PLACE REPRESENTED: Maroochydore , Australia
ITEM: An Egg Cup.
NOTES: Simple but at least it seems to be a piece of local ceramic handiwork. But what is it? A ring holder or nic nac bowl?
No, it’s a very shallow egg cup.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s
MADE FROM: glass
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 8cm
PLACE REPRESENTED: Tasmania , Australia
ITEM: Small Display Plate
NOTES: A small display plate depicting Tasmania, a large island off the coast of a larger island.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s
MADE FROM: ceramic material
MADE IN: Japan
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 10cm x 12.5cm
PLACE REPRESENTED: Western Australia , Australia.
ITEM: Fan
NOTES: Beautifully kitsch plastic souvenir fans from the 60s or early 70s. The fans fold in on themselves or open up (as they should).
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s
MADE FROM: plastic
MADE IN: Hong Kong (It’s written on the red bit at the bottom)
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 18cm tall, 3.5cm wide (when folded up), 25cm when opened up
PLACE REPRESENTED: The Superga Basilica, Turin , Italy
ITEM: Thermometer
NOTES: I’m not sure what the guitar shape has to do with a basilica so I assume it’s a tribute to the Torino guitar from Turin (Torino being the Italian for Turin). This is a well detailed and elegant trinket and what you would expect from the less rustic Italian north.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s
MADE FROM: ceramic material , chain
MADE IN: Italy
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 7cm across , 21cm high
Remember to click on the photos for detailed large images.
PLACE REPRESENTED: Opatija, Yugoslavia (now Croatia)
ITEM: Wall Picture
NOTES: A wooden frame with a postcard picture. The picture is a postcard of a fountain with a random bus in the background in Opatija but it can be replaced with any postcard. Which would be about right. I’m no expert but the wooden frame seems to be more alpine in nature … and Opatija is on the coast.
I still love this type of rustic souvenir.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s
MADE FROM: wood
MADE IN: unknown
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 22cm across , 17cm high
PLACE REPRESENTED: Harbour Bridge, Sydney , Australia
ITEM: Ashtray
NOTES: Whenever you put a city on a ashtray there will be analogical jokes made about the city and the ashtray … and Sydney is an easy target. The ashtray is made of a lead like steel probably mined in Australia before being sent to Japan to be manufactured into this trinket which is then sent back to Australia for sale. It’s not the first time the Japanese sent manufactured steel back to Australia.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s
MADE FROM: steel
MADE IN: Japan
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 15cm across , 11cm high
PLACE REPRESENTED: Holland
ITEM: Pin Cushion
NOTES: A pin cushion from Holland in the shape of, what else, clogs. It is, perhaps, one of the most identifiable of all national dress items. And, of course, the clogs have painted windmills on them. All we need is a dyke.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s
MADE FROM: wood
MADE IN: ?
MANUFACTURER: Handmade
DIMENSIONS: 11cm across , 5cm high
ITEM: Forks
PLACE REPRESENTED: California , USA
NOTES: There is nothing quite like a “Little Fork”. But, why the little fork? I suppose its easier than saying hors d’oeuvres forks. The “California” on the handle is a bonus. Sun, surf, and hors d’oeuvres.
YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s
MADE FROM: steel , plastic
MADE IN: Japan
MANUFACTURER: unknown
DIMENSIONS: 10.5cm high (The forks are 10.5cm high. The box is 11.5cm x 6.5cm)