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 EARLY MARQUESAN TIKI POLE FIGURE CARVED BY BOB VAN OOSTING161 - HISTORIC EARLY MARQUESAN TIKI POLE FIGURE CARVED BY BOB VAN OOSTING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1957) This is one of the earliest carvings by Bob Van Oosting. Many are not aware Bob did a good deal of carving for OA in the early years. Following
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 500.00 - 800.00
Sold for (3,000.00 + 600.00BP) = 3,600.00
 
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#209 "HAWAIIAN WAR GOD" TIKI MASTER PATTERN CARVING162 - #209 "HAWAIIAN WAR GOD" TIKI MASTER PATTERN CARVING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) Another master pattern carving of this beautifully detailed Ku figure by LeRoy Schmaltz. Spindle chocks present.16"x4"x3.5"VG+
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 400.00 - 600.00
Sold for (1,200.00 + 276.00BP) = 1,476.00
 
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#210 "MAORI TIKI" FIGURE MASTER PATTERN CARVING163 - #210 "MAORI TIKI" FIGURE MASTER PATTERN CARVING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) A master pattern carving featured in the OA catalog. Detailed Maori figure holding a war club with tall base inscribed, "TIKI" acr...
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 300.00 - 400.00
Sold for (1,200.00 + 276.00BP) = 1,476.00
 
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#213 ICONIC "TAHITIAN TIKI" MASTER PATTERN CARVING164 - #213 ICONIC "TAHITIAN TIKI" MASTER PATTERN CARVING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) Certainly one of the iconic OA carvings of the past 60 years. This type was made initially for figural decor and their early 1960s side table
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 800.00 - 1,200.00
Sold for (3,800.00 + 874.00BP) = 4,674.00
 
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#202,203,204 "BORA BORA TIKI" CANNIBAL TRIO MASTER PATTERN CARVINGS165 - #202,203,204 "BORA BORA TIKI" CANNIBAL TRIO MASTER PATTERN CARVINGS
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s/80s) Here is another icon of the Poly-Pop world. These three Bora Bora Cannibals have been used in a multitude of applications and configuratio
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 600.00 - 900.00
Sold for (1,900.00 + 437.00BP) = 2,337.00
 
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DUTCH NEW GUINEA SHIELD WALL PLAQUE & DOOR PUSH PLATE MASTER CARVING166 - DUTCH NEW GUINEA SHIELD WALL PLAQUE & DOOR PUSH PLATE MASTER CARVING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) OA produced several versions of Dutch New Guinea war shields over the years. This 18" version was offered most commonly as a door push ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 400.00 - 600.00
Sold for (500.00 + 115.00BP) = 615.00
 
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BRONZE TAHITIAN DOOR PULL DISPLAY SAMPLE167 - BRONZE TAHITIAN DOOR PULL DISPLAY SAMPLE
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) The Big Kahuna of door pulls, this was initially a custom created item for a restaurant in the 1960s (OA initially offered a hardwood version)
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 300.00 - 400.00
Sold for (3,750.00 + 862.50BP) = 4,612.50
 
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"NEW ZEALAND MAORI TIKI" DOOR PULL BRONZE DISPLAY SAMPLE168 - "NEW ZEALAND MAORI TIKI" DOOR PULL BRONZE DISPLAY SAMPLE
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) Another famous OA design, based on the #400 "New Zealand Maori Tiki", this scaled down version was produced under custom request f...
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 400.00 - 600.00
Sold for (4,000.00 + 920.00BP) = 4,920.00
 
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"OA TALISMAN" BY LEROY SCHMALTZ169 - "OA TALISMAN" BY LEROY SCHMALTZ
Peekaboo Gallery
(1990s) These figures are eco-recycling at its best. As described in the OA Book (page 159), upon the occasional client request to remove the authenti
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 150.00 - 250.00
Sold for (425.00 + 97.75BP) = 522.75
 
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"OA TALISMAN TRIO" BY LEROY SCHMALTZ170 - "OA TALISMAN TRIO" BY LEROY SCHMALTZ
Peekaboo Gallery
(1990s) The same as Lot 169, three figures mounted on a carved base.7.5"x5"EX
Bidding Has Concluded
Quantity : 1 | Estimate : 150.00 - 250.00
Sold for (400.00 + 92.00BP) = 492.00
 
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