PLACE REPRESENTED: Hawaii , USA
ITEM: Ashtray
NOTES: Hawaiian kitsch ashtray with hoola girl giving you the “Aloha”. Effective and perfect for the mancave or exotica room.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: hard resin
MADE IN: Hawaii
MANUFACTURER: Coco Joe ( there is a number pressed into the side “138”)
DIMENSIONS: 10.5cm across , 11cm high
PLACE REPRESENTED: New York City , USA
ITEM: Piggy Bank
NOTES: Literally – a piggy bank in vibrant blue depicting the best of New York City.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2013
MADE FROM: ceramic material
MADE IN: China
MANUFACTURER: City Merchandise
DIMENSIONS: 14cm long , 11cm wide , 10cm high
PLACE REPRESENTED: New York City , New York, USA
ITEM: Drinks Tray
NOTES: A bamboo drinks tray depicting famous structures of New York City. Bamboo isn’t native to NYC as far as I know but the stencils of the structures can’t be mistaken for any other place in the world. The Twin Towers take pride of place in this pre-2001 souvenir.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: wood
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 33cm diameter
PLACE REPRESENTED: Alaska , USA
ITEM: Herb Knife
NOTES: I’m sure there are herbs in Alaska but a herb knife as a souvenir? Well, at least you can use it.
The knife has a curved blade to get a rocking action and is also known as a ‘Hachoir’ or ‘Herb Chopper’.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s
MADE FROM: steel , wood
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 10.5cm high x 14.5cm long (herb knife) 10cm long x 2cm high (base)
PLACE REPRESENTED: Oahu, Hawaii , USA
ITEM: Wall Hanging (picture)
NOTES: A nice bit of rustic kitsch. A wooden panel with a picture of Oahu beach with liberal lacquer applied. It certainly looks water proof – I reckon it would float in the tub.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: wood
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 21.5cm long x 18cm high
PLACE REPRESENTED: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , USA
ITEM: Ornamental Dinner Bell
NOTES: The Liberty Bell becomes a dinner bell. It makes sense sort of but the thought of a revolutionary call to arms for freedom, liberty and independence being reduced to a call to come and get your sausage and eggs is a truly kitsch moment. And, the Liberty Bell isn’t red in colour. Maybe the glass maker was left leaning or he was fond of Red Bell beer from Pennsylvania (which postdates this trinket).
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: ceramic material
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 9.5cm high x 6.5cm diameter
PLACE REPRESENTED: Hawaii , USA
ITEM: Hors d’oeuvres forks.
NOTES: Perfectly Hawaiian …. forks with pineapple handles sitting in a larger pineapple holder.
All I need is some hors d’oeuvres, the “Blue Hawaii” soundtrack, a pina colada, and a fan and I’m there.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2004
MADE FROM: hard resin plastic , steel
MADE IN: Vietnam
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 14cm high
PLACE REPRESENTED: Reese, Michigan , USA
ITEM: Mug
NOTES: A beautiful handcrafted mug from the United States. These small pottery and craft places do exist but they find it hard to compete with the cheap trinkets from China. Westerwald Pottery in Pennsylvania make salt glazed pottery in the rendition of the Westerwald region of Germany. They have been around since 1975.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2001
MADE FROM: ceramic material
MADE IN: USA
MANUFACTURER: Westerwald Pottery
DIMENSIONS: 10cm high x 8.5cm diameter (at top) 10cm diameter (on bottom), 13cm wide with handle
PLACE REPRESENTED: Florida , USA
ITEM: Salt & Pepper Shakers
NOTES: Alligators and Florida ….go together like salt and pepper?
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: plastic
MADE IN: Hong Kong
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 7cm high , 8cm wide
PLACE REPRESENTED: St Louis , Missouri, USA
ITEM: Display Plate
NOTES: Great detail. The Japanese are good at this type of stuff. This is the home of Chuck Berry, Philis Diller, Vincent Price, David Rasche, James Franciscus, Shelley Winters – none of whom are on the plate.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1989
MADE FROM: ceramic material
MADE IN: Japan
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 20cm diameter
