Category Archives: Items by Country

TURIN, ITALY – Thermometer

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PLACE REPRESENTED: The Superga Basilica, Turin , Italy

ITEM: Thermometer

NOTES: I’m not sure what the guitar shape has to do with a basilica so I assume it’s a tribute to the Torino guitar from Turin (Torino being the Italian for Turin). This is a well detailed and elegant trinket and what you would expect from the less rustic Italian north.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s

MADE FROM: ceramic material , chain

MADE IN:  Italy

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 7cm  across , 21cm high

Remember to click on the photos for detailed large images.

OPATIJA, CROATIA – Wall Ornament

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Opatija, Yugoslavia (now Croatia)

ITEM: Wall Picture

NOTES: A wooden frame with a postcard picture. The picture is a postcard of a fountain with a random bus in the background in Opatija but it can be replaced with any postcard. Which would be about right. I’m no expert but the wooden frame seems to be more alpine in nature … and Opatija is on the coast.

I still love this type of rustic souvenir.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s

MADE FROM: wood

MADE IN:  unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 22cm across , 17cm high

 

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – Ashtray

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Harbour Bridge, Sydney , Australia

ITEM: Ashtray

NOTES: Whenever you put a city on a ashtray there will be analogical jokes made about the city and the ashtray … and Sydney is an easy target. The ashtray is made of a lead like steel probably mined in Australia before being sent to Japan to be manufactured into this trinket which is then sent back to Australia for sale.  It’s not the first time the Japanese sent manufactured steel back to Australia.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s

MADE FROM: steel

MADE IN:  Japan

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 15cm across , 11cm high

FIJI – Coasters

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PLACE REPRESENTED:   Fiji

ITEM: Coasters

NOTES: Excellent contemporary tiki coasters (six of them)  from Fiji.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1990s

MADE FROM:  wood or board , plastic   cork base.

MADE IN:  ?

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 8.5cm  diameter  (on the coasters) The holder is 10cm high

 

CHIMNEY ROCK, NORTH CAROLINA, USA – Mug

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chimney-rock-mug-1PLACE REPRESENTED: Chimney Rock North Carolina , USA

ITEM: Mug

NOTES: wikipedia: “Chimney Rock State Park is a North Carolina state park in Chimney Rock, Rutherford County, North Carolina in the United States. The 4,531-acre (18.34 km2) park is located 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Asheville, North Carolina, and is owned by the state of North Carolina. It offers hiking trails for all skill levels, spectacular views, the Devil’s Head balancing rock and a 404-foot (123 m) waterfall, Hickory Nut Falls. Its most notable feature is a 315-foot (96 m) rock formation, a granite monolith, Chimney Rock, accessible by elevator and providing views of the park and surrounding countryside”.  I could not have described it better. Also, I’m partial to granite rock though it is hard to shape.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN:  ?

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 11.5cm across , 11cm high

chimney-rock-mug-5

METEOPA, GREECE – Mug

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Meteopa , Greece

ITEM: Mug

NOTES: This looks like a hand crafted mug / cup with hand painted scenery. Meteopa is a mountaintop Greek Orthodox monastery – Just outside the village of Kastraki, Kastraki, Kalambaka, Greece

 

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1990s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN:  I’d be surprised if it wasn’t Greece.

MANUFACTURER: unknown, but hand painted.

DIMENSIONS: 8cm high x 7.5cm diameter opening at top high , 7.5cm diameter (opening at top)

 

Remember to click on the photos for detailed large images.

HOLLAND – Pin Cushion

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PLACE REPRESENTED:   Holland

ITEM: Pin Cushion

NOTES: A pin cushion from Holland in the shape of, what else, clogs. It is, perhaps, one of the most identifiable of all national dress items. And, of course,  the clogs have painted windmills on them. All we need is a dyke.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s

MADE FROM: wood

MADE IN:  ?

MANUFACTURER: Handmade

DIMENSIONS: 11cm across , 5cm high

 

 

ARIZONA, USA – Ashtray

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arizona-ashtray-1PLACE REPRESENTED: The Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA

ITEM: Ashtray

NOTES: Spectacular … The Grand Canyon that is. Actually the ashtray isn’t to bad either. Pity it wasn’t made in the US.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN:  Korea

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 13cm x , 13cm

CROATIA – Ornament

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Croatia - Wood Donkey - Large #1 (1)PLACE REPRESENTED:   Croatia

ITEM: Ornament

NOTES: Technically this is from Yugoslavia (1972) but it was purchased in Croatia and clearly looks like a Croatian donkey. Doesn’t it?

A well detailed wood carving of the traditional Croatian form of transport of years past, the “magarac” … donkey. The donkey is carrying the obligatory barrel of wine as well as a bucket on each side.

The donkey is central to Croatian culture. Poems, stories and songs have been written about the donkey. Though not that fashionable anymore these trinkets from the 1970s show a clear line to Croatia recent, agrarian past.

Will the mythology survive the shock of the new that is the world post EU?

These carvings were prolific and came in different sizes and shapes.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1972

MADE FROM: wood , steel.

MADE IN:  Yugoslavia (as it then was).

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 18cm  high , 17cm long.

Croatia - Wood Donkey - Large #1 (2)          Croatia - Wood Donkey - Large #1 (4)

And there are others . The same size but with slightly different markings.

Croatia - Wood Donkey - Large #2 (1)     Croatia - Wood Donkey - Large #2 (5)     Croatia - Wood Donkey - Large #2 (3)

And of course, together;

Croatia - Two Wood Donkeys - Large (1)   Croatia - Two Wood Donkeys - Large (2)   Croatia - Two Wood Donkeys - Large (6)    Croatia - Two Wood Donkeys - Large (4)