Post #660369 by Tattoo on Sun, Dec 2, 2012 11:30 AM

Wow Sven! Thanks for posting a timeline for us all. The one thing that is striking is that all these early Tiki mugs appeared seemingly independent of each other all around the same time. In the late 50s we have Otagiri in San Francisco with Tiki Bob, Spurlin in Los Angeles, and on the East Coast an unidentified maker with the Hawaiian Room. As if spontaneously everyone came up with the concept of the Tiki as a mug idea. What made people associate the pacific and the tropics not with hula girls and palm trees but with the Tiki idol? The Kon Tiki exploration? I feel the answer is in the Book of Tiki - which, like a good Tiki nut, I do have! I better read it tonight before I theorize anymore without some proper research. However, my copy is falling apart and it sure would be nice if they were to re-publish it :roll:

Dibroc, I forgot about that Spurlin mug. Not sure if it was associated with the Los Angeles Islander. Also, not sure what Tiki god that is supposed to be based on. It almost seems like a ghost of a Tiki. A hint of what was about to come!

Also, Sven, I did talk to seller of that collection of Los Angeles Islander mugs and bowls. I bought my Islander Tiki mug from him. He simply said he was always into going to flea markets and bought these about 15 years ago. Got married, Tiki collection gets boxed up, and now it's time for a new car. Not much more info than that. Just a guy who thought these looked cool before anyone knew what they were.

[ Edited by: Tattoo 2012-12-02 11:32 ]