Sterling Silver Tiki Spoons

My sister and I have been going through my late mother's knick-knacks, and mixed in with her sterling silver state spoon collection were a couple of small Tiki-related spoons I thought were pretty nifty.

Anyone know anything about these? One has "Aku Aku" written on the spoon bowl, and the other has "Kon Tiki" written down the handle. They're both sterling silver, as I said, but a couple of these pictures give them a brassy tiny they don't have in person.

I'm going to display them in my den, but I was curious if anyone had run across these before:

-BCM

Nice find. I would guess that they are from the Aku Aku located at the Stardust in Las Vegas and the other from one of Steve Cranes Kon Tiki restaurants. I am sure some one here on TC can give you more info. They look like dessert or soup spoons. Good stuff.

I would rather suggest that, judging by the fact that they are together, and by the absence of Restaurant-type typefaces, these are some kind of official Thor Heyerdahl collectibles. Possibly from the Kon-Tiki Museum in Oslo. Did your mom ever go to Europe, specifically Norway? Thor was also a prolific lecturer, maybe he sold those on tour.

She did make a trip to Europe in the mid-sixties. And poking around a little bit, the design of the Kon-Tiki spoon makes me believe it almost has to be linked to Heyerdahl.

Upon closer examination, both spoons bear the same mark on the back, so they probably did come from the same place, but it's very hard to make out. I'll have to snag a magnifying glass and examine them more closely.

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. Love to hear from anyone else who might have an idea.

Mahalo!
-BCM

I'm agreeing with Bigbro. The logo and font on the Kon Tiki spoon matches paper items from the Kon Tiki museum in Oslo. It would make sense that the AKU AKU would commemorate Thor's other book of the same name and might have been bought in the museum gift shop too.

The Aku Aku in Las Vegas had it's own line of dishes, sugar packets, chopsticks, lucky coins, etc. with just a stylized Moai head and different font. If they were to offer a souvenir spoon, you would expect the same logo. Also, while you might expect to find a souvenir spoon for the Stardust Hotel/Casino itself in the Stardust giftshop, I think it would be rare to find a souvenir spoon for a restaurant or bar. They're probably out there, but I haven't found one yet. I have found, however, tiki souvenir spoons for Polynesian islands (Tahiti, Easter Island, Hawaii, etc)

Hey Hawaiian Dick, I am with Sabu and Big Bro as well.
The items from the Aku Aku in Vegas and the Kon Tiki's were much different then this design and styles of the fonts used were much different.
Also, I think the Aku Aku spoon would not be so historically or physically accurate by showing the belly and hands much like the full statues. I think it would have been just a Moai head or something along those lines.

I think you got some VERY nice collectibles from the Kon Tiki Museum in Oslo or possibly some sort of promotion for the books. Maybe "Buy the new book get a special commemorative spoon"!!
Great find and also extra special with the family connection!!

TabooDan

Thanks again, everyone!

-BCM

The photo of the Kon Tiki spoon no longer shows up,
so I will post the one I found it today.