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Thrifting for Tiki in the urban jungle |
Tam Tiki
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Nov 01, 2009
Posts: 49
From: Tampa Bay Area
|  Posted: 2010-01-18 5:34 pm Permalink
I have also noticed a huge growth in the number of folks shopping at the local thrift stores. However the east side of Tampa Bay still provides some great finds because most of the folks here either don't like tiki items, or don't know what they are. I'm just thankful for what I have been able to find because I'm sure sooner or later the well will run dry.
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Sideshow Bob
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Feb 16, 2009
Posts: 49
From: Fredericksburg, VA
| Posted: 2010-01-20 11:53 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2010-01-18 14:41, Tiki-Atari wrote:
You said it, Sideshow Bob. They do sell Tiki Farm at Junkman's Daughter though, if you want to "cheat" <grin>. We should wander to Trader Vic's sometime.
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Sounds great!
I'll pm ya when We go
I forgot about Junkman's Daughter..... Maybe this weekend!
Vortex is a blast!
Cheers!
_________________
[ This Message was edited by: Sideshow Bob 2010-01-20 18:30 ]
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vegastikidude
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 07, 2003
Posts: 104
From: Las Vegas, NV
| Posted: 2010-01-26 12:28 pm Permalink
With the upswing in eBay over the last several years it does make it tougher out there. I used to find lots of stuff at our outdoor swap meet here in Las Vegas. However, there are SO many people out scrounging for stuff these days, and as a result, there are SO many people trying to sell on eBay, it's made it more difficult. I'm not out there looking as much as I used to because of this. Too many people are hip to Tiki Items now, even the ones that know very little about it. You know, the folks that pay $8-$10 for Made in China Mugs. Basically, there are more people out scrounging and less people selling good stuff. When something does materialize these days it's usually a "pirhana feed" trying to get it from everyone else.
On a more positive note, I went out a couple of weeks ago and actually found a large Hip Tiki for $3.00 and just a few tables over I walked up as a guy was putting out an old Coco Joe's ashtray and he said there is a Tiki that goes with it. It was a smaller, jewel-eye Hip Tiki and I got both from him for $1.00 -- go figure! It takes a little more time and persistence (and luck) than before.
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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 1543
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 2010-01-26 3:48 pm Permalink
I can't say that I am not finding any Tiki at the thrift stores. What I can say is that there is a bunch of bad "tiki".
Dayglo party crap or stuff that is way to cartoonish. Also allot of Bermuda, Philippines, Aztec, Mayan and you name it marked as Tiki. I will still hit all of the same stores at least once a week because you never know what you may find. It's the thrill of the hunt that keeps me going and good finds do come along and they are even sweeter with a long dry spell in between.
_________________
"Anyone who has ever seen them is thereafter haunted as if by a feverish dream" Karl Woermann
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ka'lenatiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 13, 2009
Posts: 184
From: redding ca.
| Posted: 2010-02-14 10:15 am Permalink
yeah I've noticed that also. I'll pass on a item but notice it's gone the next time i'm there. I know of one other collector in my area, but he's not grabbing them up either. The scary thing is like you said, some of it's just crap, party shop stuff. At the same time, I did just pick up a outrigger sm bowl for .99 at the sal. army shop. Stuffed in the back with a fower in it.
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Formikahini
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 22, 2002
Posts: 1491
From: Houston, Texotica
| Posted: 2010-02-17 09:53 am Permalink
I think perhaps Texas was never the haven of tiki because we were already tropical? Maybe?
Then again, Florida is tropical and you couldn't swing a dead cat without hitting a tiki hot spot at one point there. Houston *had* many good tiki restaurants in its heyday (Dobb's Luau, Trader Vic's, Don the Beachcomber, and 3 owned by the same Cantonese fellow), but the home tiki bar thing, as far as I can tell, was never huge. Maybe we were just too into the Mexican thing? And still are?
Thus, I don't feel like I see the amount of tiki out in the wild (or the antique stores) as I do on trips to California. Maybe Texans flew to the Caribbean for their vacations, and not so much to Hawaii?
Estate sales here are impossible. There are a couple of professional estate sale companies, and to get in first, you have to show up at midnight the night before to sign the list that allows you to have a place in line the next AM at 8:00 (a Friday). Most of us work on Fridays - duh. Thus, only dealers get in first and get the good stuff, and they're not looking for tiki and MCM 'cause they collect it! The estate sales companies also usually let in their friends who have antique stores first, even before the sign-up list action. Grrr...
Thrift stores in town are almost pointless. I troll the local antique malls and thrift stores way outside the Loop, therefore, as well as the antique malls in the towns just outside of Houston. I score my best stuff that way - ignorant dealers who know it's cool, but don't know what it is specifically enough to look it up on eBay and thus ask an exorbitant price.
The Leilanis for $30 get my goat...
And I too see nicely dressed women in the thrifts now in a way I did not before, but only looking at clothes.
Gone are the days of the Shaheen in the Goodwill anyway.
_________________
"Zazz captivates felt."
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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 1543
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 2010-02-19 3:16 pm Permalink
Talking smack about the thrifts being vintage Tiki deficient and mom comes up with the goods. Found here in Michigan a couple of days ago at the local thrift. Two vintage mint Mai Kai mugs with OMC tags and a very heavy resin Lono that I can't find a mark on. Stuff is out there folks, just gotta keep plugging away. Goes to show how a well educated relative trained in the fine art of Tiki ID can find treasure for you.
_________________
"Anyone who has ever seen them is thereafter haunted as if by a feverish dream" Karl Woermann
[ This Message was edited by: uncle trav 2010-02-19 15:16 ]
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Carl Ulrich
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Mar 04, 2010
Posts: 21
From: Montreal
| Posted: 2010-03-04 4:27 pm Permalink
Hi,
been reading through these boards for a while now... this is my first post! At any rate, the most unbelievable thing happened to me last week! Drove out to the suburbs of Montreal to pick up a hilarious taxidermied animal from some old lady, and figured we'd hit up the thrifts while over there. Anyways, we uncovered 2 such venues directly across the street from one another... obviously a hundred times more neat stuff to be found there as opposed to the city, but alas, after spending well over 2 hours scavenging through all the fantastic junk in these shops, walked away with little more than a wooden monkeypod tiki vessel.Here's where the unbelievable part comes in... Located pretty much between these 2 thrift stores was a chinese looking restaurant with the word "tiki" in it's name. My girlfriend, being the great sport that she is, agreed we'd better go inside to check things out. The place seemed pretty bare bones at first, a few nice lamps scattered throughout, but that was it... until I noticed what was collecting dust on a shelf behind the bar, that is! Right next to a handful of common Orchids of Hawaii mugs, to my utter delight, were 3 Steve Crane "Bird of Paradise" bowls, as well as 2 huge Steve Crane Coconut bowls! Managed to talk the owner into selling all five to me after enjoying a surprisingly delicious meal.
The end.
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8FT Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 30, 2003
Posts: 1175
From: Kansas City, MO
| Posted: 2010-03-04 4:59 pm Permalink
Tres bien Carl!
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Carl Ulrich
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Mar 04, 2010
Posts: 21
From: Montreal
| Posted: 2010-03-04 6:00 pm Permalink
Merci!
Just trying to spread my gospel of hope! Har har!
[ This Message was edited by: Carl Ulrich 2010-03-04 18:25 ]
[ This Message was edited by: Carl Ulrich 2010-03-04 20:31 ]
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leleliz
Grand Member (first year) 
Joined: Sep 02, 2008
Posts: 1981
From: NorCal
| Posted: 2010-03-04 6:26 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2010-03-04 16:27, Carl Ulrich wrote:
Right next to a handful of common Orchids of Hawaii mugs, to my utter delight, were 3 Steve Crane "Bird of Paradise" bowls, as well as 2 huge Steve Crane Coconut bowls! Managed to talk the owner into selling all five to me after enjoying a surprisingly delicious meal.
The end.
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Please post pics of them...
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Carl Ulrich
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Mar 04, 2010
Posts: 21
From: Montreal
| Posted: 2010-03-04 7:17 pm Permalink
The birds are a little dinged up, but the coconuts are pretty well flawless...
Probably my finest score yet!
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leleliz
Grand Member (first year)
Joined: Sep 02, 2008
Posts: 1981
From: NorCal
| Posted: 2010-03-04 7:23 pm Permalink
I hope to one day find a bird bowl...haha yeah like THAT will happen!
great score and thanks for the pics
and yes I only asked because I didnt really believe ya I admit it 
You win for best find in the wild !
(EDITED so I could add that yes I am also jealous!)
[ This Message was edited by: leleliz 2010-03-04 19:24 ]
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Formikahini
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 22, 2002
Posts: 1491
From: Houston, Texotica
| Posted: 2010-03-04 8:10 pm Permalink
My faith has been restored!
Cool stuff CAN still be found in the wild!
GO CARL!!
(If those 3 birds are cluttering up your shelves too much, feel free to send one my way.)
F
_________________
"Zazz captivates felt."
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Carl Ulrich
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Mar 04, 2010
Posts: 21
From: Montreal
| Posted: 2010-03-04 8:17 pm Permalink
Thanks! For once, I don't feel like the douche going on about these stupid ceramic bowls I found to uninterested friends and coworkers! Good luck, and happy hunting!
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