FIJI – Clock

fiji-clock-1PLACE REPRESENTED:   Fiji Islands

ITEM: Clock NOTES: An ornate clock from Fiji  depicting all the island of Fiji. You could see this hanging in a tiki bar.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s

MADE FROM: wood (“treated wood” apparently – probably specified so tourists can take the same back to their country of origin, or think they can, or have, in this case).

MADE IN:   Fiji probably

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 22cm across , 29cm high

DUBROVNIK, CROATIA – Souvenir Spoon

Dubrovnik - Spoon (1)      Dubrovnik - Spoon (2)

PLACE REPRESENTED: Dubrovnik , Croatia

ITEM: Souvenir Spoon

NOTES: A souvenir spoon from Dubrovnik depicting its coat of arms though, strictly speaking, it is the coat of arms of the Republic of Ragusa as Dubrovnik was known during Renaissance times.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s

MADE FROM: steel

MADE IN:  unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 10.5cm long

WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – Fridge Magnet

Whitsunday - Fridge Magnet 01PLACE REPRESENTED: Whitsunday Islands, Queensland , Australia

ITEM: Fridge Magnet

NOTES: A tacky souvenir for the Whitsunday Sands Resort, the beautiful islands off Queensland’s central north coast. Croc having a BBQ

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s

MADE FROM: plastic

MADE IN:  unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 8.5cm across, 5.5cm high

MADRID, SPAIN – Ornament

madrid-wall-decoration-fan-1PLACE REPRESENTED: Madrid , Spain

ITEM: Ornament

NOTES: Madrid – a black fan, dancing. Fair enough. But this trinket is not really for hanging or sitting ….I’m not sure how you display this.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s

MADE FROM: plastic

MADE IN:  unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 14cm across , 8cm high   .

HOLLAND – Ornamental Miniature

holland-souvenir-minature-clogs-in-pink-1PLACE REPRESENTED:   Holland

ITEM: ornament

NOTES: Miniature clogs from Holland … naturally enough. Or maybe they are clogs for hamsters or mice? The Dutch are nothing if not efficient.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s

MADE FROM: wood

MADE IN:  unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 3cm across , 7cm long each

               holland-souvenir-minature-clogs-in-pink-2          holland-souvenir-minature-clogs-in-pink-3

NORFOLK ISLAND, AUSTRALIA – Salt & Pepper Shakers

norfolk island - s&p shakers (1)PLACE REPRESENTED: Norfolk Island , Australia

ITEM: Salt & Pepper Shakers

NOTES: Norfolk Island depicted by the (I assume) Norfolk Pine and (I assume) the Bounty sailing ship (the one famed for the mutiny) which never actually went to Norfolk though some of its mutineers did or, it could be the HMS Resolution the ship Captain Cook commanded when he first discovered (White European discovery) the island in 1774.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN:  unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

 DIMENSIONS: 8cm  high x 4.5cm diameter (at largest)

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY, AUSTRALIA – Jigsaw

Canberra - Telstra Tower - Jigsaw (1)PLACE REPRESENTED: Canberra, Australian Capital Territory , Australia

ITEM: Jigsaw

NOTES: The Telstra Tower in Canberra. Well it’s a nice change from the Houses of Parliament or the Australian War Memorial. It is only a small jigsaw … no doubt the houses of Parliament would be the 10000 piece one where the pieces don’t fit and, inevitably, the final piece is missing.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s

MADE FROM: cardboard

MADE IN:  China (very little in Canberra seems to be made in Australia)

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 17cm  x 25cm

COSTA MAYA, MEXICO – Key Holder

Costa Maya - Mexico - key holder (1)PLACE REPRESENTED: Costa Maya , Mexico

ITEM: Key Holder

NOTES: I love this. Cactus, wood, tile. Costa Maya is a small tourist region on Mexico’s east coast. The cactus and desert scenery (as opposed to beaches and waves) with the region hand written up the side lead me to assume that the key holder could be adapted to any Mexican region. You know, not all Mexico is dry, sunny and dusty as depicted in (western) films. I still like this though.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s

MADE FROM: wood , tile

MADE IN:  unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 15cm wide x 20cm high

IRELAND – Ornament

Ireland - Ornament - Harp (1)PLACE REPRESENTED: Ireland

ITEM: Ornament

NOTES: “Natural Irish Crafts”. Only the Irish could get away with sculpting something (here a Celtic harp) out of turf, or rather peat bog, and selling it to tourists.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1980s

MADE FROM: turf

MADE IN:  Ireland

MANUFACTURER: Samhain Turf

DIMENSIONS: 19cm high x 13cm wide

Ireland - Ornament - Harp (4)     Ireland - Ornament - Harp (3)     Ireland - Ornament - Harp (2)