Post #169932 by midnite on Wed, Jul 6, 2005 10:33 AM

*The Mai Kai gave it away as part of a trip to Tahiti promotion in the 1970's. *

Really? Wow, been wondering about this mug for a long time. How'd ya get this mystery solved?

We acquired one of the Mai Kai drums a while ago...(heh heh, TikiHula!) We contacted the Mai Kai but got little with that line of inquiry. Someone there remembered the mug (a very long-term employee) but nothing too specific. At first we feared it wasn't Mai Kai (as in Lauderdale) but with that little info we at least felt secure it was some type of Mai Kai (Lauderdale) piece.

It is a fine piece, much nicer than the vast majority of Tiki mugs. The opening bid in the instant auction is really more of a transparent reserve. We don't favor such an approach, stifles the bidding, IMO. Different strokes, but it seems unsporting for an auction. Start it low, get the bids going! Tough to do that with a high open.

Chicago's Field Musuem has some fine examples of PNG/Sepik drums like this mug. It's worth the price of admission to cath the collection, and to see the Maori House.