Post #559221 by Phillip Roberts on Tue, Oct 12, 2010 12:03 AM

Aloha,

: From Tiki finds, which is almost impossible to find info in...

On 2010-10-07 15:11, Tiki Royale wrote:

Phillip Roberts, can you provide any details on Terra Ceramics?

I can. "Terra Ceramics, Hawaii" was active 1965-ish until around 1989-ish. It was run by Victoria Citron (She was 81 when she passed in 2003) out of a kiln in Kalihi. They often bid against Polynesian Pottery (Daga) , and Louie B. Ceramics for jobs.

The company started doing flowerpots for hotels and eventually got the contract to make the coconut mugs for Duke Kahanamoku's on the Beach, and the Hilton business. After the majority owner passed on her son (sadly) disposed of many of the custom molds. (I know Gecko picked up a couple of the molds but this was the exception to the rule.)

Added information:

I was just at the Daga Warehouse on Friday. Dan Cosina, confirmed BOTH Polynesian Pottery and Terra Ceramics made the mug in question. Apparently it is an "Adele Davis" design/mold.

Adele ran the original kiln in Kalihi. She lived and designed near Sunset Beach before selling out to Dan and Gary of PP (Daga). She also sold molds to Terra Ceramics, HB Hawaii, Louie B and others.

You'll often see a 'Tahitian Lanai' green bamboo handled mug with the "SSS" incised on the bottom. (SSS=Sunset Shore Searamics) Some of my 'Shipwreck Kelly' items bear the same mark. She also signed some of her work "AD" like the ashtray Freddie showed earlier in this thread.

About Adele. Dan discribes her as a short, stout woman who smoked cigars, played high stakes poker, and drank hard; quite often. :)