MOUNT TAMBOURINE, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – Fridge Magnet

Posted on December 25, 2016 by Frankie

PLACE REPRESENTED: Mt Tambourine, Queensland , Australia

ITEM: Fridge Magnet

NOTES: Beautifully detailed, hand painted and crafted fridge magnet from Mt Tambourine in the Gold Coast Hinterland. Someone has hand painted a nut, which seem to be gumnuts from a eucalypt tree which are prolific on Tambourine. The mountain has had a long history of arts and crafts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamborine_Mountain

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1990s

MADE FROM: wood , magnet

MADE IN: Australia

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 5cm long , 3cm wide

AUSTRALIA – Fridge Magnet

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Frankie

PLACE REPRESENTED: Australia

ITEM: Fridge Magnet

NOTES: The “Aussie Sheila” fridge magnet with all the phrases used by the Aussie sheila. A “sheila” is a girl.

This is a nice piece of kitsch that sends up the speech of a past Australia, not that the current vernacular, in many sections, is any better. Her outfit, down to the Ug boots, isn’t uncommon either.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2014

MADE FROM: plastic

MADE IN: ?

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 5cm x 6cm

NEW YORK CITY, USA – Nic Nac Plate

Posted on December 18, 2016 by Frankie

NEW YORK CITY, USA – Nic Nac Plate

PLACE REPRESENTED: New York City , USA

ITEM: Nic Nac Plate

NOTES: A tourist trinket with a specific agenda: “Meet me Under the Clock” and on the back, at the Renaissance Hotel in NYC on New Years Eve 1996. “Meet Me Under the Clock” is a place where many people meet, a clock being in times past a not common item, so everyone would know where it was. The phrase, apparently, can be traced to J. D. Salinger who would meet William Shawn, the editor of The New Yorker, with that phrases, under the New York Biltmore Hotel’s lobby clock. The New York Biltmore Hotel ceased operation when the building was gutted in August 1981. The Renaissance is now a Marriott hotel on New York Times Square.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1996

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 13cm diameter

SWITZERLAND – Salt & Pepper Shakers

Posted on December 18, 2016 by Frankie

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

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, USA- Bottle Opener

Posted on December 14, 2016 by Frankie

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

VANUATU – Coasters

Posted on December 11, 2016 by Frankie

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)

CAIRNS, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – Fridge Magnet

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Frankie

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

MIDDLEMOUNT, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – Keychain

Posted on December 4, 2016 by Frankie

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

HUNGARY – Cap

Posted on November 30, 2016 by Frankie

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.

HAWAII, USA – Mug

Posted on November 27, 2016 by Frankie

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)

TRAVEL TRINKETS

Tourist souvenirs from around the world

MOUNT TAMBOURINE, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – Fridge Magnet

AUSTRALIA – Fridge Magnet

NEW YORK CITY, USA – Nic Nac Plate

SWITZERLAND – Salt & Pepper Shakers

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, USA- Bottle Opener

VANUATU – Coasters

CAIRNS, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – Fridge Magnet

MIDDLEMOUNT, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – Keychain

HUNGARY – Cap

HAWAII, USA – Mug