Tiki mug terms for beginners

As a relatively new collector/enjoyer of tiki related mugs and ephemera, does anyone know of a comprehensive modern online resource for tiki mug (specifically) related terms and definitions?

Various forum searches and google-fu have not really led me to a great "all in one" resource so far...

Thanks in advance!

[ Edited by Holofernes on 2024-05-31 10:03:53 ]

Found this thread on Tiki Central. Has some interesting history about the first tiki mug. Hope this helpful 😎 https://tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic_id=44394

Awesome link and read, and I really appreciate you sharing it!

I'm more thinking some sort of guide to broader tiki mug related terms that would be handy for a newbie collector.

Why? Because as I go about thrifting and find a mug, I enjoy trying to look it up to find out more about it... and sometimes guessing what basic keywords or terms could be used to describe it can be daunting (and as a beginner, sometimes I just resort to a google reverse image search and it takes me where I can learn more about it).

For instance, what is a "Ku" faced mug, or "Peanut" mug, or a "Moai"? A "Fogcutter"? And who the hell is Bob?

I think I have a handle on what those basic terms mean now as far as a tiki mug's theme or shape or design, but I didn't when I started. I imagine many folks have absorbed this knowledge over time, naturally.

[ Edited by Holofernes on 2024-05-15 11:13:14 ]

If you want to compile one I'll happy post it on https://mytiki.life and credit you.

Ok, well if it doesn't already exist online, I guess I'd better get to work. It will need to be vetted by old hands for accuracy before posting of course, but I'll give it a whirl. Thanks!

[ Edited by Holofernes on 2024-05-15 16:04:51 ]

edit dupe removed

[ Edited by Holofernes on 2024-05-15 15:28:04 ]

OK, here's my [ongoing] draft of a Tiki mug related terminology list. Comments/corrections below are welcome, I'll edit/update this post as improvement suggestions arrive. :)

BEGINNERS TIKI MUG TERMINOLOGY - last updated July 30, 2024

• This list seeks to describe various Tiki mug terms, shapes and styles for easier mug identification.
• It does not attempt to describe ALL "Tiki culture" related terms in general but for convenience, it will also contain some non-mug/glass terms that fall into Polynesian-pop drinkwear.
• A link to a representative image/example mug will appear after most entries.

Artist Proof: A mug made by the artist before the larger mug run comes out which are "test-glazed", to determine which glazes are going to be used for the edition. mytiki.life

Bamboo: A mug styled to appear like a tall piece (or pieces) of bamboo with various segments and possibly leaves. Example: mytiki.life

Bob: A “Bob” mug generally refers to the “Tiki Bob” character sporting two black dots for eyes, a line or ridge for a nose, and a whimsical smile - all “carved” out of an upright log shape. mytiki.life

Bowl: typically refers to a Scorpion bowl (often glass) that holds a lot of Tiki drink and is meant to be shared. See also Volcano Bowl. mytiki.life

Bucket: A bucket shaped bowl/mug. mytiki.life

Bug-eyed: A mug where the eyes of the Tiki protrude very noticeably - they literally "bug out". mytiki.life

Bumatay: Bumatay refers to a style of tiki mug produced by the artist Andres Bumatay, characterized by prominent and often radiating eyes, a small fish like mouth open in a groan, and pineapple scale details at the top. mytiki.life

Cannibal: A mug with a Cannibal theme - often a leering, potbellied fiend, sometimes a skull, or one depicting an entity devouring a smaller entity (often in threes/three stages of eating) See also "Eater". mytiki.life

Clam Shell: A low clam shell shaped bowl, or a mug where clam shells are the main decoration. mytiki.life

Coconut (cup): Typically a low cup versus a true mug, these are shaped and stained to look like half a coconut shell. mytiki.life

Double Old-Fashioned glass: A larger old-fashioned glass. mytiki.life

Drooling Bastard: A crude Tiki visually looking like volcanic rock with water trickling out of the figure's mouth and into a held bowl. mytiki.life

Eater(s): aka Cannibal mugs, these mugs depicting an entity devouring a smaller entity, often in threes/three stages (Catcher/Eater/Ingestor). mytiki.life

Event Mugs: Mugs commissioned for or commemorating a specific gathering or event.
mytiki.life

Drum: Tikis representing drums. mytiki.life

Fog Cutter: a tall drinking vessel with a subtle bell shape at top and bottom. mytiki.life

Geisha: Image is primarily of a Japanese Geisha (usually not considered true Tiki). mytiki.life

Headhunter: a wide category of fearsome hunters who might be coming for your head (see also Cannibal, Eater, Shrunken Head). mytiki.life

Hei Tiki: Maori Hei-Tiki mugs show a tiki head or body with a "bent" head and a protruding tongue, and are modeled after traditional Maori stone carvings often worn around the neck. mytiki.life

Highball (glass): A glass tumbler that holds 8-12 fluid ounces (see also Mai-Tai glass). mytiki.life

Hobbyist Mugs: refers to mugs made by individuals at home for personal use, often using commercially sold molds. This was especially popular in the 60s with several companies offering the public a variety of molds, but continues to this day.

• Example here: mytiki.life
• More Hobbyist mug info here: mytiki.life

Hula Girl: Mug features a hula girl dancing. mytiki.life

Hut: Mugs representing huts, meeting halls and the like mytiki.life

Kane/Man: A man or warrior that doesn't fit these other definitions. mytiki.life

Kraken: A legendary sea monster of enormous size, similar to an enormous squid or octopus. mytiki.life

Ku/Ku faced: A very common motif in true Tiki mugs, featuring a Tiki God who is grimacing (frowning or smiling). mytiki.life

Lantern/Light: A Tiki featuring a nautical lantern or ships' light. mytiki.life

Lowball (glass): a low glass tumbler for serving spirits, also known as an old-fashioned glass. mytiki.life

Mai-Tai (glass): A medium sized highball glass, sometimes also a lowball. mytiki.life

Maori: Features imagery associated with the Polynesian Maori people of New Zealand and often have tongues sticking out.. mytiki.life

Marquesan: Mugs featuring artwork of the people of the Marquesan Islands. Usually the Tiki's eyes are large and round like motorcycle goggles, and the smile is flat and rectangular across the bottom of the face. mytiki.life

Menehune: Hawaiian legend has it that the Menehune were a mischievous group of small people/dwarves who hid in the forests and valleys of the islands before the first settlers arrived from Polynesia. mytiki.life

Moai: Refers to a Rapa Nui (aka “Easter Island”) statue head shaped mug. mytiki.life

Nautical: Trader & beachcomber style ship, anchors, floats, and related real world imagery - excluding pirates and sea beasts. mytiki.life

Old-Fashioned (glass): a low glass tumbler for serving spirits, also known as a lowball.

Orientalia: Image is primarily of something more Oriental than Tiki (examples: Fu-Manchu, Ninja, Benihana steak house drinking mugs, etc.). These are not considered "true Tiki". mytiki.life

Palm Tree: Mugs primarily featuring one or more palm trees. mytiki.life

Peanut: Mugs shaped like an upright peanut (a rounded hourglass shape) often bearing lines and/or a stippled surface like a peanut shell. mytiki.life

Personality Mugs: Mugs made to honor a particular person involved in Tiki culture. Does not include Disney, Geekitikis, etc. mytiki.life

Pineapple: Pineapple shaped mugs. mytiki.life

Pirate: Image is primarily of a Pirate or scalawag (pirates are usually not considered "true Tiki"). mytiki.life

Polynesian: Artwork broadly related to the Pacific Ocean island culture known as Polynesia, generally stretching over thousands of islands from Hawaii on the North to New Zealand in the Southwest to Easter Island in the South East. This area borders also on Micronesia and Melanesia. All together the three areas are often referred to as “Oceanic”. Mugs are often based upon what area of Polynesia they are from (example: PNG/Papua New Guinea).

Rum Barrel: A barrel shaped mug. mytiki.life

Scorpion Bowl: A larger glass or ceramic vessel for drinks that are meant to be shared between two to three people (sometimes also referred to as a Kava or Tarantula bowl). Scorpion Bowls often have three tiki "legs" around the outside of the bowl "supporting" it off the table. For even larger bowls, see "Volcano Bowls". mytiki.life

Shot: A small vessel intended to hold approximately 2 ounces of booze. mytiki.life

Shrunken Head: Imagery featuring a “shrunken skull” which may or may not have eyes and lips sewn shut. mytiki.life

Skull: The mug is shaped like or primarily features a skull. mytiki.life

Stackers: Small thin walled mugs meant to be stacked up together in a neat stack, typically featuring 3 or four different Tiki motifs. Sometimes also used on single mugs that appear to be “stacks” of heads, etc. mytiki.life

Suffering Bastard: Typically a hunched figure who appears to be holding his forehead in pain, with a headache from enjoying too many Tiki drinks. mytiki.life

Surfer: Mug features someone surfing. mytiki.life

Tahiti/Tahitian: Mugs featuring Tahiti style artwork. mytiki.life

Tiki: The general term for a mug that has an obvious depiction of Polynesian, Melanesian, or Micronesian imagery as its primary visual component. Also often used to specifically mean a "tiki" god/Ku face image on the mug.

Volcano Bowl: a larger bowl often meant to share drinks between three or more people, which has a raised inner section (usually in a volcano shape) that can hold over-proof rum which can be carefully lit to simulate a flaming volcano.
mytiki.life

Wahini/Woman: Typically a bikini clad woman is present (see also hula girl if in traditional Hawaiian attire). mytiki.life

Wipe-Away Glaze: A mug where the glaze has been applied and then wiped away to leave the glaze behind in the lower ridges only. mytiki.life

Wood Grain: simulated wood grain is present on a mug, to represent a carved wood look. mytiki.life

X Eyes: A mug where large X shaped bands cross over the bridge of the tiki's nose, forming eyes of sorts. mytiki.life

Zombie: Usually refers to a tall cooler/highball glass versus a glazed mug. Also a specific drink, of course. mytiki.life

[ Edited by leevigraham on 2024-07-28 02:30:55 ]

[ Edited by Holofernes on 2024-07-30 14:12:35 ]

[ Edited by Holofernes on 2024-07-31 09:06:50 ]

[ Edited by Holofernes on 2024-07-31 09:11:58 ]

Your Moai link went to a Hula Girl mug. Here are Moais: https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs?q=Moai&layout=card

The ones you called "Eaters" are usually called "Cannibal Mugs", but "Eaters" works.

You already said "Ploynesia" which is kind of all-encompassing. Mugs are often based upon what area of Polynesia they are from such as PNG which stands for Papua New Guinea with a sub category of Sepik River: https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs?q=PNG&layout=card

There is also Tangaroa God of the Sea and Fertility from the Cook Islands who sometimes has a weiner: https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/tangaroa-cobalt-blue-by-eekum-bookum-for-inside-the-desert-oasis-room

You mentioned Moari mugs. Maori mugs are based on art from New Zealand and often have tongues sticking out: https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/trader-vics-maori-haka-mug

But, a sub category from New Zealand would be the Hei Tiki which usually has his head turned sideways: https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/crazy-al-hei-tiki-mug-green

You've already mentioned some Hawaiian Island-based tiki mugs like Kane and Ku. https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/journey-to-hawaii-third-edition-lava-orange-by-jeff-granito

Lono and Kanaloa are the other two of the 4 major Hawaiian Tiki Gods. But there are more than those that are depicted as well in tiki mugs. https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/lono-by-thor-for-tikiland-trading-co

From what I understand, Tiki Lelani was the most produced design which is why they are usually cheaper and easier to find: https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/tiki-leilani-mug

There are Maquesan mugs: https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/oceanic-arts-marquesan-tribute-mug-lagoon-edition-by-tiki-diablo

And Tahitian Tiki mugs: https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/tahiti-felix-70th-anniversary-mug

There are mugs based upon prominent/signature tikis inside or outside of Tiki Bars: Big Mo: https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/tonga-hut-mug-beige-white-original-edition

Drooling Bastard: https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/the-drooling-bastard-in-bronze-orange

https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/trader-morts-tiki-mug-by-eli-hedley-sculpted-manufactured-by-eekum-bookum-for-bamboo-bens-island-trade-store-collection

And of course Tiki Bob:

There are Drum Mugs carved to look like drums: https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/tikiyaki-jungle-jetsetter-drum-mug

https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/tahiti-felix-drum-mug-limited-edition

https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/drum-of-the-forefathers

There are mugs based upon people who were prominent individuals in "Tiki" and Hawaiiana: https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/sven-tiki-mug-blue

https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/bamboo-ben-mug

https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/don-the-beachcomber-mug-modern-short-neck-brown

Hut mugs, based upon Tiki huts: https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/spirit-hut-mug

https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/hukilau-2022-tiki-hut-mug-by-eekum-bookum

https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/whittle-hut-rolli-tiki-mug-designed-by-jeremy-spears

There are EVENT mugs designed particularly for events and are usually based upon the theme of the event: Like Tiki Oasis:https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs?q=tiki+oasis&layout=card

Tiki Caliente: tiki caliente: https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs?q=hukilau&layout=card

There are "Artist Proofs" which are mugs made before the edition comes out which were test-glazed to determine which glazes were going to be used for the edition: https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/hukilau-2002-mug-artist-proof

There are "One-of -kinds" usually called ONE-OFFs that are varieties of a certain mug, or hand-made, or custom made: https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/marquesan-war-club-mug

https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/mug-of-the-monkey-god

https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/grog-marquesan-tiki-mug

Or anything hand-thrown by Johnnie Velour: https://mytiki.life/creators/johnnie-velour

Some mugs are more "Tiki Adjacent": Such as mermaids: https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs?q=mermaid+mug&layout=card

https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/p-i

https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/buk-um-dano

https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/munktiki-coconut-monkey

https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/crazy-al-ape-mug-maraca-edition-coconut-brown

And then there are variations of tiki mugs, like Tiki BOB who has been done to death: https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs?q=tiki+bob&layout=card

And soooooo many that aren't really "Tiki"mugs, but are called Tiki mugs, like most everything from Geeky Tiki: https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs?q=geeky+tiki&layout=card

[ Edited by GROG on 2024-05-30 20:54:10 ]

Grog, thanks so much for the ideas and input! I have updated the list above accordingly with many of them. :D

[ Edited by Holofernes on 2024-06-01 05:34:05 ]

[ Edited by leevigraham on 2024-06-01 15:01:42 ]

GROG! Please don't encourage or add links to Geeki Tiki shit. Read the rules/guidelines of this group. You should know better than that.

[ Edited by swizzle on 2024-06-01 03:33:36 ]

Fear not, no GeekiTiki links were added to my terms list above either. Recommendations posted here are regarded, but not all are taken. ;)

My response was to GROG, not you.

Yes, I saw that. I wanted to assure anyone reading it that the list was still "geekitiki free" though.

swizzle There's nothing in the rules that explicitly bans posting about geekitiki.

In this case I don't have an issue with the discussion above.

Holofernes, If you're building a general glossary of terms in tiki I wouldn't provide examples of tiki mugs for each term. I think this will confuse things.

Holofernes Ah I just read the title of your thread again "Tiki mug terms for beginners".

In mytiki.life here's the "Imagery" options we use to describe "tiki mugs":

Here are the "Shape" options:

These values were determined 15+ years ago on ooga mooga. They are not an exhaustive list of terms.

I've also attempted to categorise "tiki mugs" many times. Here's my last attempt:

As for what is a "tiki mug"… Peoples opinions range from

• Strict: "Ceramic mug with an obvious depiction of Polynesian, Melanesian or Micronesian imagery as its primary visual component" ONLY
• Less Strict: Strict + items used / seen / related to the original tiki movement (1933-1960s) - I sit here.
• "Tiki is for Everyone": Anything can be tiki… I don't agree with this.

[ Edited by leevigraham on 2024-06-01 15:27:18 ]

leevigraham, Thanks, I did indeed also lean on your Imagery and Shape lists over at Mytiki.life (very helpful!), but I can take a second pass now and see if any more should be added that I didn't already.

It looks like keywords are pretty much "on demand" there too, so anything a newbie might reasonably search for could be good to add to a list like the one I am working on.

I'm also intentionally not getting involved in the "What is Tiki" debate by keeping this list more on the "Strict" side of options.

[ Edited by Holofernes on 2024-06-03 11:41:36 ]

My mistake. I meant the 'about' section, not rules. And although they are not specifically mentioned there, Geeki Tiki definitely fall under 'What Tiki Central Isn't'.

Swizzle just like to bust GROG' balls ALL THE TIME. Swizzle need hobby other than trolling GROG.

Good job Holofernes and Leevigraham on coming up with categories for tiki mugs.

Holoferenes, about bowls--- Scorpion Bowls are smaller and usually have three tikis (or sometimes other characters) around the outside "supporting" it. The Volcano is bigger, and serves more people and usually has a feature (often a Volcano, hence the name) in the middle for fire.

[ Edited by GROG on 2024-06-01 23:54:20 ]

Yep TC is not for discussing Geeki-Tiki as if it was tiki culture. It's fine to bring it up in the context of this topic tho.

That said if there was a topic solely devoted to geek-tiki arguing if it was tiki or not I would shut that down in a second.

Love it, keep the feedback, additions, and feisty comments coming.

I updated the list again. :D

Doh, dupe.

[ Edited by Holofernes on 2024-06-03 11:37:28 ]

Welp... 21 days since a reply, correction or addition request, so I guess this list is more or less "done" for now, pending future adds etc.

7/22: Made a few minor edit to the Scorpion and Volcano bowl entries, and the Marquesan entry.

7/29: Added an entry for Bumatay style mugs. Noted Leevi cleaned the formatting up a bit too, thanks!

7/30: Updated the "Hobbyist" entry as I have started researching historical hobbyist molds. Down the rabbithole we go....

[ Edited by Holofernes on 2024-07-30 14:14:08 ]

Related note, some google-fu showed me others have (of course!) been down the "for the love of hobbyist molds" path.

Here's the fun thread from the graveyard (last post 2011): https://tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic_id=19324&post_id=572596&start=0#post-572596