PLACE REPRESENTED: Switzerland
ITEM: Wooden salt & pepper shakers.
NOTES: Salt & Pepper shakers made of wood with a small decal indicating Switzerland, though in reality it could be any place that can afford decals.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: wood
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 4.5cm diameter , 8.5cm high
PLACE REPRESENTED: Las Vegas, Nevada , USA
ITEM: Bottle Opener (and fridge magnet)
NOTES: The famous “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign built in 1959 on a bottle opener with a magnet. Perfect for your fridge. The Las Vegas landmark sign is located on Las Vegas Boulevard South and is iconic. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welcome_to_Fabulous_Las_Vegas_sign
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1990s
MADE FROM: steel
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 12.5cm x 5cm
PLACE REPRESENTED: Vanuatu
ITEM: Coasters
NOTES: Generic, plastic coated, foam backed cardboard coasters depicting all the major sites of a given place. In this case: The Republic of Vanuatu. The tiny Pacific nation is depicted in a series od stereotyped though, perhaps, evocative representations of real or idealised island life.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s
MADE FROM: cardboard , foam .
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 9cm x 9 cm (28cm x 11cm pack)
PLACE REPRESENTED: Cairns, Queensland , Australia
ITEM: Fridge Magnets
NOTES: Cairns boomerang fridge magnet with colourful tropical relief.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2014
MADE FROM: ceramic material
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: Citer Souvenirs
DIMENSIONS: 12cm long
PLACE REPRESENTED: Middlemount, Queensland , Australia
ITEM: Keychain
NOTES: Middlemount is a mining town in Central Queensland, Australia. Hence the depiction of the dragline excavator. Middlemount, like many other mining towns in Queensland virtually sprung up overnight in the early 1980s. It services two large coal mines, Foxleigh and German Creek. At the 2011 census, Middlemount had a population of 1,914. It’s population, I suspect, is dependent of the fortunes of the mining industry. Maybe that’s why the image is framed in a horseshoe … for luck? If solar or green energy become a easily accessible reality who knows what will happen to Middlemount, or Queensland for that matter.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s
MADE FROM: steel
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 9.5cm length overall
PLACE REPRESENTED: Hungary
ITEM: Cap
NOTES: “H” is for Hungary surrounded by Hungarian colours. The coat of arms on the side is to be expected. I’m not sure what the silver knight on the back is all about though.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s
MADE FROM: cotton
MADE IN: China (Tavol Kelet – The Far East)
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 57cm adjustable size.
PLACE REPRESENTED: Hawaii , USA
ITEM: Mug
NOTES: A mug celebrating the Hawaii of years past. There is a retro charm to this which still appeals.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2013
MADE FROM: glass
MADE IN: China
MANUFACTURER: ABC Stores
DIMENSIONS: 11cm (including handle) x 9cm high (boxed it is 10cmx10cmx10cm)
PLACE REPRESENTED: Dubai , United Arab Emirates
ITEM: Ornament
NOTES: Do they still ride camels in Dubai? Shouldn’t this be a Ferrari or a Lamborghini? Still, he / she is cute.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s
MADE FROM: polyester
MADE IN: China (designed and creted in Dubai though)
MANUFACTURER: JGTC
DIMENSIONS: 20cm tall , 22cm long
PLACE REPRESENTED: Porto , Portugal
ITEM: Trivet
NOTES: A trivet made from a ceramic tile sitting in cork.
Celebrated is the town of Porto, Portugal’s second biggest city, on the river, Douro. In the background is the Dom Luís I Bridge, a double-decked metal arch bridge that spans the Douro River between the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. Nice. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porto
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: ceramic material , cork .
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 15cm x 15cm (tile, 19cm x 19cm all up).
PLACE REPRESENTED: Sydney, New South Wales , Australia
ITEM: Snow Globe
NOTES: Ahhh, the Opera House (and Harbour Bridge) in a snow globe. Perfectly identifiable and quite the piece of kitsch. But does it ever snow in Sydney? No cocaine related jokes necessary.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1990s
MADE FROM: plastic
MADE IN: China
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 5cm high , 7cm long