PLACE REPRESENTED:   Fiji Islands

ITEM: Ornament

NOTES: A stand up very simple wood carving of a traditional (?) Fijian beach village. Despite the handcraft in this, the slightly slapdash nature indicates these must have been churned out at a rapid pace. It’s as if the craftsman could see the boat load of tourists on the horizon.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1990s

MADE FROM: wood

MADE IN:  Fiji (probably)

MANUFACTURER: Handmade

DIMENSIONS: 15.5cm across x 12cm high

PLACE REPRESENTED:   Fiji Islands

ITEM: Ornament

NOTES: This trinket is not from Bula, Indonesia nor Bula, The Phillipines. It’s from Fiji and the “bula” is not a place but a famous local expression for “hello”.

I’m not sure why “hello” is on an object in the shape of a knife though … it’s hardly inviting.

Maybe tourists feel threatened and are more likely to buy when they are confronted by a local yelling “bula” and brandishing what appears to be a dagger?

I’m sure airlines won’t let you take this in carry-on luggage.

How many of these simple tourist trinkets can a local churn out in one hour?

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1990s

MADE FROM: wood

MADE IN:  Fiji (probably)

MANUFACTURER: Handmade

DIMENSIONS: 45cm long