The Trader Vic's Nautilus

My friend Doctor Z and I have been always been on the lookout for some of the more obscure drinkware pictured in the "Trader Vic's Bartending Guide". Not all of these pieces of glassware or ceramicware have the Trader Vic's logo. For example, the Voodoo Grog glass will only have an Imperial Glass gummed label (if that), yet it's still highly prized as a Trader Vic's collectible.

On one page of the Trader Vic's Bartending Guide, there's this Nautilus Shell mug, used to serve a drink called the "Nautilus":

And at an estate sale this weekend, I finally found something very close:

Notice in the pictures below that the mold seems to be the exact same one as the Trader Vic's, plus the painting process seems to be identical (I've highlighted a brown, squiggly mark that really stands out as being the same on both. The only problem is that mine has three feet while the one in the manual has a wavy pedestal base.

All the ceramics at this estate sale were from the 1960s-1970s era, so I think the date is right. Mine is stamped "FF" underneath and has an "FF Japan" sticker. I paid $2 for the piece.

:down: Here's a photo next to the manual so you can see the size of the mug.

Mine of course had been used as a planter. It looks much better now in my glass case full of tiki mugs.

Do any of the Trader Vic's specialists out there, have this mug with the pedestal base? Are there other variations with different maker's marks? What does "FF" stand for? Please discuss and share your knowledge. Thanks.

Here is the recipe for the "Nautilus" from the Bartending Guide:

Nautilus

Juice of 1 lime
1 1/2 ounces Ocean Spray Cranberry House mixer
1 1/2 ounces tequila
Shake with ice cubes. Pour into Trader Vic nautilus shell. Decorate with mint sprigs.

[ Edited by: Sabu The Coconut Boy 2009-01-25 22:43 ]

I was surprised to see your post on this Sabu. I have had that same nautilus shell for a long time. I also collect shells and shell looking vessels and came across this one in a thrift store of 88 cents. Mine also has the same marks as yours and also the F.F. stamped into the bottom.
Don't know if it's a trader Vic's or not, but it is a lovely looking piece.

Forgot to add that F.F. stands for Fitz and Floyd. They started business in the 60's. here is there history from their website.

For more than 40 years, Fitz and Floyd has symbolized unique distinctive style in dinnerware, giftware, decorative accessories and collectibles by virtue of its bold and innovative designs and strong use of color.

Founded in 1960 as an import company, Fitz and Floyd soon began designing ceramic giftware. The Company expanded into tabletop products in the late 1960s with the introduction of coffee mugs and salad/dessert plates. In 1972, Fitz and Floyd marched into the dinnerware market with the introduction of dramatic and highly sophisticated design motifs. Shortly thereafter, Fitz and Floyd originated the “mix and match” concept, a revolutionary merchandising approach that broke away from the traditional, single-pattern dinnerware concept by coordinating compatible yet varied design motifs, colors and shapes within one place setting. This innovation was a breakthrough that established Fitz and Floyd as an industry leader for fashion-forward tabletop products. “Mix and match” also expanded the potential market for other Fitz and Floyd products such as service plates, salad plates, mugs and other complementary accessories for the tabletop.

Throughout the 1970s, Fitz and Floyd continued to expand its reputation for superior quality and unique design in giftware by creating complete lines of fine hand-painted ceramics. The Company’s in-house design staff developed themes around which entire collections were designed. With these collections, Fitz and Floyd refined its reputation for its sense of style, color, humor and sophistication. As the line’s aesthetic statement developed, the Company’s distribution evolved into a mix of department stores and upscale independent gift, jewelry and specialty stores.

Fitz and Floyd specialized in high-design, collectible-quality giftware and dinnerware in the 1980s. Its new “gifted table” cemented the Company’s heritage of innovative design during an era that saw Fitz and Floyd dinnerware selected by several embassies and presidential residences around the world, including the White House. When Queen Elizabeth II visited Dallas in 1991, Fitz and Floyd was commissioned by the city to create a hand-painted, one-of-a-kind tea service as the official gift from the city to Her Majesty.

Long considered a resource by collectors, Fitz and Floyd officially entered the collectibles arena with limited-edition Christmas ornaments and teapots in 1990. By the mid-90s, the Company was a recognized brand in the collectible market, offering lines of hand-painted figurines, ornaments, water globes and lighted houses. Then came Charming Tails.

Designed by artist Dean Griff, Charming Tails began as a dozen Christmas ornaments and grew quickly into figurines and complementary pieces as collectors clamored for more items featuring the endearing animal inhabitants of “Squashville”. In 1997, in answer to demands from collectors and shop owners who embraced Charming Tails, The Leaf & Acorn Club was founded. Dean Griff was honored the next year with the “Artist of the Year” award from the industry’s premier organization, the National Association of Limited Edition Dealers (NALED). NALED also recognized Dean and Fitz and Floyd with the coveted “Rising Star Award” for Charming Tails.

Fitz and Floyd has celebrated more than four decades of trend-setting style and design. As its artistry and innovation evolve, customers continue to be assured:

I am basing this guess of Fitz and Floyd based on this ebay auction( click on the close up of the sticker:

ebay link

"Now and then we had hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates"
Mark Twain
"Life on the Mississippi"

[ Edited by: exotica59 2007-01-14 21:57 ]

[ Edited by: exotica59 2007-01-14 22:11 ]

[ Edited by: hanford_lemoore - Shortened ebay URL - 2007-01-16 12:16 ]

I can't offer any help but I will declare that this is the "THREAD OF THE DAY" on this day January the 14th in the year 2007*

Thank you Sabu and Exotica59, I hope a shell with the base turns up or we find out that the picture was a prototype and you have the actual shell.

*At least it is in my apartment.

starting to look like they may have had a whole line of different shell ceramics.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290069881080&fromMakeTrack=true

This was used as a planter when I bought it. I'd like to use it as a mug but will keep looking for one like yours instead.
Cool post Sabu

Great post! I'll keep my eye out as well.

Seems rather large for a 3 ounce drink.

I bet the three foot design came after they got many complaints about the wobbly original design in the bartender's guide.

I have a clam shell bowl that is similar to the TV clam shell that has the same problem. Is it the TV clam shell? I wondered for a while and then came across one actually stamped Trader Vic's on it. Although, they may have used some not stamped, there are at least some out there with a true TV mark. I have a bamboo bowl that is similar. It is marked TV but I think there are many out there like it not marked TV. They obviously used items by other makers that fit their needs.

Swank Blather- Talkin' atcha

[ Edited by: Swanky 2007-01-15 11:33 ]

I am henceforth to be known as Charming Tail, from Squashville.

Charming Tail
Leaf and Acorn Club, Squashville

Aloha Sabu, always a pleasure to see your posting and what archaeological project you've researched! The Trader Vic's Nautilus Shell topic caught me by surprise! I've got a three-toed base version but no makers mark anywhere? Never knew of possible TV tie-in?

Hope this pic helps in archival & search for the greater tiki truth!

Flip-flOp-fLipPp...:D

When it rains it pours... I found one of these today at an estate sale. Marked "FF" and quite dirty from holding a plant.
Its smaller that I thought but a nice little pice.
Aloha,
:tiki:

Is there a web page with the tv glassware photos listed like the ones from the bartending guide?

Is this the one? I couldn't save the picture but it looks like it might be right?

Trader Vic?

On 2007-01-29 16:00, Tikisgrl wrote:
Is this the one? I couldn't save the picture but it looks like it might be right?

Trader Vic?

Wow. Quite a steal for $20.

On 2007-01-29 16:00, Tikisgrl wrote:
Is this the one? I couldn't save the picture but it looks like it might be right?
Trader Vic?

Here's the photo from that auction, Tikisgrl; TV yes, Nautilus no.

Bongo Bongo soup shell? Sabu? Swanky? Bigbro? Anybody?

FlipPp-flOp-fLipPp...

I picked up this piece at a local thrift (a whopping $2.95).

When I saw this, I recalled Sabu's post about the Trader Vic's Nautilus mug. This item has obvious differences to Sabu's, including a flat bottom and less texture detailing. Sabu's photos only shows one side of the mug, but his appears to be symmetrical while the one I picked up has asymmetrical sides.

The bottom is marked Otagiri in large letters, with an Otagiri tag. The tag reads 'Hand Made, Japan, Otagiri'. The tag may be the best clue to date this item. Was this tag used for a certain period of time, preceeding or following the well know gold-colored OMC sticker?

And could this be a variation of the TV mug, or just a planter? Hmmmmmm.

An update on the fabled Trader Vic's Nautilus Mug:

The model with the ruffled, oval foot that appears in the Trader Vic's Bartending Guide does actually exist.

:up: This one can be viewed at Trader Vic's Emeryville, in the glass case with all the old rum bottles.

The underside has the inscription, "JAPAN MADE FOR TRADER VIC"

Here's another photo from another collection :down:

It appears to be one of the rarer mugs out there.

I've also been educated that the Fitz & Floyd three-footed Nautilus comes in a larger size. Here's a photo of two of the large-size models next to the smaller version like I own, with a volcano bowl insert for size comparison:

I found these for $15.00 each, but they will only accept orders over $50.00. They're loss!
I'm going to use a real shell with a base instead. You will have to plug the chamber hole though.

Chambered Nautilus Shell Table

Sabu you have posed an excellent question.This is one of the Trader Vic
mugs / bowls that has eluded me for years.Really the only one I need to
complete my Trader Vic collection.I do believe its not Trader Vic ,
different pedestal and mfg.This rarely ever comes up on ebay , however
last year it did about the time Tiki Caliente in palm springs was going
on.I was beat out by Kahala Charms for about $360 if I remember correctly.
The pictures are from the actual auction and a real authentic Trader Vic
Nautilus shell bowl.I believe the 65 in the center represents the year
it was produced.

On 2009-01-27 23:33, 1961surf wrote:
Sabu you have posed an excellent question.This is one of the Trader Vic
mugs / bowls that has eluded me for years.Really the only one I need to
complete my Trader Vic collection.

So you have the Tepco Gremlin Bowl, the Tepco Kava Bowl, and Tepco Scorpion Bowl?
http://www.tikiroom.net/gallery/main.php/vics/logo+with+block0338.jpg.html

And if you want to fondle that nautilus bowl at TV Emeryville, they now have it sitting outside the case. Oh nautilus bowl...fondle...fondle... :D

Xlnt link with black and white photos of Trader Vic vessels- Tiki hula
Can you tell me what Trader Vic book that photo came from?
I would say that the the Kava bowl and the scorpian bowl depicted in the
photo are some of the hardest to find..I guess I have several more
that I don't have in my TV collection ....damn !

That's a 1944 Life magazine article on Trader Vic's. I am fortunate enough to have the both the Tepco Scorpion bowl
http://www.tikiroom.net/gallery/main.php/vics/aao.jpg.html
and Kava bowl
http://www.tikiroom.net/gallery/main.php/vics/aaa.jpg.html
Mad props to Midnite for the Ebay heads-up all those years ago! The Kava bowl was borrowed by Holden to make the Tiki Farm version.

Of course the Gremlin bowl is my holy grail - and the one that Kohalacharms bought on ebay is the only one I've ever seen....hope there are more out there....

I'm glad to see this post back again. I remember seeing it when it first started and meant to post pictures of our Nautilus mug. It's just like the ones Sabu and 1961surf have posted with the same marking on the bottom. Here are some quick pictures:

Here is a shot with a suffering bastard next to it for size comparison.

We also have a scorpion bowl.

And not to derail this thread, but I've been curious to explore these variations in the coffee grog mug. I believe they are just different generations with the lightest being the earliest and the black one (marked 1963) the later. The earlier versions are much more thin walled and therefore more fragile. Perhaps that's why you see less of them than the 1963 version. Anyway, they probably belong in a separate thread altogether.

-Duke

Thanks for giving me an inferiority complex Duke !! Nice pics.
Thanks for sharing with us to drewll , and yet appreciate at the same time .

This was just recently sold on ebay.1954 Pagen Hut menu in Depoe Bay ,Oregon.
Features the Nautilus Shell on cover that was a featured specialty drink called
the " Sea Stinger" at the Pagen Hut .This Nautilus shell bowl we now know was
used at other Polynesian restaurant establishments back in the day.I wonder if
there is anyone out there with this bowl with the Pagen Hut name on the bottom?
Does anyone know anything about this place? Maybe Dusty Cajun has some interior
shots of this place.

[ Edited by: 1961surf 2009-02-25 18:52 ]

1961Surf,

I have the postcards and matchbooks from the Pagan Hut but none show the mythical Nautilus Shell mug. Here is the link on TC that shows all of the Pantely's Pagan Hut Hut info.

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=5323&forum=2&hilite=pagan%20hut

DC

Thanks DC .I knew you would have some info on this place.Great interior shots on
these old post cards.Looks like a fun place back in its day.I am glad that there
are people out there like you DC that take the time and post .It's like walking
back in time when I view these old PC's -a history lesson if you will.

[ Edited by: 1961surf 2009-02-25 21:34 ]

So, was the Fitz & Floyd three-footed Nautilus actually used anywhere? I spotted one sitting low on a shelf as I was leaving a local antiques shop today so I brought it home.

Found an FF nautilus yesterday... very pretty... gonna look great with drink and flower garnish.

Also picked up this gorgeous shell by the same maker. Not real shell at all.

picked up my three footer today at the flea market....$10. - very beautiful lookin up close.....great for my collection!

I found one of the biggies yesterday. Suitable for a bowl drink... or soup I suppose.