastiti-svetistima/en/trsat.html

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1998

MADE FROM: pottery

MADE IN: Croatia (I assume)

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 19cm x 14cm

PLACE REPRESENTED: Rijeka , Croatia

ITEM: Wall Ornament

NOTES: The Morcic (Moretto) are a traditional symbol (and good luck charm) for the town of Rijeka on the Croatian north Adriatic coast. This is not some sort of blackface stereotype. The legends of Morcic have a number of sources and you can pick which to accept according to your patriotic, historical or romantic leanings (to show where you are from, to celebrate a military victory over the Ottomans, as a symbol of friendship when an Italian contessa granted freedom to a servant she cared for very much). The morčić motif can be seen throughout the city and is widely recognised, and jewellery and souvenirs, which were prolific, reaching their peak in the 19th century (but disappearing after World War 2) are once again being produced. Rightly or wrongly I’m sure they will be cancelled.

https://croatia.hr/en-GB/experiences/culture-and-heritage/legends/the-origin-of-morcic-the-lucky-charm-from-rijeka

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1994

MADE FROM: wood , material , ceramic material.

MADE IN: Croatia

MANUFACTURER: Tarsatic Art

DIMENSIONS: 12cm x 17cm