Jeff Nelson is a tiki mug collector and he has a confession to make …
I recently read this quote … “Interests are activities or things that a person might be curious about, while hobbies are things or activities that a person does for relaxation and enjoyment.” An interesting and thoughtful quote I would say. For those of us that live the tiki culture, it’s more than just a hobby … it’s a lifestyle of all things tiki.
My love for tiki mugs began in 2005 during travels to Hawaii for business. One evening while strolling along Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki, I stepped to the front window of a shop displaying dozens of Tiki Farm mugs. Thinking that they were very interesting and colorful, I wondered what they were for. “Were they for drinking coffee? No, they didn’t have a handle. Ah, they were for cold drinks.” I bought a half-dozen and returned back to Seattle.
I remember a glazed vessel that my mother stored her art paint brushes in when I was a kid. I asked her about it and she quickly presented it to me. It was a Sneaky Tiki mug from Harvey’s in Lake Tahoe and I discovered that the bar no longer existed. It was mine … Not only the mug, but for me to discover what it was all about. I also inherited a few mugs and a large swizzle stick collection from my grandmother. I only wish I could have asked her about her and my grandfather visiting tiki bars, especially Trader Vic’s first outpost, the Tradewinds in Seattle.
I began collecting nostalgic tiki mugs of yesteryear, searching for them at garage and estate sales, thrift and antique stores and of course eBay. Each find made me curious of their history, unique locations of where they came from and often, their rarity.
Today, I have over 200 mugs in my collection, both of the past and of current day. I enjoy pouring a shaken libation into different mugs, believing I’ll experience the cocktail in a unique way.
So, back to that question … “Why do I love tiki mugs?” What’s not to love about them? Each one is unique in design, imagery, color and shape. As they’re all different, you’ve got to collect them.
