Post #766704 by tikicoma on Tue, Jul 26, 2016 11:47 PM

Earlier this month I was lucky enough to pick-up this Bumatay hobbyist mug. Beside it is a statue version I found at a thrift store about a half a year ago.

Looking at them made me wonder... did Bumatay carve the Tiki Tops tiki?

The earliest dated photo I found was from 1959 and Andy, born in Dec 1931 could have been around 26 when it was up making it possible he was carving professionally on the islands before he carved in the early '60's in California.

(I know now that Bumatay didn't carve the Tiki Tops tiki but a man named August Paul Jordan... it collapsed from termite damage in 1966)

A number of things about this tiki reminded me of his carvings.
The double v's on the forehead. (Kona Pali and possible Seattles Golden Door tikis)

A squatting posture (not so unusual) and importantly, the abbreviated stubby snouts. (seen here in the Royal Hawaiian and Kelbos tikis,

And on some a rounded or balloon like body or mitten like hands. (from the BOT and the Reef...along with the Kelbo/mug designs.)

If I remember right he was from the Big Island but ambition my have driven him to the big time... Oahu!

Thanks for hearing me out.
aloha, tikicoma

[ Edited by: tikicoma 2020-01-16 17:33 ]