PLACE REPRESENTED: San Diego, California , USA
ITEM: Wall plate
NOTES: San Diego, “the birthplace of California” with all its sites. Simple but effective.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: ceramic material
MADE IN: China
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 19cm 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: Hawaii , USA
ITEM: Ornament
NOTES: The Hawaiian “God of Winner” or “Winner God” is one of the Hawaiian Tiki Gods. This one is meant to bless you with good fortune and if you keep this Tiki with you, according to the label, “you may always be a winner in all that you do”. Winner, all right. I suspect the real winner here is the Chinese manufacturing industry.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1998
MADE FROM: Hard resin
MADE IN: China
MANUFACTURER: KC Comp
DIMENSIONS: 17cm high
PLACE REPRESENTED: Alabama , USA
ITEM: T Shirt
NOTES: Alabama, the “Heart of Dixie”. Are you allowed to say “Dixie” anymore? Surely someone will be triggered, somewhere. Wear with caution as you will probably be torn down in an attempt to erase the subjective past.
Dixie is an informal name for the states in the U.S. South, especially those that seceded and formed the Confederacy which led to the U.S. Civil war. It is a reference to the Mason Dixon line which marks the north from the South. Eventually it was shortened to “Dixie”. Alabama
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1994
MADE FROM: 100% cotton
MADE IN: Mexico
MANUFACTURER: Jerzees
DIMENSIONS: XL
PLACE REPRESENTED: Hawaii , USA
ITEM: Figurine
NOTES: A cute wobbler figurine of a hawaiian hula girl. Nicely detailed and quite stylish in it’s own little way. And, if there ever was wobbler suited to the concept it is the Hawaiian hula girl.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1990s
MADE FROM: Hard resin , plastic , other material
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 12cm tall
PLACE REPRESENTED: Alaska , USA
ITEM: Trivet
NOTES: A trivet or wall tile this is a nice modernist take on usual Alaskan themes of mountain, snow and moose.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1990s
MADE FROM: tile
MADE IN: China
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 15.5cm x 15.5cm
PLACE REPRESENTED: Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona , USA
ITEM: Game
NOTES: Okay, so this is designed to come from anywhere given the “Grand Canyon Nat’l Park” is a decal at the front. But, this chess and checkers set is designed for the traveller, or even for the kids in the back seat in the days before electronics, especially useful on the long drive to the Grand Canyon. And, in any event, have chess (and checkers) will travel. You will always find someone who plays chess.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s
MADE FROM: wood , plastic
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 12.5cm x 10cm x 5cm FOR: Use
PLACE REPRESENTED: Minnesota , USA
ITEM: T Shirt
NOTES: Celebrating the Minnesota State Fair and the world famous canned cooked pork, Spam, which hails from Minnesota. Is this a travel souvenir shirt? Not sure but I’m not going to pass up a shirt with the Minnesota State fair and spam on it.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spam_(food)
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2012
MADE FROM: 100% cotton
MADE IN: Nicaragua
MANUFACTURER: Gildan
DIMENSIONS: L
PLACE REPRESENTED: San Juan Capistrano, California , USA
ITEM: Wall Plate
NOTES: San Juan Capistrano is in California and is the site of a Catholic mission (founded in 1776 and named after Giovanni da Capistrano (1386–1456), the Franciscan Saint from Capistrano, in the Italian region of Abruzzo) for which it is named. San Juan Capistrano is also known for its cliff swallows (birds) and there are parades, legends and songs (“When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano”) about the same. Swallows migrate 6,000 miles from Goya, Argentina to San Juan Capistrano in large groups and the town welcomes visitors from all parts of the world to witness the return of the swallows, a tradition that has been celebrated since the early 1930s. Their origin? In his book, “Capistrano Nights”, Catholic Priest Father St. John O’Sullivan, Pastor of Mission San Juan Capistrano, tells how the swallows were being shooed away he said “Come on swallows, I’ll give you shelter. Come to the Mission. There’s room enough there for all.” and the next day they were building nests in and around the Mission. All the sites of this small town are there including the statue of Saint Junípero Serra,a franciscan priest who founded many mission in the area. including this one. http://www.missionsjc.com/about/swallows-legend/
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: ceramic material
MADE IN: Korea
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 20.5cm diameter
PLACE REPRESENTED: San Francisco, California , USA
ITEM: Coasters NOTES: The famous San Francisco cable car on four colourful coasters and, in their own holder. Perfect for your retro tiki bar.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s
MADE FROM: plastic
MADE IN: Hong Kong
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: Each coaster 8.5cm diameter
