Tag Archives: 2000s

CAMBRIDGE ENGLAND – Snow Globe

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Cambridge England

ITEM: Snow Globe

NOTES: One of the modern sturdy substantial snow globes replacing the plastic ones of the 70s and 80s. This one depicts Cambridge. Cambridge is a university city, non-metropolitan district and the county town of Cambridgeshire, England. Hence all the university buildings depicted though there is a bridge and boat. And why not, Cambridge is famous for its relaxed boating down the river Cam (though nowadays relaxed boating may be seen by some at Cambridge University as a representation of white privilege). Here the Mathematical Bridge is shown – a wooden footbridge in the southwest of central Cambridge (The bridge was designed by William Etheridge, and built by James Essex in 1749. It has been rebuilt on two occasions, in 1866 and in 1905, but has kept the same overall design)

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s

MADE FROM: plastic, resin.

MADE IN: China

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 9cm high, 7cm diameter base

KAZAKHSTAN – Wall Ornament

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Kazakhstan

ITEM: Wall Ornament

NOTES: Okay so the image may have specific significance but I’m not sure what it is. It does seem to be a Eagle Hunter (associated with Kazakhstan) standing on a flying leopard (probably a snow leopard, the national symbol of Kazakhstan … though they don’t fly).

A former Soviet territory (liberated from the Soviets in 1991) Kazakhstan is the world’s ninth-largest country by land area and the largest landlocked country. Kazakh is widely spoken as is Russian. The population are ethnically Kazakh and are a Turkic ethnic group native to Central Asia and Eastern Europe. The population is mainly Muslim. Who says you can’t learn anything on the internet?

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s

MADE FROM: bakelite

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 12cm diameter

FIJI – Ornament

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Fiji

ITEM: Ornament

NOTES: A wooden ornament from Fiji apparently, though these is nothing particularly Fijian about it apart from the words on the bonnet. There is a lot of surfing in Fiji so that is, clearly, the market. The wood has been “Fumigated & Treated” so you can bring it back through customs.

In Fiji, bula (pronounced boo-lah) literally translates to “life” or “good health” and is famously used as a warm, all-purpose greeting meaning “hello” or “welcome”, while also serving as a toast similar to “cheers”.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s

MADE FROM: wood

MADE IN: Fiji

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 13.5cm x 13.5xm long x 7cm wide x 7.5cm high

LONDON, ENGLAND – Mug

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PLACE REPRESENTED: London , England

ITEM: Mug

NOTES: A big brash and shiny mug depicting the famous London open platform double decker bus (known as the Routemaster) which is also big and brash though not always shiny. In the mid 2000s the routemasters were largely replaced (by other closed double decked buses and standard buses) but there are still a few around on heritage lines and as tourist buses.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN: China

MANUFACTURER: Wondabox

DIMENSIONS: 8cm diameter opening x 11cm tall. The box is 12cm x 12cm x 12cm.

JAMAICA – Fridge Magnet

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Jamaica

ITEM: Fridge Magnet

NOTES: A vivid handmade (the wood is plain masonite) and hand painted fridge magnet from Jamaica depicting a traditional house. Quite wonderful, by fridge magnet standards.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s

MADE FROM: wood

MADE IN: Jamaica (maybe … it could be Haitian)

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 9cm 7cm

 

MEXICO – Religious Ornament

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MEXICO PLACE REPRESENTED: Mexico

ITEM: Religious Ornament

NOTES: Mexican religiosity on display. The Virgin Mary (specifically the Virgen de Guadelupe as Mary is known after apparitions on the Hill of Tepeyac, which later became part of Villa de Guadalupe, in a suburb of Mexico City, in the 16th century) in a Bottle Shrine is common and popular in Mexico (and yes just in case you didn’t know, “Mexico” is written on the bottom of the bottle) but also appears in other places in Latin America. Each one of these shrines is individual. The bottle conveys the admiration of the through color, glitter, candles, flowers and shine and is specifically Mexican! The diorama inside are different on both sides. And prudish they are not the bottle is a recycled Corona beer bottle. Catholics have never had a problem with alcohol.

The diorama in a bottle hobby is hundreds of years old. Sometimes called the “impossible bottle” craft because the bottle contains an object that appears too large to fit through the bottle’s mouth (and the bottle must not be cut) this is something that needs skill and patience and ingenuity.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s

MADE FROM: glass , paper , plastic

MADE IN: Mexico I suspect

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 19cm tall

 

SOUTH KOREA – Fridge Magnet

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PLACE REPRESENTED: South Korea

ITEM: Fridge Magnet

NOTES: “Wonderful Korea”. A youth plays a traditional Korean Janggu drum. I assume it is “South Korea”…is drum playing allowed in the North, or tourist souvenirs, or tourists? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janggu

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 6.5cm diameter

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY, AUSTRALIA – Wall Plate

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Canberra, ACT , Australia

ITEM: Wall Plate

NOTES: A vivid wall plate with all the sites of Australia’s capital … I didn’t know there was so many.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s

MADE FROM: ceramic material

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 31cm diameter

FIJI – Paper Weight

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PLACE REPRESENTED: Fiji

ITEM: Paper Weight

NOTES: A paperweight that is also a water globe, a thermometer and a pen holder. There is a decal at the bottom that exclaims “Bula” (which means “hello” amongst other things) and “Fiji”. The wind surfers bopping around inside the hexagon “globe” could be from anywhere of course. When mass production comes to town all identity is lost. Buy something local, it may cost more but it will mean more. Of course if you need a a water globe, thermometer or a pen holder then ….

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s

MADE FROM: plastic

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 10cm high x 7.5cm across