Post #278832 by Sabu The Coconut Boy on Sun, Jan 14, 2007 5:28 PM

My friend Doctor Z and I have been always been on the lookout for some of the more obscure drinkware pictured in the "Trader Vic's Bartending Guide". Not all of these pieces of glassware or ceramicware have the Trader Vic's logo. For example, the Voodoo Grog glass will only have an Imperial Glass gummed label (if that), yet it's still highly prized as a Trader Vic's collectible.

On one page of the Trader Vic's Bartending Guide, there's this Nautilus Shell mug, used to serve a drink called the "Nautilus":

And at an estate sale this weekend, I finally found something very close:

Notice in the pictures below that the mold seems to be the exact same one as the Trader Vic's, plus the painting process seems to be identical (I've highlighted a brown, squiggly mark that really stands out as being the same on both. The only problem is that mine has three feet while the one in the manual has a wavy pedestal base.

All the ceramics at this estate sale were from the 1960s-1970s era, so I think the date is right. Mine is stamped "FF" underneath and has an "FF Japan" sticker. I paid $2 for the piece.

:down: Here's a photo next to the manual so you can see the size of the mug.

Mine of course had been used as a planter. It looks much better now in my glass case full of tiki mugs.

Do any of the Trader Vic's specialists out there, have this mug with the pedestal base? Are there other variations with different maker's marks? What does "FF" stand for? Please discuss and share your knowledge. Thanks.

Here is the recipe for the "Nautilus" from the Bartending Guide:

Nautilus

Juice of 1 lime
1 1/2 ounces Ocean Spray Cranberry House mixer
1 1/2 ounces tequila
Shake with ice cubes. Pour into Trader Vic nautilus shell. Decorate with mint sprigs.

[ Edited by: Sabu The Coconut Boy 2009-01-25 22:43 ]