The Trader Vic's Nautilus - Collecting Tiki

E exotica59 Member Joined: Oct 17, 2004 Posts: 483	E exotica59 Posted posted on Sun, Jan 14, 2007 9:41 PM I was surprised to see your post on this Sabu. I have had that same nautilus shell for a long time. I also collect shells and shell looking vessels and came across this one in a thrift store of 88 cents. Mine also has the same marks as yours and also the F.F. stamped into the bottom. Don't know if it's a trader Vic's or not, but it is a lovely looking piece. Forgot to add that F.F. stands for Fitz and Floyd. They started business in the 60's. here is there history from their website. For more than 40 years, Fitz and Floyd has symbolized unique distinctive style in dinnerware, giftware, decorative accessories and collectibles by virtue of its bold and innovative designs and strong use of color. Founded in 1960 as an import company, Fitz and Floyd soon began designing ceramic giftware. The Company expanded into tabletop products in the late 1960s with the introduction of coffee mugs and salad/dessert plates. In 1972, Fitz and Floyd marched into the dinnerware market with the introduction of dramatic and highly sophisticated design motifs. Shortly thereafter, Fitz and Floyd originated the “mix and match” concept, a revolutionary merchandising approach that broke away from the traditional, single-pattern dinnerware concept by coordinating compatible yet varied design motifs, colors and shapes within one place setting. This innovation was a breakthrough that established Fitz and Floyd as an industry leader for fashion-forward tabletop products. “Mix and match” also expanded the potential market for other Fitz and Floyd products such as service plates, salad plates, mugs and other complementary accessories for the tabletop. Throughout the 1970s, Fitz and Floyd continued to expand its reputation for superior quality and unique design in giftware by creating complete lines of fine hand-painted ceramics. The Company’s in-house design staff developed themes around which entire collections were designed. With these collections, Fitz and Floyd refined its reputation for its sense of style, color, humor and sophistication. As the line’s aesthetic statement developed, the Company’s distribution evolved into a mix of department stores and upscale independent gift, jewelry and specialty stores. Fitz and Floyd specialized in high-design, collectible-quality giftware and dinnerware in the 1980s. Its new “gifted table” cemented the Company’s heritage of innovative design during an era that saw Fitz and Floyd dinnerware selected by several embassies and presidential residences around the world, including the White House. When Queen Elizabeth II visited Dallas in 1991, Fitz and Floyd was commissioned by the city to create a hand-painted, one-of-a-kind tea service as the official gift from the city to Her Majesty. Long considered a resource by collectors, Fitz and Floyd officially entered the collectibles arena with limited-edition Christmas ornaments and teapots in 1990. By the mid-90s, the Company was a recognized brand in the collectible market, offering lines of hand-painted figurines, ornaments, water globes and lighted houses. Then came Charming Tails. Designed by artist Dean Griff, Charming Tails began as a dozen Christmas ornaments and grew quickly into figurines and complementary pieces as collectors clamored for more items featuring the endearing animal inhabitants of “Squashville”. In 1997, in answer to demands from collectors and shop owners who embraced Charming Tails, The Leaf & Acorn Club was founded. Dean Griff was honored the next year with the “Artist of the Year” award from the industry’s premier organization, the National Association of Limited Edition Dealers (NALED). NALED also recognized Dean and Fitz and Floyd with the coveted “Rising Star Award” for Charming Tails. Fitz and Floyd has celebrated more than four decades of trend-setting style and design. As its artistry and innovation evolve, customers continue to be assured: I am basing this guess of Fitz and Floyd based on this ebay auction( click on the close up of the sticker: ebay link "Now and then we had hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates" Mark Twain "Life on the Mississippi" [ Edited by: exotica59 2007-01-14 21:57 ] [ Edited by: exotica59 2007-01-14 22:11 ] [ Edited by: hanford_lemoore - Shortened ebay URL - 2007-01-16 12:16 ]

I was surprised to see your post on this Sabu. I have had that same nautilus shell for a long time. I also collect shells and shell looking vessels and came across this one in a thrift store of 88 cents. Mine also has the same marks as yours and also the F.F. stamped into the bottom.
Don't know if it's a trader Vic's or not, but it is a lovely looking piece.

Forgot to add that F.F. stands for Fitz and Floyd. They started business in the 60's. here is there history from their website.

For more than 40 years, Fitz and Floyd has symbolized unique distinctive style in dinnerware, giftware, decorative accessories and collectibles by virtue of its bold and innovative designs and strong use of color.

Founded in 1960 as an import company, Fitz and Floyd soon began designing ceramic giftware. The Company expanded into tabletop products in the late 1960s with the introduction of coffee mugs and salad/dessert plates. In 1972, Fitz and Floyd marched into the dinnerware market with the introduction of dramatic and highly sophisticated design motifs. Shortly thereafter, Fitz and Floyd originated the “mix and match” concept, a revolutionary merchandising approach that broke away from the traditional, single-pattern dinnerware concept by coordinating compatible yet varied design motifs, colors and shapes within one place setting. This innovation was a breakthrough that established Fitz and Floyd as an industry leader for fashion-forward tabletop products. “Mix and match” also expanded the potential market for other Fitz and Floyd products such as service plates, salad plates, mugs and other complementary accessories for the tabletop.

Throughout the 1970s, Fitz and Floyd continued to expand its reputation for superior quality and unique design in giftware by creating complete lines of fine hand-painted ceramics. The Company’s in-house design staff developed themes around which entire collections were designed. With these collections, Fitz and Floyd refined its reputation for its sense of style, color, humor and sophistication. As the line’s aesthetic statement developed, the Company’s distribution evolved into a mix of department stores and upscale independent gift, jewelry and specialty stores.

Fitz and Floyd specialized in high-design, collectible-quality giftware and dinnerware in the 1980s. Its new “gifted table” cemented the Company’s heritage of innovative design during an era that saw Fitz and Floyd dinnerware selected by several embassies and presidential residences around the world, including the White House. When Queen Elizabeth II visited Dallas in 1991, Fitz and Floyd was commissioned by the city to create a hand-painted, one-of-a-kind tea service as the official gift from the city to Her Majesty.

Long considered a resource by collectors, Fitz and Floyd officially entered the collectibles arena with limited-edition Christmas ornaments and teapots in 1990. By the mid-90s, the Company was a recognized brand in the collectible market, offering lines of hand-painted figurines, ornaments, water globes and lighted houses. Then came Charming Tails.

Designed by artist Dean Griff, Charming Tails began as a dozen Christmas ornaments and grew quickly into figurines and complementary pieces as collectors clamored for more items featuring the endearing animal inhabitants of “Squashville”. In 1997, in answer to demands from collectors and shop owners who embraced Charming Tails, The Leaf & Acorn Club was founded. Dean Griff was honored the next year with the “Artist of the Year” award from the industry’s premier organization, the National Association of Limited Edition Dealers (NALED). NALED also recognized Dean and Fitz and Floyd with the coveted “Rising Star Award” for Charming Tails.

Fitz and Floyd has celebrated more than four decades of trend-setting style and design. As its artistry and innovation evolve, customers continue to be assured:

I am basing this guess of Fitz and Floyd based on this ebay auction( click on the close up of the sticker:

ebay link

"Now and then we had hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates"
Mark Twain
"Life on the Mississippi"

[ Edited by: exotica59 2007-01-14 21:57 ]

[ Edited by: exotica59 2007-01-14 22:11 ]

[ Edited by: hanford_lemoore - Shortened ebay URL - 2007-01-16 12:16 ]

Post #278912 by exotica59 on Sun, Jan 14, 2007 9:41 PM