Hawaiian "Yin-Yang Purpleheart" Set by Tropical Sticks

[cstix19981220 - 1998/12/20]. Material: Purpleheart and Ebony Mahonia wood. Description: This is a most elegant men's and woman's two-pair set. Both pair feature opposing color design (one is Ebony with purpleheart inlay, and the other is purpleheart with ebony inlay). Furthermore, the woman's pair (top) is flattened slightly to an oval shape, while the men's pair (bottom) is nearly square. Both taper to a flattened point. This is one set of six similar designs (in Hawaiian woods such as Curly Koa and Hala), available in a variety of color quilted batik fabric cases with Velcro™ closure. Two rests also included are 'scrap' blocks of ebony. Source: Made by Lorn Douglas of Tropical Sticks on the Big Island of Hawaii. Lorn is an environmentally conscious wood craftsman with some interesting stories and environmental information on his web site, including photographs of Hawaiian Volcanos in action!

Four Pairs of Gold Decorated Wood Chopsticks (Click Image to see detail)

[cstix19981219 - 1998/12/19] Description: Round, tapered wood. Translucent rich burgundy lacquer finish reveals the grain pattern. Gold paint appears not to be hand-applied. Length: 28 cm. Source: Tampa, FL.

Northwest Airlines Waribashi

[cstix19981211 - 1998/12/11] Description: According to the former owner, these chopsticks like this were once used in coach and first class cabins, but only on international flights to the far east. Probably an outdated logo design, they were obtained at an annual charity sale of discontinued or discarded articles, held by the airline and it's employees. Source: Louis Park, MN.

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Custom Imprinted Melamine (Plastic) Chopsticks

[cstix19981212 - 1998/12/12] Materials: Melamine resin (a type of Plastic). Description: Square and gently tapered, ivory color and texture. Imprinted in blue ink. Red paper wrapper. Nationality: Chinese style. Length: 27.5 cm. Source: Made by "Everything in the Universe," 185 John St., Oakland, CA 94611 (510-547-6523). Creator Norman Sperling (nsperling@global.california.com) sent me this sample pair of chopsticks, part of an innovative advertising campaign for Blue Shield of California. Sperling, an Oakland, California inventor and astronomy teacher, came up with the idea for these trade show "giveaways" - a popular alternative to ho-hum pens and key chain flashlights. As part of a marketing effort toward the Asian community, 15,000 of the unique and practical promotional items were distributed during the 1998 Chinese New Year celebration in San Francisco, California.

Cathay Pacific Airlines "Learner" Chopsticks

[cstix19981218a - 1998/12/18] Material: Plastic. Description: Round, ivory-color plastic with the airline logo in red. They can be used as normal chopsticks that taper to a blunt tip. The mismatched pair are also somewhat dual-function, with a vestigial knife and fork molded into the opposite end. Length: 27 cm. Origin: Made in Hong Kong. Text on the reverse of the cardboard wrapper suggest that "these Cathay Pacific Learner Chopsticks have a built-in 'safety' device that lets you gain experience without losing too much weight!" Step 4 of the illustrated "How-to" instructions is "If you really think you've given it a fair shot, and failed, turn the chopsticks around to the 'Western end' and enjoy your meal anyway." (Personally, I think this would be more difficult than Western cutlery). Also, the advisory: "Caution: not recommended for soup" (No... really?).

CAN YOU GUESS WHAT THESE ARE? I BET YOU CAN'T! CLICK THE PICTURE TO SEE IF YOU'RE RIGHT.

[cstix19981219 - 1998/12/19b] Material: Plastic and Metal. Source: Rocky Mount, NC.

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Japanese Children's Anime Chopsticks

[cstix19981225a - 1998/12/25] Material: Wood or Bamboo. Description: Pink painted with printed cartoon design; rounded square. Length: 16.5 cm. Nationality: Made in Japan. -- Christmas Gift from my Wife, Vicki.

Decorated Black Japanese Chopsticks

[cstix19981225b - 1998/12/25] Material: Wood or Bamboo. Description: Black, decorated with printed decal design in silver, purple and lavender; rounded square. Package is labeled "Essence." Length: 23 cm. Nationality: Made in Japan. -- Christmas Gift from my Wife, Vicki.

Twisted Bamboo Japanese Chopsticks

[cstix19981225c - 1998/12/25] Material: Bamboo. Description: Bamboo, twisted at the end; finished in a red-brown color; nearly square, with textured tip. Package is labeled "Saiyuki." Length: 23 cm. Nationality: Made in Japan. -- Christmas Gift from my Wife, Vicki.

Red Japanese Chopsticks

[cstix19981225d - 1998/12/25] Material: Wood or Bamboo. Description: Rich red finish, with a frosted texture throughout; rounded square. Package is labeled "Furyu." Length: 23 cm. Nationality: Made in Japan. -- Christmas Gift from my Wife, Vicki.

Exposed Layer Lacquer Japanese Chopsticks

[cstix19981225e - 1998/12/25] Material: Wood or Bamboo. Description: These chopsticks have received several layers of finish in black, brown and tan, subsequently sanded down on all four sides to expose the ribbons of color along the entire length; square. Length: 23 cm. Nationality: Made in Japan. -- Christmas Gift from my Wife, Vicki.

Decorated Bamboo Japanese Chopsticks

[cstix19981225f - 1998/12/25] Material: Bamboo. Description: Printed with a green decoration along nearly the full length of one side, there are also seven groves at the tip for gripping food; rounded square. Length: 23 cm. Nationality: Made in Japan. -- Christmas Gift from my Wife, Vicki.

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