THE OCEANIC ARTS: VINTAGE TIKI COLLECTION AUCTION

Auction Details

Since 1956, one company has been at the epicenter of the mid-century, pop-culture, stylistic phenomenon known as TIKI. If POLYNESIAN GODS, EXOTICA MUSIC, HAWAIIAN HULA GIRLS and TROPICAL COCKTAILS are the lifeblood of the American Tiki movement, OCEANIC ARTS has been its beating heart. With a dream and a handshake, Robert Van Oosting and LeRoy Schmaltz embarked on an extraordinary journey that even they had no idea would go on to influence style around the world and yes, even the finest in American kitsch. From TRADER VICS and DON THE BEACHCOMBER to SEA WORLD and DISNEYLAND, Oceanic Arts has been supplying a tropical backdrop for fantasy and fun. Their hand-made décor has graced the finest restaurants and hotels of the world, as well as the dingiest dives; Glorious theme parks from California to Florida to the cheesiest roadside miniature golf courses. Countless backyard luaus and home tiki bars have been enriched with their wonderful art. No job was too big or too small for this Whittier, California manufacturer. Modestly, they’ve done it all.

Upon the occasion of Bob and LeRoy’s retirement and for the first time in their 65-year history, artifacts which make up the very soul of OCEANIC ARTS are available for purchase.

This includes Warehouse Showroom Samples, Master Pattern Carvings, Rental Department Inventory and rare ephemera from their vast Archives Library. For decades, collectors and general Tiki enthusiasts have been met with the dreaded NOT FOR SALE tags all over the OA Warehouse. Today, those tags have been set aside.

Now, PEEKABOO GALLERY is proud to offer the greatest collection of Mid-Century Commercial Polynesian-Pop artifacts ever to come on the market: THE OCEANIC ARTS VINTAGE TIKI COLLECTION!

Here is a rare opportunity to own a piece of history, direct from the original source. POLYNESIAN LAMPS, PAINTINGS, CONCEPT ART, VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPHS, EPHEMERA, DISNEY THEME PARK RARITIES, TIKI MUGS, HAWAIIAN CLOTHING and rare, one-of-a-kind TIKI CARVINGS are all on offer. This is undoubtedly, the largest intact vintage Tiki collection to ever come to the market and frankly, most probably ever will.

Join us as we bid farewell to Bob and LeRoy and wish them, ALOHA, OA!
PLEASE FOLLOW THE SCROLL and BID BUTTON FOR THE MOST ACCURATE BIDDING STATUS. THE LIVE CAMERA/SOUND MAY LAG.

Buyers premium is 23%

PLEASE BE AWARE OF SIZING ON ITEMS. Note the dimensions in the descriptions for items that may be oversized. Shipping is the responsibility of the buyer. All items are to be paid for BEFORE shipping can be arranged. Shipping estimates can be provided by our third-party shipping partners. Note lot numbers of inquiry to give to shipping partners.
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#444 "NEW GUINEA WALL FIGURE" POLYCHROMED MASTER WALL SAMPLE CARVING261 - #444 "NEW GUINEA WALL FIGURE" POLYCHROMED MASTER WALL SAMPLE CARVING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) This New Guinea wall figure maintains a nice patinated polychrome color treatment and has been a wall sample since the Philadelphia St. wareho
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 400.00 - 600.00
Sold for (1,600.00 + 320.00BP) = 1,920.00
 
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#446 "NEW GUINEA WALL FIGURE" POLYCHROMED WALL MASTER SAMPLE CARVING262 - #446 "NEW GUINEA WALL FIGURE" POLYCHROMED WALL MASTER SAMPLE CARVING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) This New Guinea wall figure maintains a nice patinated polychrome color treatment and has been a wall sample since the Philadelphia St. wareho
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 500.00 - 800.00
Sold for (1,000.00 + 200.00BP) = 1,200.00
 
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#448 "NEW GUINEA WALL FIGURE" POLYCHROMED WALL MASTER SAMPLE CARVING263 - #448 "NEW GUINEA WALL FIGURE" POLYCHROMED WALL MASTER SAMPLE CARVING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) This New Guinea wall figure maintains a nice patinated polychrome color treatment and has been a wall sample since the Philadelphia St. wareho
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 500.00 - 800.00
Sold for (1,300.00 + 260.00BP) = 1,560.00
 
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#411 "NEW GUINEA MASK" POLYCHROMED MASTER WALL SAMPLE CARVING264 - #411 "NEW GUINEA MASK" POLYCHROMED MASTER WALL SAMPLE CARVING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) This New Guinea wall mask maintains a nice patinated polychrome color treatment and has been a wall sample since the Philadelphia St. warehous
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 500.00 - 800.00
Sold for (1,900.00 + 437.00BP) = 2,337.00
 
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#426 "NEW GUINEA MASK" MASTER PATTERN CARVING (VERY EARLY VERSION - EXTRA LARGE SIZE)265 - #426 "NEW GUINEA MASK" MASTER PATTERN CARVING (VERY EARLY VERSION - EXTRA LARGE SIZE)
Peekaboo Gallery
(1950s) The #426-428 New Guinea Mask carvings are perhaps Oceanic Arts' best known items. They could be found all over the globe and with the Di...
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 1,000.00 - 2,000.00
Sold for (6,000.00 + 1,380.00BP) = 7,380.00
 
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ARMET & DAVIS - GEORGE NAKASHIMA KONA KAI STRUCTURAL POLE PANEL MASTER PATTERN - SINGLE FIGURE A266 - ARMET & DAVIS - GEORGE NAKASHIMA KONA KAI STRUCTURAL POLE PANEL MASTER PATTERN - SINGLE FIGURE A
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) A gorgeous panel designed by George Nakashima for Armet & Davis for inclusion at the Philadelphia flagship of the Marriott Kona Kai chai...
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 1,000.00 - 2,000.00
Sold for (2,500.00 + 500.00BP) = 3,000.00
 
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ARMET & DAVIS - GEORGE NAKASHIMA TIKI WALL MASK MASTER PATTERN CARVING267 - ARMET & DAVIS - GEORGE NAKASHIMA TIKI WALL MASK MASTER PATTERN CARVING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) This wall mask was created by Cass Carving of Los Angeles under the design direction of George Nakashima for Armet & Davis. This could h...
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 600.00 - 1,000.00
Sold for (900.00 + 207.00BP) = 1,107.00
 
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#433 "NEW GUINEA MASK" MASTER PATTERN CARVING (EXTRA LARGE SIZE)268 - #433 "NEW GUINEA MASK" MASTER PATTERN CARVING (EXTRA LARGE SIZE)
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) Here is the 24" version of this famous mask out of the OA catalog. This is the master carving with spindle chocks. This version was lif...
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 1,000.00 - 2,000.00
Sold for (1,500.00 + 345.00BP) = 1,845.00
 
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#452 "NEW GUINEA CARVED & POLYCHROMED FIGURE" WALL MASTER SAMPLE CARVING269 - #452 "NEW GUINEA CARVED & POLYCHROMED FIGURE" WALL MASTER SAMPLE CARVING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1970s) Another OA staple design. This figure most probably dates from the 1970s. LeRoy's ink marker rendering technique actually dates back to ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 400.00 - 600.00
Sold for (1,000.00 + 200.00BP) = 1,200.00
 
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#442 "TAHITIAN MASK" MASTER PATTERN CARVING270 - #442 "TAHITIAN MASK" MASTER PATTERN CARVING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) This "Tahitian Mask" style has been out of rotation since the 1970s. A beautiful, bold carving with spindle chocks attached.19&quo...
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 400.00 - 600.00
Sold for (1,050.00) = 1,050.00
 
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#430 "NEW GUINEA MASK" POLYCHROMED WALL MASTER PATTERN SAMPLE CARVING271 - #430 "NEW GUINEA MASK" POLYCHROMED WALL MASTER PATTERN SAMPLE CARVING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) Here is the "medium" sized style of this mask. This is a master pattern converted to a wall sample with polychrome treatment by Ro...
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 500.00 - 800.00
Sold for (2,000.00 + 400.00BP) = 2,400.00
 
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#441 "TAHITIAN MASK" MASTER PATTERN CARVING272 - #441 "TAHITIAN MASK" MASTER PATTERN CARVING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) This "Tahitian Mask" style too has been out of rotation since the 1970s. A beautiful, bold carving with spindle chocks attached.19...
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 400.00 - 600.00
Sold for (850.00 + 195.50BP) = 1,045.50
 
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#455 "KAUAI HEAD" LARGEST SIZE WALL MASK MASTER PATTERN CARVING273 - #455 "KAUAI HEAD" LARGEST SIZE WALL MASK MASTER PATTERN CARVING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1950s) This is another of the earliest patterns Schmaltz-Van Oosting created under commission by Cargoes by Carter. This is the 25" tall versi...
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 500.00 - 800.00
Sold for (975.00) = 975.00
 
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#432 "NEW GUINEA MASK" MASTER PATTERN CARVING (EXTRA LARGE SIZE)274 - #432 "NEW GUINEA MASK" MASTER PATTERN CARVING (EXTRA LARGE SIZE)
Peekaboo Gallery
(1950s) A true treasure from the OA master pattern archive. This is the "large" style of this New Guinea mask. Several of the early OA pat...
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 1,000.00 - 2,000.00
Sold for (2,000.00 + 460.00BP) = 2,460.00
 
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#428 "NEW GUINEA MASK" POLYCHROMED WALL MASTER SAMPLE/RENTAL CARVING275 - #428 "NEW GUINEA MASK" POLYCHROMED WALL MASTER SAMPLE/RENTAL CARVING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1980s) This is one of the most famous OA designs and one of Bob and LeRoy's favorites. This style was used throughout the commercial Polynesian...
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 500.00 - 800.00
Sold for (10,000.00 + 2,300.00BP) = 12,300.00
 
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#409 "SARAWAK SHIELD" MASTER PATTERN CARVING (EXTRA LARGE SIZE)276 - #409 "SARAWAK SHIELD" MASTER PATTERN CARVING (EXTRA LARGE SIZE)
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) Another famous OA design. Here is the master pattern carving with spindle chocks present.32"x11.5"VG+ with typical wear
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Start Price : 300.00 | Estimate : 400.00 - 600.00
 
 
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#402 "NEW GUINEA SHIELD" MASTER PATTERN CARVING277 - #402 "NEW GUINEA SHIELD" MASTER PATTERN CARVING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1957) Perhaps the most famous of the OA carving designs of all time. This New Guinea shield was created by LeRoy Schmaltz based on a museum specimen
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 2,000.00 - 3,000.00
Sold for (3,500.00 + 805.00BP) = 4,305.00
 
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#462 "ABORIGINAL SHIELD" MASTER PATTERN CARVING278 - #462 "ABORIGINAL SHIELD" MASTER PATTERN CARVING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1956) One of the earliest carvings by LeRoy Schmaltz upon commission by Cargoes by Carter. Again, another early piece first used at Disneyland and Th
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 300.00 - 400.00
Sold for (1,700.00 + 391.00BP) = 2,091.00
 
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NEW GUINEA SHIELD MASK WITH RATTAN TRIM #3279 - NEW GUINEA SHIELD MASK WITH RATTAN TRIM #3
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) A fanciful New Guinea style shield mask made exclusively for the OA Luau Rental Department by LeRoy Schmaltz.42.5"x20"VG+ with typ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 400.00 - 600.00
Sold for (1,600.00 + 368.00BP) = 1,968.00
 
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#401 "NEW GUINEA RITUAL BOARD" POLYCHROMED MASTER WALL SAMPLE CARVING280 - #401 "NEW GUINEA RITUAL BOARD" POLYCHROMED MASTER WALL SAMPLE CARVING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1950s) A truly stunning artifact from the OA archives. This "BITUAC RITUAL BOARD" was based on a museum specimen and features both exquis...
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 1,000.00 - 2,000.00
Sold for (2,200.00 + 506.00BP) = 2,706.00
 
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