Post #143775 by bigbrotiki on Mon, Feb 28, 2005 3:14 PM

...as a little ad-on to these fine mugs:

When visiting the Hawaiian Inn recently, I realized that the Paddle Sucker is an interesting example of Tiki mug (d)evolution, and I would like to share my findings here. For this it is best to open page 10 of Tiki Quest, which has pictures of Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the mug's evolution (the BOT only has Stage 2 on p. 177)

This logo Tiki (it exists as mug, swizzle stick & on hotel signs and stationairy) is a modern attempt at a Maori Tiki. These carvings often (as in Maori dance) have their tongue sticking out, and sometimes hold a war club in the right hand, which here became a knife.

When the second generation of mugs was ordered (maybe the knife was too aggressive?), the TONGUE somehow connected with the KNIFE to become a PADDLE, and Voila!, the "Paddle Sucker" was born.

The third mug, gracing the cover of Tiki Quest (in a different glaze color), fascinates me because it is so ugly. The face, the plopped on legs, the handle (for me a no no on a Tiki mug)....yet somehow, because of it's crude surface design, I have the hope that it just MIGHT be based on a Witco carving, (since the Hotel was decorated in Witco decor), which would make it even more unique.
Have not found the proof in form of a Witco original yet, though....