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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HISTORIC OA DON THE BEACHCOMBER CHICAGO TIKI POSTMASTER PATTERN CARVING301 - HISTORIC OA DON THE BEACHCOMBER CHICAGO TIKI POSTMASTER PATTERN CARVING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) This Marquesan post was created by LeRoy Schmaltz for the famed Don the Beachcomber location in Chicago, Illinois. The post is stacked comes a
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 2,000.00 - 3,000.00
Sold for (4,750.00 + 1,092.50BP) = 5,842.50
 
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ARMET & DAVIS - GEORGE NAKASHIMA TIKI RAILING POST FOR STEVE CRANE'S KON TIKI302 - ARMET & DAVIS - GEORGE NAKASHIMA TIKI RAILING POST FOR STEVE CRANE'S KON TIKI
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) Another George Nakashima design for Steve Crane's Kon Tiki Restaurants. Original carving by Cass Carving.38.5"x7"VG+ with typi...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 600.00 - 1,000.00
Sold for (2,750.00 + 632.50BP) = 3,382.50
 
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VERY RARE OA MARQUESAN TIKI wt WAR CLUB POST FOR THE KONA KAI RESTAURANT303 - VERY RARE OA MARQUESAN TIKI wt WAR CLUB POST FOR THE KONA KAI RESTAURANT
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) An incredible carving by LeRoy Schmaltz for Marriott's KONA KAI. This rare post features the central detail of Marquesan war club at the...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 2,000.00 - 3,000.00
Sold for (4,750.00 + 1,092.50BP) = 5,842.50
 
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EARLY #152 "TAHITIAN POST" MASTER PATTERN CARVING304 - EARLY #152 "TAHITIAN POST" MASTER PATTERN CARVING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) A LeRoy Schmaltz master carving for a long running OA tiki post. This one, detailed in hardwood with a gorgeous patina. Double sided, this pat
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 1,000.00 - 2,000.00
Sold for (2,100.00 + 483.00BP) = 2,583.00
 
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VERY EARLY OCEANIC ARTS RESTAURANT A FRAME OUTRIGGER BUILDING CONCEPTUAL RENDERING305 - VERY EARLY OCEANIC ARTS RESTAURANT A FRAME OUTRIGGER BUILDING CONCEPTUAL RENDERING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1950s) An incredible early LeRoy Schmaltz conceptual rendering of a Polynesian restaurant building. The Asian-inspired boomerang design with figural
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 600.00 - 1,000.00
Sold for (850.00) = 850.00
 
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TROPICAL WINDS HOTEL AND RESTAURANT ENTRANCE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN RENDERING306 - TROPICAL WINDS HOTEL AND RESTAURANT ENTRANCE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN RENDERING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1950s) A very early LeRoy design rendering of a hotel/restaurant. Features Bob's Covette parked in front of the facility. Ink and colored penci...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold for (800.00 + 184.00BP) = 984.00
 
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SET OF TWO (2) RESTAURANT WALL CARVING DESIGNS DRAWING with Rough Sketch307 - SET OF TWO (2) RESTAURANT WALL CARVING DESIGNS DRAWING with Rough Sketch
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) These drawing by LeRoy Schmaltz feature large flat wall figural concepts of a large KU tiki and a pair of Menehune figures. Basically measurin
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold for (325.00 + 74.75BP) = 399.75
 
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OCEANIC ARTS ORIGINAL DESIGN DRAWING OF THE TAHITIAN WAR CANOE WALL DECOR308 - OCEANIC ARTS ORIGINAL DESIGN DRAWING OF THE TAHITIAN WAR CANOE WALL DECOR
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) Another famous OA design. This concept is for a wall mounted war canoe with Tahtitian war tiki figures. The concept took existing OA designs a
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 400.00
Sold for (575.00 + 132.25BP) = 707.25
 
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OCEANIC ARTS CARVED VARIOUS WALL PANEL DESIGNS DRAWING309 - OCEANIC ARTS CARVED VARIOUS WALL PANEL DESIGNS DRAWING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) An ink on paper drawing by LeRoy Schmaltz featuring various tribal wall panel designs. Signed by LeRoy and has an OA production stamp.17&quo...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold for (1,300.00 + 299.00BP) = 1,599.00
 
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TIKI RESTAURANT ENTRYWAY CONCEPTUAL RENDERING310 - TIKI RESTAURANT ENTRYWAY CONCEPTUAL RENDERING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) A colorful rendering of a indoor/outdoor hut design for a restaurant or bar entry. The design features full bamboo and thatching with carved e
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 400.00
Sold for (375.00 + 86.25BP) = 461.25
 
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SET OF TWO (2) TAHITI NUI RESTAURANT - KAUAI TABLETOP ORIGINAL CONCEPT DESIGN DRAWINGS311 - SET OF TWO (2) TAHITI NUI RESTAURANT - KAUAI TABLETOP ORIGINAL CONCEPT DESIGN DRAWINGS
Peekaboo Gallery
(1978) This artwork was for a tapa style design that was photographed for use as silkscreen templates to be applied to table tops for the Tahiti Nui R
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold for (270.00 + 62.10BP) = 332.10
 
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CARVED POLYNESIAN WALL PANEL CONCEPT DESIGN DRAWINGS312 - CARVED POLYNESIAN WALL PANEL CONCEPT DESIGN DRAWINGS
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) A large concept piece showcasing LeRoy's unique "carved paintings" technique. These ingenious designs were applied across a wi...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 400.00
Sold for (375.00 + 86.25BP) = 461.25
 
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SET OF TWO (2) SOLOMON AND TROBRIAND ISLANDS NEW GUINEA PANEL CONCEPT DESIGNS313 - SET OF TWO (2) SOLOMON AND TROBRIAND ISLANDS NEW GUINEA PANEL CONCEPT DESIGNS
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) Marker on onion skin. Signed by LeRoy Schmaltz.14.5"x15"VG+ with light wear
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold for (325.00 + 65.00BP) = 390.00
 
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CARVED HAWAIIAN KU TIKI DOOR PANEL CONCEPT DESIGN DRAWING314 - CARVED HAWAIIAN KU TIKI DOOR PANEL CONCEPT DESIGN DRAWING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) A striking, large door panel carving by LeRoy of a Ku Tiki figure surrounded by other tribal elements and nautilus shell designs. OA productio
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold for (1,100.00 + 253.00BP) = 1,353.00
 
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KONA KAI CHICAGO - CARVED DETAILS DESIGN MASTER SHEET ORIGINAL DRAWING315 - KONA KAI CHICAGO - CARVED DETAILS DESIGN MASTER SHEET ORIGINAL DRAWING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1973) A very large and highly detailed ink drawing breaking down elements of the architect's basic structural and decor elements. Here, LeRoy a...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold for (3,250.00 + 747.50BP) = 3,997.50
 
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OCEANIC ARTS MARQUESAN TIKI WALL PANEL RUBBING316 - OCEANIC ARTS MARQUESAN TIKI WALL PANEL RUBBING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) A graphite rubbing on vellum by LeRoy Schmaltz of a Marquesan wall panel. LeRoy created this in that the panel was a one-off and not duplicate
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold for (600.00 + 138.00BP) = 738.00
 
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SET OF THREE (3) CONCEPT RENDERINGS FOR THE TAHITIAN VILLAGE DOWNEY LOBBY SHOP ARCADE317 - SET OF THREE (3) CONCEPT RENDERINGS FOR THE TAHITIAN VILLAGE DOWNEY LOBBY SHOP ARCADE
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) A group of concept sketches by LeRoy for their outfitting of the famous TAHITIAN VILLAGE in Downey, CA. This was for the shopping arcade off t
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold for (350.00 + 80.50BP) = 430.50
 
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RESTAURANT KU COLUMN DESIGN DRAWING SIGNED BY LEROY SCHMALTZ318 - RESTAURANT KU COLUMN DESIGN DRAWING SIGNED BY LEROY SCHMALTZ
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) A structural column concept drawing featuring a wrap around carving pattern of a Hawaiian Ku God and fish. This type of sketch would work from
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold for (350.00 + 80.50BP) = 430.50
 
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ABORIGINAL and AFRICAN ROOM DIVIDER CONCEPTUAL DESIGN DRAWING319 - ABORIGINAL and AFRICAN ROOM DIVIDER CONCEPTUAL DESIGN DRAWING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) A LeRoy study of a rather large, fully carved room divider featuring a mix of Pacific and African design elements. Rendered in marker on vellu
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 400.00
Sold for (275.00 + 63.25BP) = 338.25
 
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HOTEL FAIRMONT TONGA ROOM ORIGINAL WALL PANEL DESIGN SKETCH AND PRINT (2)320 - HOTEL FAIRMONT TONGA ROOM ORIGINAL WALL PANEL DESIGN SKETCH AND PRINT (2)
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) This is the design concept for a wall panel created for famous The Tonga Room in San Francisco. Comes with the stat of the drawing. Ink of vel
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold for (850.00 + 195.50BP) = 1,045.50
 
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