PLACE REPRESENTED: Wisconsin , USA
ITEM: Fridge Magnet
NOTES: A fridge magnet in the shape of the state of Wisconsin with tourist high lights depicted.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s
MADE FROM: resin
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 7cm across x 7.5cm high
PLACE REPRESENTED: Rockhampton, Queensland , Australia
ITEM: Salt & Pepper Shakers
NOTES: Absolute kitsch. I’m not sure what these dolphins have to do with Rockhampton either. Well, I mean there would be dolphins there but they are pretty much everywhere along the Queensland coast. But, the Fitzroy river that Rockhampton is on is known for having Australian snubfin dolphins in residence and these aren’t snubfin dolphins.
Perhaps I’m being too pedantic.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s
MADE FROM: ceramic material
MADE IN: Japan
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 4cm across , 9cm high each (approx)
PLACE REPRESENTED: Sydney, New South Wales , Australia
ITEM: Wall Ornament
NOTES: This would be nice if it was brass and solid wood but it’s plastic and cheap wood. Sydney deserves better though Oscar Levant’s quote about Hollywood may apply to it … “Strip away the phony tinsel of Hollywood and you’ll find the real tinsel underneath”.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1990s
MADE FROM: plastic , wood
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 20cm long x 24cm high
PLACE REPRESENTED: Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia.
ITEM: Pen Holder
NOTES: Very groovy pen holder in resin and shell in the shape of a boomerang. Australian souvenir at it’s most stylish kitsch. Hervey Bay is a seaside town 290km north of the Queensland capital of Brisbane. It is a natural bay between the Queensland mainland and nearby sand island, Fraser Island. Hervey Bay is, also, the whale watching capital of Australia. It is known for its eccentric types. Well, I know one eccentric type from there.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s
MADE FROM: resin
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 17.5cm long x 7cm high to pen holder top
PLACE REPRESENTED: Lapland, Finland.
ITEM: Salt & Pepper Shakers
NOTES: Lapland is the largest and northernmost region of Finland. It looks cold. The reindeers like it. Perfect for a salt & pepper shaker.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1990s
MADE FROM: ceramic material
MADE IN: Finland
MANUFACTURER: Studio Polaris Oy (Studio Polaris is a Finnish company specialising in porcelain).
PLACE REPRESENTED: Dubrovnik, Croatia
ITEM: Vase
NOTES: An evocative, rustic, hand crafted vase from Dubrovnik depicting locals in traditional dress.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1990s
MADE FROM: ceramic material , (pottery).
MADE IN: probably Croatia
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 18cm high , 10cm wide
PLACE REPRESENTED: Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
ITEM: Fridge Magnet
NOTES: Animal caricature fridge magnets with youthful phrasing and attitude (apparently).
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2014
MADE FROM: wood
MADE IN: China
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 5.5cm across x 7cm high each
PLACE REPRESENTED: Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia.
ITEM: Ornament
NOTES: A caricature of the happy go lucky surfer, board in hand. This is naff but quite charming and would do your head in if you fully embraced surfing culture’s recreational habits. Or, is that a stereotype?
Who knows how many of these have been sold.
Byron Bay is a beachside town located in the far north-eastern corner of the state of New South Wales and is a favourite destination for international backpackers.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s
MADE FROM: steel , wood
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 11.5cm high x 7cm x 7cm base.
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PLACE REPRESENTED: St Ives, England
ITEM: Display Plate
NOTES: St Ives is a seaside town, in Cornwall, in the far south west tail of England. The small plate depicts a “Lucky Pisky”, a “pisky” being a fairy. He says “I’m from dear ol Cornwall for’ee m’dear”. I assume the pisky is saying he’s from Cornwall forever. I’m not sure if that’s lucky or not but he seems to be happy with the statement.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s
MADE FROM: wood
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 9cm diameter
PLACE REPRESENTED: Nicaragua
ITEM: Ornament
NOTES: The three wise monkeys who embody the proverbial principle “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” are, here, transposed to Nicaragua. It’s not unusual for cultures to adapt the proverb to their culture by using a more familiar symbol. Buddahs, owls, people and all sorts of symbols have been used. Here, the Nicaraguans have gone for an a Native American Indian look or perhaps a Aztec look (even though the Aztecs were to the north of Nicaragua in Mexico). These double up as tea light candle holders. The ornaments are signed by Jose Gutierrez, a Nicaraguan potter from the village of San Juan de Oriente. Having said that this is a little rough and could be a knock off.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2016
MADE FROM: clay
MADE IN: Nicaragua
MANUFACTURER: Jose Gutierrez
DIMENSIONS:16cm tall, 8cm wide (each)
