Cindythings Chrystal Dunninger Museum Page 11

This is an unusual piece. A souvenir fan given out by Garuda Indonesian Airways. The words Garuda Indonesian Airways, along with pretty designs, are cut out of the delicately thin wooden leaves, and spell out the words when the fan is opened. They are all strung together by knotted threads. It appears to be very old, but it isn't any older than 1949, because that's when Garuda Indonesia started up its commercial service. The outside pieces are dark wood, and the front one is carved with Handmade in Bali. The fan measures about 8 inches / 20 cm long, about an inch / 3 cm closed at its widest; opens to about twelve inches wide. Some of the leaves are broken, the threads, too, and some white paper was evidently stuck to it at some point, as you can see. It's in fragile shape, but in my opinion, surprisingly good shape considering its materials and obvious age. A souvenir any traveler would enjoy receiving!

This cute little English-Spanish dictionary was made in Spain in 1950. It has a blue fabric covered paper cover, and says Diccionario Ingles-Espanol, with MIKRON in a circle, in gold. The author is F. Plans y Sans de Bremond. It measures 1 1/2 inches / 4 cm wide, 2 1/4 inches / a little over 5 1/2 cm tall, and is 5/8 inch / 1 1/2 cm thick. Tiny enough to fit into a small pocket, tiny bag, or even carry in your hand. I wonder what words Chrystal looked up, and who she said them to?

This is a book called Cortina's Spanish in 20 lessons, Illustrated. The cover is bright yellow, black and white, covered in clear plastic, and says Teach Yourself Spanish Easily! On the back cover are instructions to send off for a free Spanish Record. Published in 1956. 406 pages. 5 3/4 inches / 14 1/2 cm wide, by 8 1/4 inches / 21 cm tall, about 1 3/4 inches / 4 cm thick. Inside is ink scribbling something out on inside cover and title page, and also Chrystal's book plate with her return address label affixed. Somebody has made ink notes on lessons one and two, evidently numbers to match the free Spanish Record. Inside is also a bookmark from Bookmasters, a New York bookstore, with an order form on the back. I wonder if they knew who their attractive lady customer was?

Here we have yet another sign that Chrystal was determined to learn some Spanish, perhaps for an exciting trip someplace sunny with someone handsome. A New Handy Dictionaries pocket Spanish-English and English-Spanish Dictionary, by Wesley and Girones, David McKay Company, 1939. Maroon hard cover. The orange bookplate inside the front cover is slightly different from the one in the Cortina's book, which had a brown frame. The book measures 5 inches / 12 1/2 cm wide, by 6 3/4 inches / 17 cm, 1 inch / 2 3/4 cm thick. 218 pages.

Here we are at our final exhibit. A souvenir of the city of lights. This is a transfer decal showing a picture of the Eiffel Tower, with the words Souvenir de la Tour Eiffel, Paris, in a red banner at the bottom. Never used, despite the instructions on the back saying how to wet the decal and slide onto the surface one desired to decorate. I can never figure them out, either. Measures about 2 1/4 / 5 1/2 wide, by 4 1/2 inches / 11 cm tall.

Well, that was our last exhibit, and that brings our fascinating tour of The Chrystal Dunninger Museum to an end--unless you'd like to go back and look at some of the exhibits again, in which case I'll be happy to join you and tell you all about them once more!

I hope you've enjoyed your visit. And I hope you enjoyed meeting Chrystal and getting to know her. She was a really special person, wasn't she? I really love her, and I hope now you do, too.

If you have any questions or comments about Chrystal, the exhibits you've seen, my collection, or this tour, or you have anything else you would like to share with me, please contact me. I would love to hear from you! And I'll do my best to answer.

Thanks very much for coming! Please come back again soon for another tour. And don't forget to tell your friends to visit The Chrystal Dunninger Museum! And, be sure to check out my super array of fun Chrystal Dunninger Museum souvenirs at my Cindythings shop at Cafepress, where you'll find beautiful and fun retro Chrystal Dunninger Museum photos and designs on all kinds of great tees, mugs, and gifts you'll love!

If you are interested in learning more about Dunninger, please check out JosephAtmore.com, where you'll be off to a good start.

And if you happen to visit the Magic Castle in Los Angeles, which I should mention you can only do if you are a member or are the guest of one, be sure to look for Chrystal's portrait at the bottom of the stairs.