Weird mug identification

Here's a pair of weird ones I saw on EBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=29460&item=3905867471&rd=1#ebayphotohosting

Image here: http://www.auctionpix.co.uk/users/vyb502964.jpg

Anybody know anything about these? They kind of remind me of Beetlejuice from the Howard Stern show.

[ Edited by: Iolani on 2004-04-06 13:18 ]

I believe they are supposed to represent First Nations totems, rather than tikis. They come in s & p shakers as well, and are very easy to find in the Canadian antique shops and flea markets.

Oh yeah, I see those all the time. There is a matching teapot, cups, the whole shebang. I can't spit without hitting one!

haha, I can really picture that one tikifish.
spitooooey

Here in Victoria we have SO many souvenir shops full of totem pole carvings and stuff made out of an equivalent to hapa wood. So close...yet so far. I wish I could trade it for poly pop stuff!

It's a shame they don't each sport a gold tooth.

I have one of these guys (makes sense since I'm in Canada) and I've seen a couple variations with handles and things. He looks good with my other mugs.

But here's the odd thing: I've seen this same mug painted all one colour on eBay as homemade mugs. Perhaps the mold has been working doubletime.

Thanks to all for the info. I guess I'm not surprised to learn that they are supposed to be NW North American masks - don't quite do that carving and painting tradition justice, though they do make me chuckle a bit. A teapot might be cool.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1238&item=3715683052&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

It's yours for 6.95, thanks to the magic of Ebay!

more on e-bay! creamer, sugar bowl and cup.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=13755&item=3907125410&rd=1