Post #119152 by johntiki on Mon, Oct 11, 2004 9:45 PM

Ever since my wife and I had our second baby things have been decent when it comes to finding tiki stuff – on my daily visits to the Goodwill last week I scored a couple decent items – a Treasure Craft tiki ashtray thingee, a gigantic monkeypod carved pineapple bowl and a couple albums including a pretty smooth one by Axel Stordahl called “Jasmine and Jade.” All in all I was happy with my meager results but then I got the surprise of the weekend when I got a call from my Dad on his cell phone. They were spending the weekend at the beach and one morning decided they’d go waste some time by looking around a flea market in a rural town outside of Ocean City Maryland. My Mom had sighted them first and approached cautiously knowing that if she showed too much interest the prices would get higher. A guy had on his table 6 mugs from a Polynesian restaurant that use to exist in Cherry Hill, NJ called the Hawaiian Cottage. She played it dumb and asked what they were for, the guy told her they were drink glasses. She said her son collected barware but she didn’t think I had anything like that or if I’d even like them – she asked how much – he said $5.00 a piece. My Mom played it cool - had my Dad call me and ask if I’d be interested in the glasses – knowing damn well I’d be freaking out if they didn’t buy them – my dad played it off as if I wasn’t real interested and my mom kind of backed off – the guy suddenly lowered the price to $2.00 a piece – needless to say when they told me they got them I felt like a 10 year old on Christmas eve waiting for Santa. My Mom also spotted the Hawaii Kai skull mug – asked the woman how much and ended up plopping down $2.00 for it! I’m thinking of giving my parents an allowance to buy tiki stuff they happen to come across it – this was the best score I’ve ever had personally and I wasn’t even there to witness it!

A group shot of the mugs...

2 of the Geisha girl mugs made by OMC still with stickers attached and w/Hawaiian Cottage Cherry Hill NJ painted on the backs...

2 of the parrot mugs also made by OMC stil with stickers attached - embossed in the mug's mold around the base it says Hawaiian Cottage - underneath has "Made Exclusively for the Hawaiian Cottage Cherry Hill NJ by Otagiri Mfg. Co.

2 Orchids of Hawaii mugs w/no Hawaiian Cottage identification but still nice mugs that I didn't have!

Finally the Hawaii Kai skull mug...my parents couldn't make out what it said on the back - they could make out Hawaii but couldn't figure out the Kai part. I actually went to the Tiki Quest book looking for skull mugs and was hoping it was this one - I've already got one of the Tepco skulls - luckily my prayers were answered!

JohnTiki

Aloha from the enchanted Pi Yi Grotto in exotic Bel Air Maryland!

[ Edited by: johntiki on 2004-10-11 21:50 ]