What was the first Tiki mug? - Collecting Tiki

B bigbrotiki Tiki Socialite Tiki Island, above the Silverlake Joined: Mar 25, 2002 Posts: 11621	B bigbrotiki Posted posted on Sun, Dec 2, 2012 1:37 AM Thank You for following up with that Spurlin sale info, I missed the fact that they came from an OMC rep. That effectively answers my question posed here: http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=35643&forum=5&vpost=656266 Did anyone find out where that large Spurlin hoard originated that sold recently? I am gonna try to get some more light shed on this issue from Bob & Leroy. In the meantime, lets try piece together an approximate, possible evolution of the Tiki mug: 1940s: Trader Vic introduces the concept of the themed ceramic cocktail vessel with his Fog Cutter, Kava Bowl and Skull mugs: Early 1950s: Trader Vic introduces the first cocktail drink vessel depicting Tikis, for a drink aptly called the Tiki Bowl (based on traditional Hawaiian drinking bowls), designed by Dickman Walker (Your find, Tatoo!): 1955: After leaving as the bar manager of Trader Vic's San Francisco, Bob Bryant opens "Tiki Bob's" one block South of Vic's SF and has architect/designer/illustrator Alec Yuill-Thornton render the logo Tiki for him, from which the FIRST TIKI MUG is sculpted: This also marks the dawning of Tiki Style, as a Tiki is used in NAME, ARCHITECTURE, and LOGO MERCHANDISE (In addition, sometime after, the Tiki Bob MAORI MUG (see above) could be the first to depict the full, round figure of a Tiki :) ) Mid- to late 50s perhaps: A Tiki is depicted on the N.Y. "Hawaiian Room" Fog Cutter mug (see above) Late 1950s (1957/58/59?): Stella Bodie sculpts the Spurlin mugs for "The Islander" restaurant in L.A. The Tiki mug and bowl Tikis design is likely based on a Tiki carved by Demetrio Chavez: 1960 (around)- early 60s: Otagiri Merchandising obtains the whole set of Spurlin vessels and copies the Tiki bowl and mug, and proceeds to design and offer more and more ceramic cocktail containers in the shape of a Tiki: I believe that the Tiki mug did not become a common place Polynesian restaurant item until the early 1960s. The pic above is a late 60s line-up of what Otagiri offered - not including the many individual logo Tiki mugs they designed over the years. Late 1960s - 70s: Orchids of Hawaii continues in the "Tiki Transmission" tradition, and ushers in the Devolution of Tiki in the 70s: [ Edited by: bigbrotiki 2012-12-02 02:18 ]

Thank You for following up with that Spurlin sale info, I missed the fact that they came from an OMC rep. That effectively answers my question posed here: http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=35643&forum=5&vpost=656266
Did anyone find out where that large Spurlin hoard originated that sold recently?

I am gonna try to get some more light shed on this issue from Bob & Leroy. In the meantime, lets try piece together an approximate, possible evolution of the Tiki mug:

1940s: Trader Vic introduces the concept of the themed ceramic cocktail vessel with his Fog Cutter, Kava Bowl and Skull mugs:

Early 1950s: Trader Vic introduces the first cocktail drink vessel depicting Tikis, for a drink aptly called the Tiki Bowl (based on traditional Hawaiian drinking bowls), designed by Dickman Walker (Your find, Tatoo!):

1955: After leaving as the bar manager of Trader Vic's San Francisco, Bob Bryant opens "Tiki Bob's" one block South of Vic's SF and has architect/designer/illustrator Alec Yuill-Thornton render the logo Tiki for him, from which the FIRST TIKI MUG is sculpted:

This also marks the dawning of Tiki Style, as a Tiki is used in NAME, ARCHITECTURE, and LOGO MERCHANDISE

(In addition, sometime after, the Tiki Bob MAORI MUG (see above) could be the first to depict the full, round figure of a Tiki :) )

Mid- to late 50s perhaps: A Tiki is depicted on the N.Y. "Hawaiian Room" Fog Cutter mug (see above)

Late 1950s (1957/58/59?): Stella Bodie sculpts the Spurlin mugs for "The Islander" restaurant in L.A. The Tiki mug and bowl Tikis design is likely based on a Tiki carved by Demetrio Chavez:

1960 (around)- early 60s: Otagiri Merchandising obtains the whole set of Spurlin vessels and copies the Tiki bowl and mug, and proceeds to design and offer more and more ceramic cocktail containers in the shape of a Tiki:

I believe that the Tiki mug did not become a common place Polynesian restaurant item until the early 1960s. The pic above is a late 60s line-up of what Otagiri offered - not including the many individual logo Tiki mugs they designed over the years.

Late 1960s - 70s: Orchids of Hawaii continues in the "Tiki Transmission" tradition, and ushers in the Devolution of Tiki in the 70s:

[ Edited by: bigbrotiki 2012-12-02 02:18 ]

Post #660329 by bigbrotiki on Sun, Dec 2, 2012 1:37 AM