Tiki Light eBay Auction ...

Here on the Secret Island depite or relatively closeness to all things polynesian there really is little Tiki infuenced design or decoration. Trips to thirft stores, markets offer few rewards, even to a hardened beaccomber like me. I often return home empty handed...

eBay can cough up the odd local gem and reveal a tantilising glimpse of what else is on offer overseas ... oh if we didn't have to pay postage! ;0(

I've been watching this little Tiki Lamp for about a week or so, being offered up by a seller in South Australia. I'm not sure if they knew what they had or if they were offering an item and were interested in what it would go for!

"The most intricate detail on this fantastic 1960’s New Zealand lamp. Features Maori tiki’s galore – all different. Have never seen another like it. It is large and so very heavy. I don’t know what it is made from… it feels like a resin but has the weight of stone – definitely not ceramic. Either way, it is superb and around 50 years old!

The design is all the way round the lamp base… it looks great from any angle. Thoroughly inspected and there is no damage to the lamp base, it is really really nice. The shade is a neutral colour and has a subtle woven pattern. Stunning focal point in any room. Fantastic large size measures : 76cm (tall) x 100cm (circumference). Unpacked it weighs : 4.3kg"

I would have loved this but it was soon out of my price range. It ended up selling for AUS$358 which when converted is slightly more in US dollars. It set me thinking... is the rarity of such items here pushing the price up or would this have reached a similar price in the US.

Some new additions ...

Here are a couple of my most recent additions to the collection here on the Secret Island. The first is a mug from Tiki Location John's Garden, Malibu, manufactured by Tiki Farm in 2010. The mug is available in two colors: bright orange and blue, the colors of nearby Pepperdine University. The mug is a highball design, with four surfboard "shields" and a tiki. I ordered this from Hermosa General Store which is an excellent online eBay store. Check them out.

The other is a set of SHAG coasters in a collectible tin. I must mention that the first set I ordered were lost in the post but the seller expressed a second set to me when I mentioned that they'd not arrived. Proof that there are some nice people still out there.

Tiki Finds: Westwood Mugs from Japan ...

Here are my most recent beach combing finds, three Westwood Tiki mugs from Japan.

Westwood produced Tiki themed ceramics between 1960 - 1975. They were often thin-walled with a bright graphic design, and manufactured for general retail sale.

Ooga-Mooga seems to suggest that there was a wide range of Westwood products available from mugs to condiment sets and full dinner services.

The examples I have added to my mug collection here are:
Top:      Mug W2
Middle:  Mug W4 
Bottom:  Mug W1.

Tiki Finds: Rum Barrel Mugs ...

This week a set of four Rum Barrel mugs washed up here on the beaches of The Secret Island (...via a local thrift store!) They appear to be in quite good condition and a steal at $8 for the lot. I think that they are Japanese and lack some of the quality of similar designs from more recognized mug manufacturers, but heck with some mood lighting and a couple (... or more!) drinks the effect with me the same.

Rum Barrel mugs are one of thirty different categories of Tiki mug! 

I plan to properly photograph my mug collection, upload them to Ooga-Mooga, collect some more and research the origins of Tiki mugs for future posts so stay tuned.

Tiki Treasure Trawl ...

With some rare spare time we took the canoe and paddled from the Secret Island to the mainland! ;0) We returned with quite a haul of goodies, here in Australia we're not as blessed with the number of opportunities that Tikiphiles in the US might have. Still today was a good day...

A couple of resin N.Z Tikis, the little guy on the left has a stumpy foot so he was cheaper! Both have their paua shell eyes intact and came in at $3 for the pair! A coconut monkey ... sold to me by a bemused lady on the register for $4.

A couple of carved mugs these were both marked $5 I paid only $1 for the pair! The  records were an eBay purchase and pick up... a stack of wax for 90c! No classic or rare exotica in amongst it but lots to keep the Island record player spinning for a while.

I fell in love with this four piece, mainly for its clean lines and mix of rattan and modern materials. Came in at $200 hopefully offset by the sale of the existing bar furniture! ;0)

Wall shelf... free! Thrown in by the seller of the four piece!  Finally the N.Z Tiki measuring about 12 inches came in at $10. Its probably the cleanest example that I have.

So as you can see a productive day hunting and gathering.

How I love hard rubbish collections ...

Twice a year the inhabitants of the Secret Island go back to their huts and throw out the things that are surplus to requirements, these items are then sacrificed to the evil Tiki god Landfill.

Now this opportunity is perfect for what I'm calling "Urban Beachcombing." Many a bamboo and rattan item, casually tossed aside is picked up, spruced up and given a new home and lease of life. Almost all of the stuff that makes the Sandbar comes from roadside recovery. Pictured above are a bamboo plant stand and wicker basket. Salvaged from outside two different huts on the way home from work but brought together in perfect harmony.

The Sandbar ...

As Summer approaches and the weather starts to warm up here at on the Secret Island our very own Tiki Bar will start getting regular patrons! Now it may not be a Tiki Bar in the traditional sense, in fact the white ceiling would have many over at Tiki Central crying into their Mai Tais.

Its basically a collection of free roadside pick ups, thrift shop purchases, eBay moments of madness or donated items. My well known love of almost anything Bamboo or Rattan means that I'm often being offered new stuff which is ... well rude to refuse. It's also a spare room for guests at times ... not all appreciate having so many watchful wooden eyes!

It's been situated in three different spots in what is a very small hut (house!)but this is the biggest yet. During the day its a spot to hang out, shelter from the savages (kids!), chill out and listen to music...

... during the evenings ... well that's when it really comes to life! ;0)

It's constantly changing and being added to as I pick up more flotsam, jetsam and other Tiki cast offs. If you're ever ship wrecked on the Secret Island be sure to pull up a stool, a warm welcome is guaranteed.