Post #524702 by Zeta on Sun, Apr 18, 2010 10:08 AM

Cool Topic!
Welcome back Sr. Castaway! I missed you amigo!

Your theory is shoking and very possibly correct, but I think That famous Jumbo bizzare mug you posted above is inspired by this piece

On 2010-02-06 21:22, Zeta wrote:
1998 Art of the Pacific by Anne D'Alleva

Muy bueno!

What I am sure of, is that the Mug posted above, was done by the artist around 40 years ago, with the Tiki intent, Polinesian spirit... South Sea Exotic. That I can assure you. The artist who created the two of the mugs above knew what he was doing. And didn't screw up and did the Classic beginner cheapo artistic mistake of copying African, Indonesian or Aztec art thinking it was Polinesian.

When I met their creator, I asked him if everything in his work had been inspired by oceanic art and he said yes. I questioned him about other primitive art sources of inspiration and influences that I saw in his work. He explained: I would only take one element from here or an element from there (African, Eskimo, Aztec or others) and adapt it to the piece The mugs with a complete non-oceanic style mugs where rare cases. He was really a purist and took pride in the authenticity of his work. He loved what he did. He loved the style, He loved art from PNG.

With the "Alaska Dog Face" Mug, the rara avis also posted above (from my humble collection 8) ) I have no explanation of why the artist did it and I don't think there ever was an Alaskan bar in Spain, but who knows? maybe... a unique example of the North Pacific Style... I really think totems are cousins of tikis. This Spanish artist unknown genius and unsung hero knew no boundaries or stylistic paradigms about how a Polinesian bar should look like... Singlehandedly he reinvented the style with an Iberia twist.

The mug was purchased from moi in an big old porcelain shop in Madrid. Years later I bought another one from the Internet labeled as Porcelana exotica. (so if you want to trade, let me know)

The thing with Spanish Tikidom is that it's just different. Spain is different, therefore Spanish Tiki Bars are different. There where Hawaiian, Polinesian and Melanesian bars... there where Indonesian bars (with unique mug designs!) There where copycats, Jimmy Buffets, etc... but different.