Tiki Central / Collecting Tiki
Saw these in Downtown Philly. Are they real?
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tikiskip
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07/11/2007
My wife and I went to South street in downtown Philly over the 4th. [ Edited by: tikiskip 2007-07-11 09:11 ] |
TM
Tipsy McStagger
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07/11/2007
i'll take the maori one!! where do i send the money??? i need to get it before a certain popular tiki author here on t.c. who has way more carvings than god runs out there and snaps them all up for his greedy self!! |
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rugbymatt
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07/11/2007
These may be from the old Kona Kai in Philly since it was noted that that location was the flagship. I will venture down this weekend and try to find the place. Maybe it will finally pay-off to be in this locale. |
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bigbrotiki
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07/11/2007
Hey Matt, you beat me to it, here's what I was typing while you posted :) : "Now now now, Skip! Though I sympathize with your frustration, cursing others is bad mana! :) Since a while back I have heard of rumors that some Philly antique store has the Kona Kai Tikis, but that they are very pricey. This would fit the bill. On the other hand though, the poles do not look quality enough to come from there. I do not think that the owner of the store would be a reliable source, and I do not have any interior photos of freestanding carvings from the place, unfortunately." I am looking forward to more photos for possible identification, maybe these puppies will finally find a home where they will be appreciated. [ Edited by: bigbrotiki 2007-07-11 10:05 ] |
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rugbymatt
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07/11/2007
I will do my best to recon this place on Saturday and will report back (hopefully with more photos too). I may have to break out the plastic since shipping a new tiki to Allentown would cost $100 these may be bargains. |
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tikiskip
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07/11/2007
I do not know if they are open on sat or not. |
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tikiskip
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07/11/2007
One more thing the poles look like old OA poles. |
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Unkle John
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07/11/2007
Hell Yeah!! Art environments rule! |
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bigbrotiki
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07/11/2007
I am pretty sure that the Maori Tiki is an Oceanic Arts carving. It looks very much like the "phone Tiki" that can be seen on one of their large photos they have from the short-lived Bora Bora Room in Encino, CA (that version had a payphone implanted in its belly). I used to have a slide of that photo, but it is M.I.A., sorry :( Since O.A. supplied the Kona Kai, it looks like a match. |
TM
Tipsy McStagger
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07/11/2007
C. Neri...hah!! like "Scenery"!!! pah!! i was omly kiddin' i love the maori and the ku figure but i'll bet they want a grand for each based on what skip said....i can't afford either right now....hope they find a good home...they are real cool!! |
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tikiskip
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07/11/2007
I'd say yer right. |
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FreddieBallsomic
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07/12/2007
I feel ya, Tipsy and Skip....That Maori piece is tops.. do we know if and how much the maori piece is selling?? |
TM
Tipsy McStagger
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07/12/2007
skip is right..there is a reason they are still there and not purchased yet...even big bro heard of them being there awhile back and since then, there they still sit....where's kohalacharms when we need him....i bet he'll swoop in and rescue them!!.....why is it that these type of freaks that sell antiques always gravitate to the antique business?? this is not the first time i have heard of or encountered such weird attitudes toward the items that they presumably are selling....nice to know they are set financially and need not worry how the bills will get paid, that they can sit on all this stuff for the highest price offer......this is just like that witco dealer awhile back in kansas that had all that witco for sale at outrageous prices..... |
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FreddieBallsomic
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07/12/2007
Word! |
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tikiskip
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07/12/2007
It is for sale. |
PTD
Psycho Tiki D
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07/12/2007
You are correct; in instance like these, cash is king! I don't even want to get started on the last two month roller coaster I have been on with trying to locate the remainders of the Stockton Islander from Pollardville. The irony is in the finality. The people who had the tikis and artifacts did not care for them at all, they only cared about the money (how much, no one knows). More often than not, you will find these people will not walk away from cash in hand. Greed often can supersede delusions of grandeur. I honestly wish I was closer, I would find some way to rescue these artifacts. Someone needs to start a fund to preserve classic icons such as these. Anyone? PTD |
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Tikinomad
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07/12/2007
Very cool Tiki's but not from the Kona Kai in Philly.......maybe Pub Tiki? Below are photo's from the interior of the Kona Kai before it was taken down in '86........ |
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tikiskip
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07/12/2007
WOW! great photos! |
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tikimug
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07/12/2007
Wow great pictures of the old Kona Kai... looks like it was right before it closed. I like the "missing" paddle, looks like a crime scene outline! Where on South St is this store? I don't think those tikis are from the original KK either, and I haven't seen any interior pictures of Pubtiki. But they look in great shape. |
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tikiskip
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07/12/2007
It is about half way down South street if you start from |
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Digitiki
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07/12/2007
Tikinomad, |
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bigbrotiki
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07/12/2007
Wow! I love TC, someone always comes through. Where the hell did you get these "insider" pics? Yet they do not DIS-prove the theory of the origin of the Ku and Maori Tiki. The Tikis in the photos are all fixed, mounted column panels (whose blueprints, [together with Monkeyman's Marriot financial report cover photo-please find TC link]-will be in TIKI MODERN)
while obviously, all FREESTANDING artifacts have already been removed in the photos (even a wall-mounted, O.A.-made Easter Island paddle has been swiped). The Tiki columns at the store might come from a different place, but the Ku and Maori MIGHT still be Kona Kai Tikis. I will ask Bob and Leroy to chime in once we have more photos. |
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Haole'akamai
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07/12/2007
What is/was this?! It is some maritime piece? It's super cool looking. |
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Blue Thunder
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07/12/2007
It's called a Binnacle they are common in marine antique stores many are reproductions. Check here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binnacle |
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Tikinomad
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07/12/2007
Haole'akamai, the Binnacle is cool and was actually reproduced by Lionel. |
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bigbrotiki
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07/13/2007
Sorry, I haven't seen any Pub Tiki interiors either, and I am not sure it was outfitted by O.A. Pub Tiki or Kona Kai, neither source can be ruled out yet. After a place closes there usually are several phases of devolution: The dismantling of artifacts often begins with employees sneaking out anything that can "walk"...then there is an auction or sale....and only THEN comes the wrecking crew to give the place the death stab. Sad to see those amazing waterfalls in a state of desertification. What's that lying at the foot of that one railing, mugs !? Or lamp bases? And what happened to those fine Tiki column panels, I wonder. |
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Tikinomad
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07/13/2007
I have a few pieces from the Kona Kai including a 4 foot Tonga Pole and a wicker lamp. I'm currently using my urban archeology skills to track down more, including the Armet Davis Tiki columns! |
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Tikinomad
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07/13/2007
The Wicker Lamp....... The Tonga Pole......... |
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tikiskip
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07/13/2007
Nice stuff Tikinomad. When I saw these tikis I got the feeling they were not all |
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rugbymatt
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07/13/2007
I have confirmed that the store will indeed be open tomorrow and am planning to depart A-town at 1000 hours on this rescue mission. I will take the obligatory $500 in cash but plan to have the plastic cavalry on alert! Rounding off the afternoon I will head down to the new ballpark to watch the Phillies-Cardinals game at 1600. The weather is supposed to be awesome tomorrow as well. |
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tikiskip
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07/13/2007
Good luck! |
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pappythesailor
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07/13/2007
I bet you'd get on TV if you dressed one of the tikis up in an aloha shirt and a goofy hat. |
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icebaer69
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07/13/2007
picture taken last sunday at tradervics-munich |
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tikipedia
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07/14/2007
Saw these in Downtown Philly.... are THEY real? :) |
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uncle trav
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07/14/2007
anyone up for a rescue mission to save that tiki? .......oh.. wait a minute... he's o.k. folks, he's got a grin on his face. |
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rugbymatt
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07/15/2007
Don't tiki-block!!!! |
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tikiskip
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07/15/2007
Well? Matt did you go? |
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rugbymatt
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07/15/2007
Tiki Rescue Mission Sitrep: Arrived South Street Philly 11:30 hours(zulu). Located target: C. Neri Antiques & Lighting at 313 South St. Took up position opposite target in designated parking space (lots of Philly's finest monitoring parking on South St.?) and confirmed tiki presence on premises. Contact with target at 11:35 hours(zulu). Photographed tikis in shop foyer. Made contact with Mr. Charles Neri (not secenery) to begin rescue negotiations (note subject Neri was wearing an aloha shirt). The prize Maori asking $3500 8 foot poles asking $1500
More to follow....RugbyMatt, OUT! |
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rugbymatt
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07/15/2007
Mission Accomplished! 1/2 tank of gas- $24 I did confirm that while none of these tikis came from the venerable Kona Kai they did come from lots Mr. Neri purchased at auction from Pub Tiki in Philly and Langerman's Luau ex- of Narberth, PA. Here are before and after photos of the tikis I secured on 14 July: Question: How much dirty dusty old tiki relics can you fit in an RX330? Dusty Details: The tales (tails?) this wad of ABC gum could tell! Original auction tags: After 3 hours, 1 MaiTai and 1 Navy Grog: Troops are standing tall and ready for inspection, Sir!
What a great adventure in urban archeology! Roll credits.... [ Edited by: rugbymatt 2007-07-14 20:53 ] |
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Paipo
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07/15/2007
What was the story with this fella who's in a couple of your pics? Looks a lot like a Bumatay.... That's a very nice assortment of tikis - thanks for sharing. Pics like these are grist for the creative mill. |
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rugbymatt
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07/15/2007
Those yabos in the Crazy Al pic are grist for my mill, YIKES! |
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Feelin Zombified
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07/15/2007
I knew this story sounded familiar: http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=8264&forum=5 Matt, how much were they asking for this guy? -Z |
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Tikinomad
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07/15/2007
Great score! The one Tiki carving reminds me of the Ren Clark Tiki mug......... See the similarities? |
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KikiTiki
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07/15/2007
Great scores! Your house will be well-blessed and well-guarded by those tiki gods! |
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naugatiki
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07/15/2007
And while we're on the subject that little one reminds me of this Daga mug |
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rugbymatt
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07/15/2007
It does have a Daga look to it. The biggest mystery is what it was? The top is carved out like a bowl. Was it an ashtray? a stand for some larger object? a drum missing its skin? I am trying to get the original auction receipts from them to see if they shed any light on things. |
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bigbrotiki
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07/15/2007
I would say it was the holder for an ashtray. Trader Vic's used to have similar mid size Tikis (similar in size, not in form) What a great haul! Considering the rarity of mid-century Tiki Temples in the Philly area, this is a find of a life time!
That's because the above Tiki is definitely a Milan Guanko carving! Guanko carved all the Tikis for Ren Clark's Polynesian Village. In fact this one looks so much like the Ren Clark logo Tiki (see Polynesian Village brochure BOT page 44), it could have come from there. But Guanko did repeat his motifs, too. |
TK
Tiki Kaimuki
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07/15/2007
Paip, You were reading my mind. When I saw those eyes, my eyes got just as big. |