Post #548137 by bigbrotiki on Thu, Aug 12, 2010 9:43 PM

To put things into context: Benson's Imports is a venerable old business that has been around since the days of Oceanic Arts. They supplied many a Southern Californian Tiki bar in the heyday. I discovered them in the late 80s, when they were still in their old warehouse in Long Beach, a dark and dusty, forgotten old place, the way we urban archaeologists like them. It was here where I found my first Covarrubias maps (in their restroom) and where I was tipped off that another place existed like it, called Oceanic Arts.

Since they moved, they have updated their offerings (as the import company they are) with lots of imported Asian products. They have regularly advertised in Tiki Magazine. While they have many things to offer for the home bar or backyard Lanai builder, the Tikis they offer are mostly of the above style.

Polly, thank you for your enthusiastic post, but you must realize that this is a forum mostly for Tiki specialists and collectors who have a keen eye for what authentic American Tiki Style consists of. The pieces you posted may be OK for the average consumer, who has no idea about Tiki culture, but here, they are seen as examples of all that is misunderstood about Tiki today:

Asian folk masks and Buddha garden statues are not Tiki style. And the other masks, with their garish colors and generic facial features such as white teeth and pineapples are, for the true Tiki enthusiast, the lowest of the totem pole (forgive the pun) in contemporary Tiki design.

We are glad that you like Tiki and this site, and if you are genuinely interested in the style, read and learn, there is lots of information and examples of what Tiki is about to be found here.

And folks, like I said, (though I have not been for years) a visit to Benson's for a wide array of tropical supplies is not a to be discouraged.