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The show me your Witco thread. |
uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 1532
From: Kalamazoo
|  Posted: 2007-08-25 2:00 pm Permalink
Frame stock measures 1 5/8" by 5/8" on the cat I measured the frame stock of my war club Witco down in my lounge and its the same size and appears to be of the same wood. I put a few more pics of the cat on page thirteen showing the wood close-up and the back. please take a look.
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"Anyone who has ever seen them is thereafter haunted as if by a feverish dream" Karl Woermann
[ This Message was edited by: uncle trav 2007-08-25 14:02 ]
[ This Message was edited by: uncle trav 2007-08-25 14:04 ]
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10563
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2007-08-25 2:43 pm Permalink
The tint of that color is an exact Witco match, too. And with the traces of nicotine on it....it must be vintage, then. I just always thought that the one I saw in Bosko's living room was HIS own carving....well, there you go, I am not infallible!
Bosko DOES make a very fine version of this design, though, you will see it IN Tiki Modern 
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TIKIBOSKO
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 17, 2004
Posts: 297 | Posted: 2007-08-25 9:57 pm Permalink
We were in Long Beach when Sven wrote asking if I saw this post, the piece is amazing but I have never seen this design? When I first saw the top portion we both swore it was one of mine but as we scrolled down the legs gave it away as a Witco. I have never seen this version and we own many of their cat pieces, I recognize the background I think it was part of a pair? Mr. Westenhaver told us that often times the carving guys would get overly creative (which the company discouraged) when supervisors were out they would have races or tweak designs; perhaps this is one of those? When he came by here in 99 he pointed out several pieces in our collection which should never have passed quality control or left the factory.
Who knows what else is out there, it is a wonderful piece, congratulations.
Bosko
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keigs20
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 02, 2002
Posts: 528
From: WA
| Posted: 2007-08-25 11:33 pm Permalink
its called Vertical cat w-440 should measure 14x48 with the background colors of white and sand. I will post a picture tomorrow.
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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 1532
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 2007-08-26 04:59 am Permalink
Thanks guys for all the info. This is my second piece found in the wild. Thought I hit the jackpot with the huge war club piece but when I saw this from across the store I about fell over trying to get to it. It measures 14x48 as Keigs said. I'd love to see a period picture. Thanks again
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"Anyone who has ever seen them is thereafter haunted as if by a feverish dream" Karl Woermann
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PeleeTiki
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Aug 01, 2007
Posts: 19
From: Tropicanada
| Posted: 2007-09-11 08:42 am Permalink
Posting a couple of pictures of the Witco "fountain of fortune" in it's temporary home in my garage. I figure it will winter here and summer in Tropicanada at the beach house. It dresses up quite nice and attracts the neighbors. I think I will put a sign up to throw money in the dish. It's costing me a lot of beer, lol!!
The antique copper and brass masthead light is the real mccoy and a family heirloom. I am planning on putting a bulb in it to cast an "erie" glow over the whole thing. More to come.... thanks for looking.
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PeleeTiki
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Aug 01, 2007
Posts: 19
From: Tropicanada
| Posted: 2007-09-11 09:34 am Permalink
Two last photos
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TabooDan
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 18, 2004
Posts: 641
From: BC, Canada
| Posted: 2007-09-25 6:40 pm Permalink
Here's two Witco's that I have had for a while in storage. I am up for a trade or sale if anybody is interested, just drop me a line. Not up my alley but thought someone will have a good home for them. They are in good shape.
Mahalo, TabooDan
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Sabu The Coconut Boy
Grand Member (8 years) 
Joined: Aug 20, 2002
Posts: 2784
From: Carson, California
| Posted: 2007-09-28 01:25 am Permalink
How about this guy? I found him for $5 at a garage sale 2 weekends ago and he's in beautiful condition. I love his modernist shape. 27" tall. Is it a cat or a llama?
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TIKIBOSKO
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 17, 2004
Posts: 297 | Posted: 2007-09-28 12:51 pm Permalink
Hey Sabu,
Maybe it's a cama?
Or a llat?
We have one just like it although ours is painted black and it's a llama much smaller head than yours, someone really went crazy on your guys ears.
Bosko
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Cammo
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 18, 2006
Posts: 1808
From: San Diego
| Posted: 2007-09-29 09:17 am Permalink
It's a "Clama".
This is from the Witco Catalogue:
Item #CL6732. Clama. Big ear version. Whsle 7.75
Hey Bosko, you actually own some Witco? I wanna see! Why not photo your whole collection and share on this thread??? C'mon, big guy!
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tikicar
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 19, 2005
Posts: 106
From: York, Pa.
| Posted: 2007-09-30 10:00 am Permalink
Well this is my first Witco find in over a year. It has been a dry spell around here. Found this at an antique mall today. The guys booth was full of mid century modern stuff. I guess he hasn't seen your book yet Sven. I got it for $20.00 It was dirty and I cleaned it up. Tahitian Lovers. It is missing the back mount and frame. It had nails and screws like my globe and out rigger so I am sure it originally had it. Although I love the way it looks in Tiki Modern, for me space wise this works out fine. Maybe someday I will make a frame for it or get Keigs to make me one. I am sure it got wet in a basement and warped the backing like my outrigger. The figures have a oh so slight bend in them. Anyway it made my day. Mahalo, Scott
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Tiki Kollektor
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 29, 2006
Posts: 107
From: A Cave in Manhattan
| Posted: 2007-10-03 06:18 am Permalink
I just bought this Witco (I assume) bench on ebay. It's even better in person - very stunning.
For the sake of discussion, a question -- would you leave it as is with original dingy vinyl seat (cracked) and very minor color loss on wood (the "keep it original" approach), or reupholster in leopard print and touch up the wood with a dark stain (the "it's furniture and I have to live with it" approach)?
In other words, is it at all possible that the "rules" of antique furniture conservation could even appy to Witco? Should I care? I come from 15 years of collecting vintage Stickley furniture, so I generally know what to touch and what not to touch with old stuff. But I'm on the fence with this one. Dave
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TIKI DAVID
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 07, 2004
Posts: 1904
From: North Coast
| Posted: 2007-10-03 09:30 am Permalink
are you going to keep it? if yes ,then recover.
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Tiki Kollektor
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 29, 2006
Posts: 107
From: A Cave in Manhattan
| Posted: 2007-10-03 10:26 am Permalink
Once I realized that the bench is an actual tiki figure, albeit a stubby squashed down one, I'm inclined to make it a permanent part of the collection. So I agree, I'm leaning toward having it redone.
I just hesitate since once something isnt original, it's never original. I know collectors who keep the rattiest thrashed old leather on chairs only because it's ORIGINAL ratty thrashed leather.
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