The comb and holder and chopsticks set are part of an interesting collection of objects that was acquired over numerous years by the donor during his tenure as Trade Commissioner with the Australian Trade Commission. The donor, accompanied by his wife, lived in Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, India and China from the late 1950s through to the mid 1980s.

Historically, Australia has shared a strong emotional and economic bond with Great Britain. From the 1970s until the present, the emphasis has been on increasing and strengthening Australia's relationship with Asia. This collection reflects Australia's shift in attitude toward travel and trade with our Asian neighbours.

The maker of the comb and holder and chopsticks is unknown.

The plastic comb and holder and boxed chopsticks set were given to the donor as a customer while flying in China during the period 1982 - 1985, a time when there were few non-Chinese people flying. The donor was attending trade shows during his tenure as Trade Commissioner with the Australian Trade Commission.

The donor worked for the Australian Trade Commission and had a number of postings in Asia including Indonesia in the late 1950s to 1960 and 1967 - 1971; Japan 1972 - 1974; Singapore 1975 - 1977; India end of 1977 to 1981 and China 1982 - 1985. He was accompanied by his wife.

Souvenirs (2), comb and holder and chopsticks set, plastic / wood, maker unknown, China, 1980 - 1983

Souvenir of CAAC Airways of a plastic hair comb in the shape of an aeroplane with teeth three quarters of the length of the comb with the rest of the comb in the shape of the nose of the plane. The comb features a window at the nose of the plane, several windows separated by four Chinese characters for CAAC The Civil Aviation Administration of China (Zhongguo minhang) and a line marking the body of the plane in gold paint. The CAAC symbol on the body of the plane and the Chinese flag featured on the tail are in red and gold paint. The green plastic holder is oval-shaped with Chinese characters meaning 'Welcome aboard China's civil aviation aircraft (Huanying nin chengzuo Zhongguo minhang keji), and 'Welcome Aboard' in English and CAAC with the Chinese characters for Lanzhou in Gansu province, far northwest China, which was most likely the origin of the trip taken, printed in gold ink.

Boxed chopsticks set of a pair of black lacquered tapered wooden chopsticks featuring Chinese characters in gold paint on the handle: 'Fu Ru Dong Hai' (Happiness as boundless as the East Ocean) and 'Shou Bi Nan Shan' (Longevity as great as the Southern Mountains). Black lacquered wooden box has rounded ends with a sliding lid and Chinese characters: 'Zhongguo minhang' (CAAC), in gold paint on one side of the box. The lid features Chinese characters for the Civil Aviation Administration of China CAAC (Zhongguo minhang), the symbol for CAAC Airways and CAAC in gold pigment.

Made: 1980 - 1983

Haircomb - Chinese characters in gold pigment: 'Zhongguo minhang' (CAAC - The Civil Aviation Administration of China).
Haircomb holder - 'Welcome Aboard', CAAC and Chinese characters: 'Huanying nin chengzuo Zhongguo minhang keji' (Welcome aboard China's civil aviation aircraft) and "Lan Zhou" (Lanzhou city in Gansu Province, China) in gold pigment.

Boxed chopsticks set - Chinese gold characters on ends of chopsticks: 'Fu Ru Dong Hai' (Happiness as boundless as the East Ocean) and 'Shou Bi Nan Shan' (Longevity as great as the Southern Mountains). Chinese characters: 'Zhongguo minhang' (CAAC) CAAC symbol and CAAC printed in gold pigment on the lid of the box. In gold pigment on the side of the box are Chinese characters: 'Cheng Ji Liu Nian Shanghai' (Inflight souvenir Shanghai).

2007/44/3

1980 - 1983

30 mm