Tag Archives: 1970s

PORTO, PORTUGAL – Trivet

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Porto - Trivet (1)PLACE REPRESENTED: Porto , Portugal

ITEM: Trivet

NOTES: A trivet made from a ceramic tile sitting in cork.

Celebrated is the town of Porto, Portugal’s second biggest city, on the river, Douro. In the background is the Dom Luís I Bridge, a double-decked metal arch bridge that spans the Douro River between the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. Nice. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porto 

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: ceramic material , cork .

MADE IN:  unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 15cm x  15cm (tile, 19cm x 19cm all up).

BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – Ashtray

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Brisbane - Ashtray (1)PLACE REPRESENTED: Brisbane, Queensland , Australia

ITEM: Ashtray

NOTES: Brisbane’s freeway system is depicted here. The inside of the ashtray is glass and the picture can be removed. The picture is a postcard which leads me to believe that it may not have been the original, given the plaster ashtray was made in England …but who knows. Anything is possible in Brisbane.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: glass

MADE IN: England

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 9cm x  9cm

NAMBOUR, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – Serving Plate

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Nambour - Sunshine Plantation - Bamboo Serving Tray (1)PLACE REPRESENTED: Nambour, specifically the Sunshine Plantation, Nambour, Queensland , Australia.

ITEM: Plate

NOTES: The Big Pineapple just north of Brisbane, depicted in all its spledour. A State treasure.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: wood (bamboo?)

MADE IN:  Taiwan

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 20cm across, 30cm high

GOLD COAST, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – Coin Wallet

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Gold Coast - Change Wallet (1)PLACE REPRESENTED: Gold Coast, Queensland , Australia

ITEM: Coin Wallet

NOTES: Cute retro coin wallet from the days before Australia had $1 and $2 coins which is why it is quite small, perhaps. In any event, it’s not an issue for a tourist as you aren’t likely to come out of the Gold Coast with any change.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: vinyl , steel (springback)

MADE IN: Hong Kong

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 8.5cm across , 7.5cm high

GREECE – Wall Ornament

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Greece - Wall Display Tile (1)PLACE REPRESENTED:  Greece

ITEM: Wall Hanging

NOTES: A beautifully detailed and painted wall tile depicting a traditional scene in a Greek village. Though it could be from any number of countries in the eastern Mediterranean. Is it idealised? It matters not, it is very stylish.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN: Greece

MANUFACTURER: Knossos Ltd / Katsidoniotis Bros

DIMENSIONS: 7.5cm across x 15cm high

IPSWICH, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – Souvenir Spoon

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Ipswich - Souvenir Spoon (1)       Ipswich - Souvenir Spoon (2)

PLACE REPRESENTED: Ipswich, Queensland (specifically The Ipswich Courthouse), Australia

ITEM: Souvenir Spoon

NOTES: The old Ipswich City Courthouse built in 1859. There have been two subsequnt courthouses built in Ipswich. Ipswich needs courthouses. The souvenir spoon may come in handy for those trying to dig their way to freedom from a holding cell whilst awaiting sentencing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Ipswich_Courthouse 

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: steel

MADE IN:  Australia

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 13cm length       FOR

THUNDER BAY, CANADA – Wall Ornament

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Thunder Bay - Wall Ornament (1)PLACE REPRESENTED: Thunder Bay, Canada

ITEM: Wall Ornament

NOTES: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada celebrated in wood craft (that looks to be pyrography – the art of decorating wood or leather by burning a design on the surface with a heated metallic point … or it could be drawn). Primitive and naive it is. It must be a one off. No two would be the same. They must be proud of their ducks in Thunder Bay. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunder_Bay

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: wood

MADE IN: Canada probably

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 15cm  x 12cm

NAMBOUR, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – Ashtray

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Nambour - Ashtray (1)PLACE REPRESENTED: Nambour, Queensland , Australia

ITEM: Ashtray

NOTES: Do it yourself tourist trinkets? The “Nambour” looks like it’s hand painted on.

And, why would you want the “work fascinates me, I can watch it for hours” sentiment applied to your town I have no idea. Still, it pretty much sums up Nambour (100 km north of Brisbane) …just kidding Nambourians.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN:  Japan

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 15cm across , 8cm high

LOVRAN, CROATIA – Vase

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Lovran - Wood Vase (1)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)

Lovran - Wood Vase (3)     Lovran - Wood Vase (2)

CANBERRA, ACT, AUSTRALIA – Bottle Opener

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Canberra - Bottle Opener (1)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