The show me your Witco thread.

granite tiki those are witco,s congrats

Finally!! Thank you.

They were hidden under a couple of large orange light fixtures. I moved them aside, and said to the dealer, "these are Witco, aren't they?" she said, "What's that?"

Does anyone have a picture of what these would have looked like new?

Hey Portland OR Witco lovers! I saw the Witco outrigger for sale this weekend. It looks intact and in great shape. I'm not a big fan of it myself and since it is quite large I passed on it. It was at House of Vintage on Hawthorne. I think the dealer wanted $225 for it and the booth was located towards the back wall of the place. If that is a good deal and someone snaps it up then you owe me a Mai Tai at Tiki Kon!

17 inch tall mask with a big nose:

On 2007-05-14 12:45, sputnikmoss wrote:
Hey Portland OR Witco lovers! I saw the Witco outrigger for sale this weekend. It looks intact and in great shape. I'm not a big fan of it myself and since it is quite large I passed on it. It was at House of Vintage on Hawthorne. I think the dealer wanted $225 for it and the booth was located towards the back wall of the place. If that is a good deal and someone snaps it up then you owe me a Mai Tai at Tiki Kon!

ok...so it was still there today and marked down to $149. Once, twice, fee times a matey...I guess I found room for it.

does anyone else have a Witco Head on a Stick?

this one is at the antique mall ~ so it's not mine, yet...

39.99 at a Thrift Store. Not rare, but good find.

Also unusual in shape, and framing. This is either a very early Witco outrigger, or an imitation.

some mo...

It could be an imitation. I don't see any Witco marking on it. Either way, I still think it's a good find for the price. It looks good in my Tiki Room too!

Hi all, I am new to this forum and did not know it existed until I googled Witco this morning. I have quite a collection of pieces from the late 60's and early 70's. I am trying to make a decision about selling them or keeping them. I will take pictures and post them here later today.

Jackieh

On 2007-07-01 06:32, Jackieh wrote:
Hi all, I am new to this forum and did not know it existed until I googled Witco this morning. I have quite a collection of pieces from the late 60's and early 70's. I am trying to make a decision about selling them or keeping them. I will take pictures and post them here later today.

Jackieh

Wait a bit until Sven aka Big Bro finishes his Witco/Vitco book and you will double your money.

Here are the witco pieces that I have had since the late 60/early 70's. This first set is two side tables, a lamp table, lamp and cat magazine holder. I tried to do some close-up shots to show the carving. I am not sure how many photos can be attached to one post so I will continue in next post.

Ok, I made 2 post with pictures, but I don't see them. Can anyone tell me if they are posted or did I do something wrong?

Jackie

Third try, here are my remaining pieces

nice! i am sure you are getting alot of PM'S right now. when you establish a some prices let me know. TD

Does it strike anyone that witcos tiki-pieces would be seen as to african to pass as tiki if they were produced today?

[ Edited by: tikidreams 2007-07-07 05:58 ]

Very good point. Yet the fact that I am trying to keep Tiki Style defined today, during its revival, as mainly Polynesian, does not change what inspired creative license was taken in the past. Witco made sculpture and furniture based on both, Oceanic AND African primitive art, which is in keeping with the tradition of the "Moderns" (as the European avantgarde of the 1920s was called), who drew inspiration from ALL "primitive art" (mostly in the form of carved idols). Therefore I am calling Witco TIKI MODERN, with partly generic/ partly Polynesian god-heads being its main feature, and modernism/primitivism being the other stylistic element. Also because of the fact that Witco was successful with their product MAINLY because it met the public's need for exotica fueled by the POLYNESIAN craze. However, there definitely was another customer group (I am quoting from Tiki Modern):

"It might come as a surprise then that some of the offerings by Witco Inc also struck a chord with young African Americans who were looking for their roots during the black liberation movement of the 1960s and early ‘70s. Although, its high cliche content was clearly the antithesis to the new black self-confidence that contemporary civil rights organizations promoted, the audaciousness of Witco style fit in with the “super-cool” individualism that young colored men cultivated at the time, even if it was pure blaxploitation."

And another quote from my chapter "WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE-The history and meaning of the Leopard print":"Witco's atavistic native carvings that framed these exotic critter fabrics in profusion were pure pop primitivism, an amalgamation of Oceanic and African tribal art, perfect for your home Tiki lounge.
Although leopards and tigers never roamed in the Polynesian islands, they were associated by proxy. The equation here was: Native environs=teaming jungles=big cats. This kind of mixing up of stylistic influences was characteristic of the fantasy world of Tiki Modern, where the spirit of whimsical savagery reigned, leaving boring authenticity to the stuffed shirts. Anyway, most white folks didn’t know better, or cared."

Of course, this liberal interpretation of Tiki will be used to prove that I am contradicting myself and that Tiki is a free-for-all style fest. But again, I am differentiating here (splitting hairs, some will say):

TIKI STYLE = POLYNESIAN POP
TIKI MODERN = POP PRIMITIVISM (which includes Polynesian Pop, but also goes beyond it in its sources)

Wow Sven ...I just can't wait for the purdy pitures;)

On 2007-07-06 01:12, bigbrotiki wrote:
Very good point. Yet the fact that I am trying to keep Tiki Style defined today, during its revival, as mainly Polynesian, does not change what inspired creative license was taken in the past. Witco made sculpture and furniture based on both, Oceanic AND African primitive art, which is in keeping with the tradition of the "Moderns" (as the European avantgarde of the 1920s was called), who drew inspiration from ALL "primitive art" (mostly in the form of carved idols). Therefore I am calling Witco TIKI MODERN, with partly generic/ partly Polynesian god-heads being its main feature, and modernism/primitivism being the other stylistic element. Also because of the fact that Witco was successful with their product MAINLY because it met the public's need for exotica fueled by the POLYNESIAN craze. However, there definitely was another customer group (I am quoting from Tiki Modern):

"It might come as a surprise then that some of the offerings by Witco Inc also struck a chord with young African Americans who were looking for their roots during the black liberation movement of the 1960s and early ‘70s. Although, its high cliche content was clearly the antithesis to the new black self-confidence that contemporary civil rights organizations promoted, the audaciousness of Witco style fit in with the “super-cool” individualism that young colored men cultivated at the time, even if it was pure blaxploitation."

And another quote from my chapter "WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE-The history and meaning of the Leopard print":

"Witco's atavistic native carvings that framed these exotic critter fabrics in profusion were pure pop primitivism, an amalgamation of Oceanic and African tribal art, perfect for your home Tiki lounge.
Although leopards and tigers never roamed in the Polynesian islands, they were associated by proxy. The equation here was: Native environs=teaming jungles=big cats. This kind of mixing up of stylistic influences was characteristic of the fantasy world of Tiki Modern, where the spirit of whimsical savagery reigned, leaving boring authenticity to the stuffed shirts. Anyway, most white folks didn’t know better, or cared."

Of course, this liberal interpretation of Tiki will be used to prove that I am contradicting myself and that Tiki is a free-for-all style fest. But again, I am differentiating here (splitting hairs, some will say):

TIKI STYLE = POLYNESIAN POP
TIKI MODERN = POP PRIMITIVISM (which includes Polynesian Pop, but also goes beyond it in its sources)

Never thought I would get a response that well thought out. I say you can never go wrong with leopard. :wink: Well that´s just me being an old punk. And i do enjoy "primitive" african art for inspiration just as much as polynesian.

Your quote on the black liberation movement rang a bell in my head of an image of a black panther sitting in a rattan chair holding a sphere. Very interesting input and looking forward to the new book.

I scored this today for $15.00...the best part is that the seller talked themselves down from $20.00!!! I love when it's easy...

I picked this up at a Goodwill a few years back for $25.00...

BTW, can anyone recommend a good, safe way to hang this monstrosity? For years, it's been leaning instead of hanging because it's so dang heavy. It deserves better than leaning!

BTW, can anyone recommend a good, safe way to hang this monstrosity? For years, it's been leaning instead of hanging because it's so dang heavy. It deserves better than leaning!

Good question! After my first Witco wall hanging came crashing down 3 days after it was hung due to a loose old screw, I made a trip to the hardware store and started carefully upgrading the hanging hardware on each one I acquire:

• new screws
• new 2-screw D hangers
• set screws into freshly drilled holes
• new heavy grade picture wire.
• although I didnt do it yet, my heaviest one really needs a cross brace on the back to keep the rather thin frame rails from bending inwards under its own weight -- this is on my to-do list
• use heavy duty three nail hangers on the wall

I'm really surprised that the weight of these things didnt tear the flimsy original hardware out long ago.

This is exactly what I needed to know!! Thank you so much!

Is this bench Witco or not?

Never seen it before, but if that thing is not Witco, then what is! Seems to be one of their Conquistador pieces.

Zee Vitco, eet never eends...

A Witco tiki oar/paddle, approx. 5ft long.

Any info on this? Ken? Sven? Ben? um.. Jen?

-Z

COOL PLACE! Yes I just stumbled in here. Strangely enough through searching for something on e-bay. I was looking for Shag artwork for my living room. An add for a bar caught my eye, "What the heck that is just like my bar!" I thought I had some kind of custom one of a kind thing. BACKSTORY.... Somewhere between 8 and 10 years old I went to an auction with my grandparents. Late '70's Early '80's I can't remember. Anyway this cool looking bar comes up for auction, and my grandparents get it. So I am around this bar for years. Always admiring it. My grandparents tell me one day I can have it. Well My grandfather died in 2003, and after his death my grandmother tells me to come get the bar when it's convenient. It took a year to get there to get it. A month later Hurricane Katrina destroys her house. So the Bar is safe and sound with me in Virginia. Fast forward to now. The bar I saw on E-bay is a Witco, and now I see so is mine. In the last week I have learned more about this bar than in the last 22 years. Here is a pic:

[ Edited by: green73 2007-07-22 12:30 ]

I don't collect Witco, but just thought I'd give a heads-up to the Texas tikiphiles that do. As of last Sunday, there was a pretty swanky Witco coffee table at La Luz on South 1st in Austin. I think it's going for $300 or so. In any case, it deserves to find a home with a TC'er.

Hey Green 73, Nice bar. I like the LR 109 truck model on your bar. Do you have a Rover or is that what green 73 means? Scott

CLOSE! I have a 1973 Land Cruiser, that's green.

Cool, I have had several old series rovers as well as newer ones. I never had a land cruiser. I have a good friend with one. I still want to find a old nissan patrol. Scott

A roomie I had in Alaska had a 1969 Patrol. It was a pretty cool rig. A real pain to get parts for though.I would love to have an old series rover myself, but I have so many other projects I just don't see it happening.

A friend gave me these, and they're just not my mug o' mai tai. I want to sell them, and I'd like to be able to say that they're Witco, or at least "Probably Witco". does anyone recognize them?

Judging by the colors, faces and the cut up "Id" pieces on top (!..weird, never seen THAT one before !) these ARE Witco, nevertheless some of the worst. Looks like some kind of Eastern European Folk couple. Definitely no Mai Tai material, Mark, maybe for Vodka based Chi Chis or such :)

PS: On second look, these costumes could also be South American...? Peru? Any Folk costume specialists here know?

[ Edited by: bigbrotiki 2007-08-01 11:37 ]

Thanks, Bigbro! I think the headpiece on the dude looks kind of like a crown - I'm thinking these may be a king and queen. I've seen stuff almost like this, but not exactly. But yeah, far from the "tiki carvings" my friends claimed them to be when they told me about them.

I don't have any, but I did come across a mention of the Witco Globe on Judah Friedlander's bad art page.

http://www.judahfriedlander.com/gallery.htm

It's down toward the bottom of the page.

Next time I see Judah I'll have a word with him about this.

Of all that "Bad Art" nothing is worse than Judah's Hat.

I like the "Karate Sluts" one the best.

Take a look at this cool Witco fountain I picked up yesterday. Found it near my home in S.E. Michigan. Didn't know what it was (and neither did the owner), until I happened across the similar piece on pg 179 of the BOT. Once I knew it was Witco, I became "educated" like you folks. I feel very fortunate to have stumbled on this piece which sat in a semi trailer for 30 years B4 the owner started to liquidate his collections of "junk". This and a 4' Witco mask were the only tiki pieces he had and I was a day late on the mask :(
Still for a newbie like me with a budding tiki room, just started, I feel blessed to add this marquis piece to my collection. In fact, at this point, except for some thatch and a couple mugs, it is my collection.
Anyway, I'm sure there are a few out there who will curse me and others who will congratulate me for my good fortune, not yours and for rescuing this piece from some lunkhead who would never have known it's true origins.
Soon this piece will grace my tiki room at my beach house in Tropicanada.
ps. Got the box, bowl and even the original pump with this bad boy. The whole thing is about 5' tall.

Nice find! What a great way to start your collection. Cool!

CURSES!!!

WOW WOW WOW!!! I've found exactly two Witco pieces in the wild in the past 15 years; none nearly as sweet as that. Congrats!

More incentive for all of us to keep looking!

Congrats!!!

Congratulations!

Excellent find.

I will do both, congratulate and curse you. I'll curse you off line.

Can you post a picture of the box please?

Congrats on your 1971 "Fountain of Fortune" (also sold as Fountain of Youth), based on Witco's "God of Fortune". This one did not make it into "Tiki Modern", which of course is no reflection on its unique design! Great find. With Witco (as with much of vintage Tiki), it's all about being at the right place at the right time.

Many thanks Bigbro for the positive ID. I was curious whether these pieces were given tag names. Could use some figuring out how to set it up for the pump. There appears to be way more tubing than I need and it's kind of old and grimy. Assume I can just pull some new tube through. Also there is a hole in the bottom of the base where it looks like the box goes. Not sure if that hole is there for a reason. Figured that you just put a small container under the box and stick the pump in.
If they serve no purpose, I will patch the 7 or 8 small holes somebody drilled through the base. Maybe for the plants?

Hey peleetiki shoot me an email and I will help you set it up. [email protected] . Nice find!!!!

Great lookin Fountain Man . Groovy