Category Archives: Ornamental Miniatures

VIETNAM – Ornamental Miniature

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Vietnam

ITEM: Miniature

NOTES: A miniature of the famous Vietnamese cyclo, a three-wheel bicycle taxi (Cycle rickshaw) that appeared in Vietnam in 1939 during the French colonial period (after a failed attempt to introduce rickshaws). They are as identifiable in Vietnam as are the gondolas of Venice, or the black cabs of London. But just in case you don’t know where one is from (and they do exist in various forms around the world), there is a Vietnam logo in the seat This miniature has all moving parts and even works on the pedals … of course you would need a miniature person to use it.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2005

MADE FROM: steel , plastic

MADE IN: Vietnam ( I assume)

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 23cm long x 13.5cm high

         

HOLLAND – Ornamental Miniature

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holland-souvenir-minature-clogs-in-pink-1PLACE REPRESENTED:   Holland

ITEM: ornament

NOTES: Miniature clogs from Holland … naturally enough. Or maybe they are clogs for hamsters or mice? The Dutch are nothing if not efficient.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s

MADE FROM: wood

MADE IN:  unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 3cm across , 7cm long each

               holland-souvenir-minature-clogs-in-pink-2          holland-souvenir-minature-clogs-in-pink-3

BLACKPOOL, ENGLAND – Minature Ornament

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Blackpool - ornament in shape of kettle - ceramic(1)     Blackpool - ornament in shape of kettle - ceramic(2)PLACE REPRESENTED: Blackpool , England

ITEM: Minature ornamental kettle

NOTES: A minature ceramic kettle with the Blackpool coat of arms. Blackpool is on the north west coast of England. Its motto is the “progress” depicted. I have no idea if they lived up to their motto.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1930s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN:  Czechoslovakia

MANUFACTURER: ‘Victoria’ Schmidt & Company

DIMENSIONS: 7.5cm across x 7.5cm high

ISLE OF WIGHT, ENGLAND – Ornament

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Isle of Wight - ceramic ornament (2)

PLACE REPRESENTED: Isle of Wight , England

ITEM: A very small ceramic urn

NOTES: I’m not sure why the use of the urn form. The Romans hung out there for quiet some time so I assume the urn shape could be a reference to that. Also, this is not the normal coat of arms for the Isle of Wight. The Isle of Wight recieved its more common coat of arms in 1938 so this is pre that. I’m not sure of the significance of the boat but the Isle of Wight is, errr, an island located in the English Channel (the largest in England), so, boats are a necessity.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1930s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN:  Czechoslovakia

MANUFACTURER: ‘Victoria’ Schmidt & Company

DIMENSIONS: 7cm high

CROATIA – Ornament

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Croatia - Wood Well - Small (1)PLACE REPRESENTED:   Croatia

ITEM: Ornamental minature.

NOTES: A minature traditional well, or bunar, in wood. Traditional working wells are still found all over Croatia. Every little rural house has one. This one is elaborate with a canopy and a bucket that goes up and down.

Okay, there is no place name depicted anywhere but it was bought there, around Lovran, I think.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1973

MADE FROM: wood

MADE IN:  (the then) Yugoslavia

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 11cm high

Croatia - Wood Well - Small (2)

MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA – Ornament

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Melbourne - Mini Clog - Ceramic (4)

PLACE REPRESENTED: Melbourne, Victoria , Australia

ITEM: Ceramic clog

NOTES: As far as I know the Melbournians are not famous for clogs and the Dutch did not settle Melbourne (even Dutch explorer Abel Tasman didn’t make it to Melbourne) so, I assume, the ceramic clog factory was looking to move a few ceramic clogs and contacted the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Australia’s second most populous city, and said, “We can do you a deal on some souvenir clogs” …

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1930s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN:  Germany

MANUFACTURER: Victoria

DIMENSIONS: 9cm long x 4cm high x 4cm wide

Melbourne - Mini Clog - Ceramic (3)     Melbourne - Mini Clog - Ceramic (2)     Melbourne - Mini Clog - Ceramic (5)

WELLS, ENGLAND – Minature

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Wells - 3 Handled Mug (1)PLACE REPRESENTED: City of Wells , England

ITEM: Minature

NOTES: Wells is a cathedral city and civil parish in Somerset, England in the south west of England.The name Wells comes from three wells (as depicted on the coat of arms) dedicated to Saint Andrew, one in the market place and two within the grounds of the Bishop’s Palace and cathedral

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1930s Wells - 3 Handled Mug (2)

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN:  unknown

MANUFACTURER: Victoria

DIMENSIONS: 4cm diameter x 4cm high x 6cm across from handle to handle

HIBBERDENE, SOUTH AFRICA – Ornamental Miniature

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Hibberdene - small ornamental mug (1)PLACE REPRESENTED: Hibberdene , South Africa

ITEM: Minature Mug

NOTES: Hibberdene is a small coastal town on east coast of South Africa. The beaches are popular with tourists and with dolphins apparently.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1990s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN:  unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 5cm high x 5cm diameter across bottom, 4cm diameter across top.

 

TWEED HEADS, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA – Ornamental Miniature

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Razorback - Tweed Heads - Ceramic something (1) Razorback - Tweed Heads - Ceramic something (3)

PLACE REPRESENTED: Tweed Heads (specifically Razorback Hill), New South Wales , Australia

ITEM: I’m not really sure what this is. I’m assuming it’s a tea bag strainer. (postnote: actually it’s just miniature souvenir ware of a shaving mug – see comments below)

NOTES: Razorback Hill is a  long, narrow hill located at the end of Razorback Road between Tweed Heads (in New South Wales) and Coolangatta (in Queensland) which offered a beautiful outlook of rolling hills, the sea to the east, and mountains to the west. At the summit on the western side there was a restaurant called the Chalet.  The Swiss owner, Karl Hiendlemayer, began to build his dream in 1916 and added to it over the years until it became a major tourist curiosity. He sold it to the Sutherland family in 1939 and, during the war years, it proved to be amongst the most popular venues for the relaxing and free-spending American servicemen. (see – you can learn things on the internet). Apparently the chalet on Razorback Hill (given the amount of artefacts with “Interior of The Chalet,” label on them) was quite the place to be and, apparently, had a stunning view.

It’s all gone now and has been built up and built out.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1930s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN:  Czechoslovakia

MANUFACTURER: ‘Victoria’ Schmidt & Company (I believe this “Victoria” stamp was used from approximately 1919-45)

DIMENSIONS: 8cm across x 5.5cm high