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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MAORI TIKI DOOR HANDLE MASTER PATTERN CARVING21 - MAORI TIKI DOOR HANDLE MASTER PATTERN CARVING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1950s) #200 Hardwood Maori warrior tiki figure master pattern with spindle chocks. This master was used for figures, lighters, wall accents and door
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 250.00
Sold for (700.00 + 161.00BP) = 861.00
 
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MARQUESAN FACE PLAQUE - MASTER PATTERN22 - MARQUESAN FACE PLAQUE - MASTER PATTERN
Peekaboo Gallery
(1950s) #440 A master pattern carving for the plaque which had many uses from cabinet accents to door pushes.11.75"x3.5"VG+
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 150.00 - 250.00
Sold for (425.00 + 97.75BP) = 522.75
 
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EARLY POLYNESIAN HANGING ROOM SCREEN PANEL -23 - EARLY POLYNESIAN HANGING ROOM SCREEN PANEL -
Peekaboo Gallery
(1950s) An early hanging panel with figural Tongan tiki motifs. Used for room screens. Possibly the master pattern.29"x15.5".VG+
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 400.00
Sold for (375.00 + 86.25BP) = 461.25
 
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POLYNESIAN MASK #438 - MASTER PATTERN24 - POLYNESIAN MASK #438 - MASTER PATTERN
Peekaboo Gallery
(1956) #438 Polynesian Mask was first created in small form for the Schmaltz-Van Oosting famous MANA TIKI SURF CHARMS. This scaled up version has been
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold for (1,000.00 + 230.00BP) = 1,230.00
 
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POLYNESIAN MASK #439 - MASTER PATTERN25 - POLYNESIAN MASK #439 - MASTER PATTERN
Peekaboo Gallery
-11.5"x5"VG+ with wear
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold for (900.00 + 207.00BP) = 1,107.00
 
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POLYNESIAN MASK #437 - MASTER PATTERN26 - POLYNESIAN MASK #437 - MASTER PATTERN
Peekaboo Gallery
-12.5"x4.75"VG+ with wear
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold for (1,000.00 + 230.00BP) = 1,230.00
 
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OCEANIC ARTS WOOD PUKA SCREEN TILE DESIGN CONCEPT DRAWINGS27 - OCEANIC ARTS WOOD PUKA SCREEN TILE DESIGN CONCEPT DRAWINGS
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) LeRoy Schmaltz's answer to the famous ceramic Chinese wall tile used throughout the Polynesian Pop movement in the United States. These ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 75.00 - 100.00
Sold for (400.00 + 92.00BP) = 492.00
 
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MENEHUNE WOOD PUKA SCREEN TILE MASTER PATTERN28 - MENEHUNE WOOD PUKA SCREEN TILE MASTER PATTERN
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) Horizontal Menehune puka tile in hardwood.9.75"x14.5"x1.5"VG+
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 250.00 - 350.00
Sold for (625.00 + 143.75BP) = 768.75
 
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MENEHUNE WOOD PUKA SCREEN TILE MASTER PATTERN29 - MENEHUNE WOOD PUKA SCREEN TILE MASTER PATTERN
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) Vertical Menehune puka tile in hardwood.14.5"x1.5"x9.75"VG+
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 250.00 - 350.00
Sold for (525.00 + 120.75BP) = 645.75
 
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VERTICAL DOUBLE-SIDED MARQUESAN TIKI WALL TRIM MASTER PATTERN30 - VERTICAL DOUBLE-SIDED MARQUESAN TIKI WALL TRIM MASTER PATTERN
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) A very rare master pattern for intricate Marquesan pattern wall trim. These would be used for doorway and cabinet accents in commercial Polyne
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 400.00
Sold for (1,300.00 + 299.00BP) = 1,599.00
 
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SET OF CARVED WALL PANEL SAMPLES FOR ARMET & DAVIS with LARGE CONCEPT PRINT SIGNED BY LEROY SCHMALTZ31 - SET OF CARVED WALL PANEL SAMPLES FOR ARMET & DAVIS with LARGE CONCEPT PRINT SIGNED BY LEROY SCHMALTZ
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) Three classic OA wall panel design samples with original blueprint design sheet with drawing and notes signed by LeRoy Schmaltz. These were fi
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 400.00
Sold for (1,400.00 + 322.00BP) = 1,722.00
 
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LARGE ARCHITECTURAL DECORATIVE BEAM PROW WITH SMALL GLASS FISHING FLOAT32 - LARGE ARCHITECTURAL DECORATIVE BEAM PROW WITH SMALL GLASS FISHING FLOAT
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) Note the size on this. Could be trimmed down to a shorter length.7.75"x73"x2.25"VG+ with wear
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 400.00
Sold for (1,300.00 + 299.00BP) = 1,599.00
 
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1958 WESTERN UNION TELEGRAM FROM ROBERT CARTER TO BOB VAN OOSTING33 - 1958 WESTERN UNION TELEGRAM FROM ROBERT CARTER TO BOB VAN OOSTING
Peekaboo Gallery
(1958) Telegram from Robert Carter regarding import products to Schmaltz-Von Oosting. 5"x6.5". VG with typical wear.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 50.00 - 100.00
Sold for (210.00 + 48.30BP) = 258.30
 
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CARGOES by CARTER/SCHMALTZ-VAN OOSTING "LLAMA ORIGINALS" CHIA PETS SALES BROCHURE34 - CARGOES by CARTER/SCHMALTZ-VAN OOSTING "LLAMA ORIGINALS" CHIA PETS SALES BROCHURE
Peekaboo Gallery
(1958) A rare sales brochure put out by Cargoes by Carter and stamped Schmaltz-Van Oosting. These were put to use at trade shows and the Big Green Bar
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 50.00 - 100.00
Sold for (160.00 + 36.80BP) = 196.80
 
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CARGOES by CARTER INVENTORY CATALOG35 - CARGOES by CARTER INVENTORY CATALOG
Peekaboo Gallery
(1963) A partial early CARGOES by CARTER catalog. Many early Schmaltz-Van Oosting items created by Bob and LeRoy are featured in this catalog. This da
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold for (600.00) = 600.00
 
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SET OF 4 EARLY OCEANIC ARTS TIKI PHOTOS36 - SET OF 4 EARLY OCEANIC ARTS TIKI PHOTOS
Peekaboo Gallery
(1960s) A rare set of 4 black & white photos of various OA carvings, from Aboriginal funerary posts to palm fiber tikis.3.5"x5"VG+
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 50.00 - 100.00
Sold for (150.00 + 34.50BP) = 184.50
 
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PAIR OF EARLY SCHMALTZ - VAN OOSTING POLYNESIAN DECORATORS & MOSAICS BUSINESS CARDS37 - PAIR OF EARLY SCHMALTZ - VAN OOSTING POLYNESIAN DECORATORS & MOSAICS BUSINESS CARDS
Peekaboo Gallery
(1950s) Two of the earliest, most scarce Schmaltz-Van Oosting business cards.2"x3.5"VG+
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 50.00 - 100.00
Sold for (185.00 + 42.55BP) = 227.55
 
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VERY EARLY SCHMALTZ & VAN OOSTING PARTY RENTALS FOLD OUT BROCHURE38 - VERY EARLY SCHMALTZ & VAN OOSTING PARTY RENTALS FOLD OUT BROCHURE
Peekaboo Gallery
(1950s) An early Schmaltz-Van Oosting rentals brochure from the Big Green Barn era. They will drop rentals for another ten years, at which point they
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 50.00 - 100.00
Sold for (110.00 + 25.30BP) = 135.30
 
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1961 INITIAL BUSINESS LICENSE FOR OCEANIC ARTS39 - 1961 INITIAL BUSINESS LICENSE FOR OCEANIC ARTS
Peekaboo Gallery
(1961) An historic document for the reformation of Schmaltz-Van Oosting into Oceanic Arts.3"x5".VG+
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 75.00 - 125.00
Sold for (850.00 + 195.50BP) = 1,045.50
 
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OCEANIC ARTS RE-INTRODUCTION ANNOUNCEMENT TRANSITION LETTER40 - OCEANIC ARTS RE-INTRODUCTION ANNOUNCEMENT TRANSITION LETTER
Peekaboo Gallery
(1961) Great content written in Bob's smooth pitch style announcing not only the accomplishment of their BIG TRIP, but how it has affected a new...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 50.00 - 75.00
Sold for (625.00 + 143.75BP) = 768.75
 
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