PLACE REPRESENTED: Tuscany , Italy
ITEM: Cap
NOTES: Toscana, Italia, more commonly known to us as Tuscany, Italy. The major towns in the region are written around the cap edge, Lucca, Firenze (Florence), Siena, Pisa.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 200s
MADE FROM: cotton
MADE IN: China
MANUFACTURER: Polifemoeye
DIMENSIONS: adult adjustable size.
PLACE REPRESENTED: Guadalajara , Mexico
ITEM: Wallet
NOTES: A small change wallet. Simple, festive and very useful.
I always wanted to go to Guadalajara ever since I heard Elvis Presley sing a song of the same (on TV in the 70s) name in the film, “Fun in Acapulco” … “Guadalajara, Guadalajara / Tienes el alma de provinciana / Hueles a limpio a rosa temprana”. Yes he sang it in Spanish (it was written by the great Mexican composer Pepe Guízar). I digress.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s
MADE FROM: Leather
MADE IN: Mexico probably
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 9.5cn x 9cm
PLACE REPRESENTED: Lovran , Croatia
ITEM: Vase
NOTES: A wooden vase with a traditional pattern. Quite stylish and evocative of an era which is so not the 21st century (perhaps).
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: wood
MADE IN: Croatia (probably), or rather Yugoslavia at the time.
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 15cm tall, 5cm diameter (at its widest point)
CANBERRA, ACT, AUSTRALIA – Bottle Opener
PLACE REPRESENTED: Canberra, Australian Capital Territory , Australia
ITEM: Bottle Opener
NOTES: The House of Parliament on a bottle opener. I would have thought the politicians would have little use for a humble bottle opener. After all you don’t need a bottle opener to pop the cork on a bottle of champers.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: steel
MADE IN: Japan
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 11.5cm long x 4cm wide
PLACE REPRESENTED: Konstanz , Germany
ITEM: Music Box
NOTES: Oooh, I love this. Rustic charm, a hidden compartment, and music. Konstanz is located at the western end of Lake Constance in the south-west corner of Germany, bordering Switzerland (which may explain the music box as most music boxes were made in Switzerland). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konstanz
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s
MADE FROM: wood , steel (movement / music wheel)
MADE IN: Germany probably (movement made in Switzerland)
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 15cm wide x 8cm deep x 8.5cm high
PLACE REPRESENTED: Holland
ITEM: Hat
NOTES: Six pointed high hat (top hat?) in the Dutch colours and with bells attahed to the peaks. I strongly suspect this isn’t a traditional hat but knowing some of the Dutch people I know nothing would surprise me. Perhaps, more likely, it’s a Dutch hat to be worn when following the nation football (soccer) team? If that is the case you don’t want to be sitting behind the wearer at the game!
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1990s
MADE FROM: foam
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 25cm high , 29cm (from brim to brim)
PLACE REPRESENTED: Hobart , Australia
ITEM: Coasters
NOTES: “Greetings from Hobart” the coasters say.
Timeless.
Timeless because I don’t think Hobart has changed that much since the 1970s … just kidding.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: cork
MADE IN: Australia
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 28cm x 10cm (packet)
PLACE REPRESENTED: Anaheim, California, USA specifically Disneyland.
ITEM: Bowl
NOTES: Disneyland in a wavy plate with various “lands” depicted. Yes, I know Anaheim is now in greater Los Angeles.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s
MADE FROM: glass
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 17.5cm diameter
PLACE REPRESENTED: Adelaide, specifically Marineland, South Australia , Australia
ITEM: Salt & Pepper Shakers
NOTES: Tacky – I have a similar trinket with aligators and Florida.
Marineland in Adelaide (at West Beach) opened in 1969 and closed in 1988, in rather controversial circumstances. The famous pelican ‘Mr Percival’ from the movie ‘Storm Boy’ was a feature attraction, as well as the performing dolphins. It is probably good that it closed down. http://www.adelaiderememberwhen.com.au/mixed-memories-for-marineland/
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s
MADE FROM: plastic
MADE IN: Hong Kong
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 7cm high , 8cm wide
PLACE REPRESENTED: Blackpool , England
ITEM: Minature ornamental kettle
NOTES: A minature ceramic kettle with the Blackpool coat of arms. Blackpool is on the north west coast of England. Its motto is the “progress” depicted. I have no idea if they lived up to their motto.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1930s
MADE FROM: ceramic material
MADE IN: Czechoslovakia
MANUFACTURER: ‘Victoria’ Schmidt & Company
DIMENSIONS: 7.5cm across x 7.5cm high