Post #77813 by tikijackalope on Wed, Feb 25, 2004 12:57 AM

I'm wondering how many of you have tales of comedy and/or frustration in simply communicating with flea market dealers about tiki.

I arrived at a flea market Sunday just as a dealer known for religious statuary was packing away what looked like an unusual amount of non-religious figural mugs.
me: "got any tiki mugs?"
dealer: "what are those?"
me: "decorative mugs, usually without handles, tall and cylindrical, often used at Polynesian-themed bars and restaurants back when they were popular"
dealer: "what do they look like?"
me: "some have hula girls and such; most look like a pagan idol turned into a mug"
dealer: (turns away dismissively as I say "pagan")"we don't take to none of that"

Two weekends ago I saw Trader Vic's
salt and pepper shakers priced at $65 because the dealer thought they were slave-trade "Black Americana" and would not be convinced otherwise (Trader Vic's, ya know). Fortunately, a few booths away I found a set of Luau shakers for $5.

Does anyone else have such misadventures or is this just a non-coastal thing.?