PLACE REPRESENTED: Ireland
ITEM: Doll
NOTES: Doll in traditional Irish dress. Ahh, to be sure.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: plastic , material
MADE IN: Hong Kong
MANUFACTURER: Eagleton Toys
DIMENSIONS: 25cm tall (doll)
PLACE 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
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.
And there are others . The same size but with slightly different markings.
And of course, together;
PLACE REPRESENTED: The Basilica of St Peter and Square , Vatican City
ITEM: Ashtray
NOTES: The Basilica of St Peter as an ashtray – hmmm. Clearly it’s a decorative ashtray but still, where is the respect?
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1973
MADE FROM: ceramic material
MADE IN: ?
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 12cm x 12cm
PLACE REPRESENTED: Paris , France
ITEM: Ornamental miniature
NOTES: The Eiffel Tower – in steel, what else.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: steel
MADE IN: ?
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 19.5cm high , 8cm wide
PLACE REPRESENTED: Venice, Italy.
ITEM: Wall Ornament.
NOTES: Venice in wood?
Wooden folk art is something common throughout Europe but the idea of Venice on wood is interesting given that coastal Croatians swear that the Venetian Republic was built on Croatian lumber. The fact that there is very little top soil left along some parts of the Croatian coast, due to erosion from tree felling, may indicate there is some truth in that belief.
Putting aside any historical exploitation argument this is a type of tourist trinket I love: it’s hand made, though mass produced, with mixed materials, ie: a postcard stuck to wood and painted to create a vivid Venetian memory of the Piazza San Marco (St. Marks Square).
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: wood, paper, paint.
MADE IN: Unknown, Italy probably.
MANUFACTURER: unknown.
DIMENSIONS: 22cm high, 11cm wide
PLACE REPRESENTED: San Francisco , USA
ITEM: Spoon Rest
NOTES: Did anyone ever rest a spoon in a spoon rest?
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: ceramic material
MADE IN: ?
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 19cm long
PLACE REPRESENTED: Sunshine Plantation, Nambour , Australia
ITEM: Salt & Pepper Shakers
NOTES: Ahhh, the Sunshine Plantation on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, home of the Big Pineapple. One of Australia’s most well known and best “big fruits”.
For more on the Big Pineapple: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Pineapple
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: ceramic material
MADE IN: unknown.
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 9cm high , 5cm wide each
