Pages: 1 18 replies
PTD
Psycho Tiki D
Posted
posted
on
Mon, Jun 21, 2010 5:18 AM
Can anyone tell me about this guy..?
Thanks, PTD [ Edited by: Psycho Tiki D 2010-06-22 05:28 ] |
B
bigbrotiki
Posted
posted
on
Mon, Jun 21, 2010 9:55 AM
This guy is a variation on the PNG Trader Vic logo Tiki (not the Maori one). Tikis of this 2 foot size used to populate the underlit shelves that lined the walls at most Trader Vics (together with coral, Tridacna shells and beachcomber items)...and they were mostly carved by Barney West. Barney did many variations on this specific PNG design. Though the face is not that impressive, the body hints towards a West. There should be more of this size Barneys around, considering how many I have seen in the remaining Vics in my travels. I'd never thought I would have reason to post this one, but as an example that Barney was not ALWAYS at his best it now works: So your guy might not be a top of the line example, but a Barney West nevertheless |
PTD
Psycho Tiki D
Posted
posted
on
Mon, Jun 21, 2010 3:47 PM
Thanks for confirming this, I think? I was pretty sure it was a Barney West based on this image from an earlier posting you made Big Bro... Kind of hard to see in this image, but it is the same style. The seller's story confirms my suspicions as well; he is from Marin, so in all likelihood this is a Barney West. While I agree this may not be his finest version of tiki, I am happy I now own a Barney West tiki! See you over in Tiki Finds PTD |
B
bigbrotiki
Posted
posted
on
Mon, Jun 21, 2010 4:08 PM
You're damn right to be happy, few people do own one, me excluded ! I KNEW I knew that lecherous grin from somewhere.... here is a better photo of his bigger brother, hanging with his pals at Tiki Junction: It is also can be found on page 247 in the BOT. And JP's Tiki Magazine article on Barney has a better scan of that catalog page also. Both courtesy of the Oceanic Arts archive. :) Am looking forward to 1 or 2 good photos of him... |
B
bigbrotiki
Posted
posted
on
Mon, Jun 21, 2010 4:39 PM
Ok, no doubt, you got the real thing! Next time you gotta post a better picture, the first made it look like a late period hack job, but this is not as bad a specimen as I thought! This IS indeed the one in the BOT: Very nice. A great find. Folks, this is proof that steady, repeated searching brings rewards! |
PTD
Psycho Tiki D
Posted
posted
on
Mon, Jun 21, 2010 6:21 PM
The original picture I posted was one the seller had. There were actually two posted, the second being this one... I did some research here based on what I thought the design appeared to be and tried not to give too much away by asking the question in this thread. I have learned one can't be too careful these days, especially when it comes to having potential purchases sabatoged. For the record, I asked the seller if he knew anything about the carver. He said he did not. He told me his dad worked for a storage place in the Bay Area and this was something he was given along the way. I mentioned I thought it might have been carved by an artist named Barney West and asked him if he was sure he wanted to sell it. He said he was sure and we made a deal. Very nice guy. PTD [ Edited by: Psycho Tiki D 2010-06-21 18:23 ] |
D
Dustycajun
Posted
posted
on
Mon, Jun 21, 2010 6:38 PM
PTD, Congrats on scoring the Barney West Tiki! Purchase of a lifetime, and, coincident with the great Barney West arcticle in this issue of Tiki Magazine. DC |
B
bigbrotiki
Posted
posted
on
Mon, Jun 21, 2010 6:40 PM
I figured. But for a while you sounded like you had better pictures already....and then you struck silently and swiftly! You know you can always p.m. me in such "secret" cases. [ Edited by: bigbrotiki 2010-06-22 08:27 ] |
B
Beachbumz
Posted
posted
on
Tue, Jun 22, 2010 3:00 AM
What an awesome find PTD... Barney made some awesome tiki's in his day.. How cool would it have been to see his Tiki Junction back then.. WoW.... Score! |
PTD
Psycho Tiki D
Posted
posted
on
Tue, Jun 22, 2010 5:41 AM
Based on the information from the catalog, this was item "K""New Guinea Happy Tiki. Based on my euphoria...I am "Happy Tiki Guy". I am looking forward to reading the article in the current Tiki Magazine. Sadly, the shop carrying Tiki Magazine has not received the Summer 2010 edition, I will have to wait. Thanks big bro for your help! PTD |
T
tikitony
Posted
posted
on
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 11:56 PM
WHOA!!! Line for line, that is the actual tiki from the BOT! Sven, good eyes! That is one of my favorite tikis that Barney West carved, you are super lucky to own it! My last mug "PuPu"(below) was definitelly influenced by Barney's tiki in the middle, right next to yours, only I didn't realize it until this post. I've always loved thinking of Barney West carving tikis near the docks, living like a salty craggy beachcomber.
Was the original photograph from OA from that Tiki Junction shot, or was it a post card? |
B
bigbrotiki
Posted
posted
on
Fri, Jun 25, 2010 7:41 AM
Just a little square color polaroid, same than that great color photo of him in his Ku chair. |
SF
Slacks Ferret
Posted
posted
on
Fri, Jun 25, 2010 7:54 AM
One of my favourite old-school carvers. All the tikis in that photo are amazingly playful and so full of character. Excellent find! |
PTD
Psycho Tiki D
Posted
posted
on
Fri, Jun 25, 2010 8:13 AM
Thank you to everyone who has replied here and off the thread. I do consider this find the cornerstone of all my finds and that is hard to gauge because I have had some amazing luck or blessings in my hunting to locate items. I am really excited about the prospect of perhaps one more turning up; the seller mentioned he still had a few more back at home in Marin. I asked him to please keep me in mind if he decides to sell them and asked him at the very least to send me some pictures the next time he goes home. I told him if I couldn't afford to buy them, I knew there would be some interest among the tiki collecting community in them. I believe the person I bought these from is a student and could probably use the extra cash...I am encouraged in the fact he contacted me after this sale and wrote "I'll keep you in mind for other tikis I might have lying around". So who knows...there may be a couple of more Barney West tikis "lying around" in Marin! PTD [ Edited by: Psycho Tiki D 2010-06-25 08:14 ] |
BB
Bora Boris
Posted
posted
on
Fri, Jun 25, 2010 8:38 AM
Great find PTD!! I like that a Nor Cal Tiki has a new home in Nor Cal it's a very happy ending, then add that there may be more out there you can't help but smile when reading that =** DOUBLE HAPPY ENDING!** :D Please don't think I say Nor Cal on a regular basis. |
B
bigbrotiki
Posted
posted
on
Fri, Jun 25, 2010 10:50 AM
Wow! That would be amazing...IF they are of the same caliber. Not to put a damper on this, but I often had the experience that folks who don't know "Tiki" can't really tell one apart from the other, and that they make you fantasize about Tiki treasures that turn out to be some painted palm fronts. They see you're excitement, they want to please....As I said, not to belittle the possibility, but by experience I am always a cautious sceptic until I SEE it with my own eyes. Once I saw this one (in PTD's pics), I got REALLY excited :) |
D
danlovestikis
Posted
posted
on
Fri, Jun 25, 2010 11:03 AM
This was great reading. Congrats PTD. Wendy |
JT
Jungle Trader
Posted
posted
on
Fri, Jun 25, 2010 3:23 PM
I would love to have a Barney. Not the purple one. |
K
kingstiedye
Posted
posted
on
Fri, Jun 25, 2010 4:17 PM
great score, duane! |
Pages: 1 18 replies