Post #715844 by TikiTacky on Sun, May 4, 2014 12:27 PM

Great threads never die, they simply need dusting off!

I go after rare and unusual more than valuable. Tiki Bob mugs appear in eBay all the time, but still bring around $100 a pop. But mugs that rarely show up for sale can be had for a song. I'm also into the historical mugs, like Spurlin—ones that played a key role in the development and history of the tiki scene—but these tend to be more sought after and harder to get.

Here's my top ten:

• Bumatay - Such an unusual mug, and yet so classically tiki in appearance. The details on them are wonderful. Save your pennies.
• Don the Beachcomber bust - Even though these came later, they're about as close as you're going to get to a tiki mug from the grand daddy of tiki (short of their coconut or barrel mugs). That green glaze is killer, even if it is full of lead!
• Tiki Bob - They're overvalued, but iconic. Considered by some to be the first "tiki" mug, although this is in doubt.
• Frankoma War God - A design ahead of its time. That toothy grin would fit right in with the early Tiki Farm designs, only it's much more sculptural. The glazes are also very attractive. Plus, Frankoma had such an interesting history. Who else would produce a series of collector plates called "Teenagers of the Bible"? :)
• Leilani - That's right, I said it. The fact that they're a dime a dozen doesn't diminish their intrinsic value. Let's face it, the Leilani mug is THE tiki mug due to it's ubiquitousness. Plus, there's a million variations. You could collect only Leilani mugs and stay busy for a long time.
• Hawaiian Room - It's not the prettiest mug, but there's some evidence to indicate that this might in fact be the first tiki mug. It's certainly a contender.
• Suffering Bastard - Designed by Trader Vic himself, and such a whimsical design. The original lava rock glaze is the one to shoot for.
• Log - Tiki Farm's first production piece (the first limited run was the Dental mug). Like Tiki Bob on acid. Mark my words, someday this wide-eyed bad boy's going to be worth a mint.
• Gecko Fat Lava anything - The glaze is to die for, and it'll be the standout of any collection. Priced accordingly.
• Anything by Spurlin - Spurlin (aka Stella Bodey) made some of the first true tiki mugs, according to the guys at Oceanic Arts. Artistically they can be a bit ...sparse... And that glaze looks like an over-cooked cheese dog... but for the history and their association with some of the first tiki palaces, these have such a great story to tell.

I've spent way too much time thinking about this! :D