Classic tat
(My mum wearing a moustache in the Summer Palace: Beijing, China)
Far from a mere gratuitous shot of my mother in a fetching Groucho Marx moustache, I am honestly going to make a point here, though not that social ineptitude runs in my family. This is a fine example of one of the cheaply bought and even more cheaply made ‘tat’ products available at all major Chinese tourist attractions. I’m afraid that between Jane and my mother, a significant impression was made on the stockpiles of such goods in Beijing. The real selling point of this ‘tache, if indeed it could be argued that there is one, was that concealed behind the moustache itself is a double ended party horn to blow into – hopefully you can imagine it in action.
They bought (at some point during their trip) at least two of these moustaches, silk pyjamas, silk purses, slippers, roller skate attachments for shoes, postcards, an empress hat and matching accessories and various small toys for various young relatives. All were bought for less than the British equivalent of £2.
I must apologise for my absence this past week. I have been super busy with some freelance work and sourcing more China material for the blog is becoming a serious difficulty! I’m almost clean out of images. I hope to be back there in the coming weeks, but it may not be until September. I hope to do an Expo update then.
– Today Rosie is in the UK entertaining friends –
Hi Rosi,
visiting China? Huray, looking forward to have a Mahjong match
Cheers
Stephan