Tiki Mugs
Unmarked Glossy Brown Coconut with White Rim - by BarConic
in 9 collections
This glossy brown coconut has no markings. The top rim and interior are white. It was sold through major retailers such as Urban Outfitters and BarConic.
Appears the earlier version was slightly different with a thinner white band at top, and more recent mugs have a thicker white band.
Daga Kauai Resort Hotel Octopus Mug
in 3 collections
This short brown mug was manufactured by Daga for the Kauai Resort Hotel in Hawaii. It appears to be based on, if not molded from, the Polynesian Pottery Trader Vic's Waikiki Octopus Mug. The mug is roundish with a scowling face on front and reverse with heat decal on middle side.
Tiki King Redwood Log Mug Black
aka Tiki King 1998 Luau Mug in 1 collection
This black mug was designed by Tiki King for his 1998 luau. The mug has a texture like the grain of redwood and features a simple tiki face with sunken half-moon eyes, a diamond-shaped nose and a long concave mouth.
Beachcomber Cafe Tiki Mug
aka Big Kahuna in 11 collections
This mug was designed by Squid and manufactured by Tiki Farm for the Beachcomber Cafe. It appears to be based on the Orchids of Hawaii R-74 and is a traditional full-body Ku.
From The Beachcomber Cafe, Crystal Cove, Newport Coast, California and The Beachcomber Cafe at the Malibu Pier in Malibu, California.
Tumbuna Underbelly of the Grey Plover
in 2 collections
Tumbuna was designed and manufactured by Cass McClure aka OceaOtica. The mug is based on the traditional New Guinea design from the Sepik River region. The mug is essentially a bust featuring a tiki with an long oval face, large eyes with cowry-shaped pupils, a long thin nose that flares at the nostrils and a triangular shape adorning his forehead. This version has the Underbelly of the Grey Plover glaze.
Exotica 2005 Tiki Mug Blue Mask
in 1 collection
This mug was created by Tiki Diablo for Exotica 2005 in Chicago, Illinois. The tiki is black with a blue wrestling mask, and is marked "Exotica" on the back of the head in recessed letters.
Tiki's Grill & Bar Happy Tiki Mug Red
in 8 collections
This red tiki mug from Tiki's Grill & Bar is Ku-like, with an almost smiling face. Eyes are squinted, figure-eight mouth, squatting body.
Island Systems & Design 2007 Mug Hand Painted
in 2 collections
This brown mug is a promotional item manufactured by Tiki Farm for Island Systems & Design of Florida. It's based on the company logo. This year's design has a Vegas theme designed by Sam Gambino and sculpted by Squid. The tiki is wearing sunglasses and a suit and has a suit of cards pattern. These promotional mugs are gifts for employees and clients. This version has hand painted details.
Tall Pony Express Ku Tiki Mug Yellow
in 3 collections
This tiki mug has a yellow glaze, with a white undercoat showing through on some of the details. Tiki has tongue sticking out.
Emeril Lagasse Tchoup Chop Pineapple Mug
in 1 collection
This light brown mug with green accents was manufactured for Emeril Lagasse's Tchoup Chop restaurant in Orlando, FL. The mug is shaped like a pineapple.
Royal Hawaiian Momotaro Mug
aka Royal Hawaiian Peach Boy Mug in 3 collections
This round yellow mug was manufactured for the Royal Hawaiian in Burlington, MA. It features Momotaro on the front who floated to shore in a peach and was discovered by his new parents. It is marked "Royal Hawaiian" in black raised letters on the back.
Mandarin Empress Mug
aka Mandarin Empress Fogcutter in 11 collections
This brown mug was manufactured by OMC for The Mandarin in Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco, CA. It features a seated, Chinese woman wearing a headdress on the front and three Chinese symbols down the back.
The Mandarin Restaurant was founded in 1968 by Chinese food doyenne Cecelia Sun Yun Chiang. What Julia Child did for French cooking in the United States, Cecilia Chiang did for Chinese cuisine in America. Trader Vic (Bergeron) became a sort of mentor to Cecilia Chiang, especially when she moved to Ghirardelli Square where he had Senor Pico. Trader Vic brought columnist Herb Caen to The Mandarin, Caen wrote about it, and off it went. (Note: This writer was handling public relations for Trader Vic’s at that time.)
In the heyday of the Mandarin’s success, Cecilia presided over an elegant restaurant that achieved a national reputation. Visitors from all over the country came to seek authentic and fine Chinese dining. She held cooking classes that saw students the likes of Julia Child, James Beard, Alice Waters, Marion Cunningham, Jeremiah Tower and Danny Kaye come through. This Ghirardelli Square stalwart closed its doors in 2006. However, the family legacy lives on...Chiang's son, Philip, is a co-founder of the restaurant chain P.F. Chang's. He also ran a sister version of the Mandarin in Beverly Hills (1975-2001) that used this Empress Mug, but was marked both "San Francisco and Beverly Hills" on bottom.