Exhibition: Oct 6-29
Book release & signing party 6-8PM
Artist Reception 8-11PM
Friday, October 6
ALL OF THE PIECES IN THIS EXHIBIT HAVE SOLD OUT!
Click here to access the available pieces in the 21st Anniversary Tiki Show
The No False Idols portion of The Art of Tiki exhibition features the world’s first and most comprehensive public offering of original, mid-century Tiki décor. Commercial carvings, fixtures, furniture and lighting from some of the most famous and obscure Tiki temples hailing from the mid-century era are for the first time for sale to the public. Famed establishments as Trader Vic’s, Kona Kai and Kon Tiki are represented as well as renowned artists such as Leroy Schmaltz, Barney West, William Westenhaver, Jim Casey, Milan Guanko, Richard Ellis and Andres Bumatay.
Artifacts originating from the heart of the mid-century Polynesian-Pop era include figural carvings, architectural fittings, decorative trim, hanging décor and more. All sourced from a single, well curated private collection, the assortment on offer covers everything from home and restaurant décor to rare Polynesian-themed apartment complex art.
This assemblage of vintage commercial art is unprecedented. The rarity of such ephemeral “survivor” specimens is a testament to the short life and sad death of the original Tiki era.
Most if not all of the pieces on this page have the additional provenance of being published in the book, The Art of Tiki by Sven Kirsten. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience all the ‘world of Tiki’ has to offer!
The Kona Kai, Philadelphia, PA
Created in a ‘not to be outdone’ competition between the titan hotel empires, Marriott commissioned an elaborate chain of its own Polynesian themed restaurants. As a shot across the bow to Hilton’s Trader Vic’s and Sheraton’s Kon Tiki, The Kona Kai was arguably the most obscenely extravagant of the challengers on the field. No expense was spared and rather than utilize stock or simply procured décor for it’s outfitting, practically every decorative element of the Philly location was custom designed and created. Wall treatments, tropical carpeting and signature figural Tiki carvings were all fashioned from tailor-made blueprints furnished by the prolific architects. Saved in a daring last minute rescue during the The Kona Kai’s tragic 1985 demolition, the exquisite carvings on offer here at La Luz de Jesus are testaments to this now mythic Taj-Mahal of mid-century Tiki opulence.
Kona Kai, Philadelphia, PA: Armet and Davis Architecture
Size TBD, $2,400 Sold
Size TBD, $1,800 Sold
Size TBD, $1,800 Sold
Size TBD, $1,800 Sold
Size TBD, $1,800 Sold
Size TBD, $1,800 Sold
Size TBD, $1,800 Sold
Size TBD, $1,800 Sold
With hardware and rope railing, Size TBD, $2,400 Sold
Size TBD, $1,800 Sold
Size TBD, $1,800 Sold
Size TBD, $1,800 Sold
Size TBD, $1,800 Sold
Size TBD, $1,800 Sold
Size TBD, $1,800 Sold
Size TBD, $1,800 Sold
86×17″, $28,500 Sold
Size TBD, $9,500 Sold
Size TBD, $9,500 Sold
Size TBD, $9,500 Sold
83×8.5″, $400 Sold
84.5×8″, $800 Sold
100×5.5″, $800 Sold
84.5×7.75″, $800 Sold
84×12.25″, $1,000 Sold
78×29″, $1,300 Sold
$1,000 Sold
104x48x12″
$25,000 Sold
Kona Kai, Kansas City, KS: Oceanic Arts
54×7.5″, $1,800 Sold
Partial 1/4 side damage 54×7.5″, $1,200 Sold
One side damage 54×7.5″, $900 Sold
One side damage 54×7.5″, $700 Sold
54×7.5″, $1,800 Sold
54×7.5″, $1,800 Sold
Partial 1/4 side damage 54×7.5″, $900 Sold
Where described as damaged, understand that these pieces survived a restaurant fire. The patina of charred wood is provenance of the authenticity of this collection–and forever ties them specifically to Kona Kai, Kansas City.
The Playa del Rey Polynesian Village Apartments, Playa del Rey, CA
Located in a surprisingly welcomed proximity of just over 3200 feet from the North tarmac of the Los Angeles Airport, The Polynesian Village Apartment complex was the epitome of primitive, space-age bachelor pad living for 1962. Designed again by prolific mid-century architects, Armet & Davis, the immersive environment featured a stylishly themed atmosphere, complete with 24/7 flaming gas Tiki torches and cascading lava rock waterfalls. Made in a series of three sister developments across Los Angeles county, the dingbat cubist apartment structures were adorned with redwood carvings by the renowned sculptor team of Andres Bumatay and Richard Ellis. Astonishingly, no two figures are alike and the contemporary free form nature of these rescued artifacts endure as the quintessential definition of “Tiki-Modern”.
On offer in the gallery are exquisite relics from this storied testament to American suburban fantasy.
92.5x6x8” $1,600 Sold
52.25x6x8” $1,400 Sold
52.5x6x8” $1,100 Sold
73x6x8” $1,400 Sold
50.5x6x8” $1,200 Sold
107x6x8” $1,200 Sold
90.5x6x8” $1,400 Sold
47x6x8” $1,000 Sold
56x6x8” $1,000 Sold
50.5x6x8” $1,000 Sold
89.5x6x8” $1,800 Sold
$1,500 Sold
51.5x6x8” $1,000 Sold
89.5x6x8” $1,800 Sold
53.5x6x8” $1,000 Sold
78.5x6x8” $750 Sold
9’9x6x8” $900 Sold
$1,400 Sold
69x6x8” $1,500 Sold
68.25x6x8” $1,400 Sold
67.55x6x8” $1,000 Sold
53x6x8” $400 Sold
52.5x6x8” $900 Sold
11’x6x8” $1,100 Sold
70.5x6x8” $1,400 Sold
58x6x8” $1,100 Sold
52.25x6x8” $1,100 Sold
54.5x6x8” $900 Sold
61x6x8” $1,400 Sold
58.5x6x8” $900 Sold
64×4.5×8” $1,500 Sold
52.5x6x8” $600 Sold
54.5x6x8” $1,300 Sold
66.25x6x8” $1,200 Sold
66.5x6x8” $1,200 Sold
71x6x8” $1,400 Sold
67.5x6x8” $1,500 Sold
70.5x6x8” $1,600 Sold
100.5x6x8” $2,800 Sold
107x6x8” $1,600 Sold
98x6x8” $1,000 Sold
84x6x8” $1,000 Sold
71x6x8” $1,500 Sold
64x6x8” $1,600 Sold
68.5x6x8” $1,500 Sold
86x6x8” $1,000 Sold
78.5x6x8” $1,100 Sold
80x6x8” $1,400 Sold
66.5x6x8” $1,200 Sold
64.5x6x8” $1,200 Sold
64.5x6x8” $2,600 Sold
61x6x8” $1,200 Sold
44x6x8” $900 Sold
51.75x6x8” $1,000 Sold
57x6x8” $1,100 Sold
53x6x8” $1,000 Sold
75.5x6x8” $1,200 Sold
62.5x6x8” $900 Sold
11’1x6x8” $2,400 Sold
51.5x6x8” $1,300 Sold
67x6x8” $1,300 Sold
45x6x8” plus base, $1,600 Sold
81.5x6x8” $1,400 Sold
54x6x8” $1,100 Sold
62.25x6x8” $1,100 Sold
52x6x8” $1,500 Sold
10’6x6x8” $1,500 Sold
51x6x8” $1,300 Sold
73.25x6x8” $2,400 Sold
104.5x6x8” $2,800 Sold
112.5x6x8” $2,800 Sold
107x6x8” $2,000 Sold
107x6x8” $2,600 Sold
108x6x8” $2,800 Sold
100.5x6x8” $2,600 Sold
Trader Vic’s Decor
Trader Vic’s, various worldwide locations
Recognized as the champion and ‘last man standing’ of the epochal Tiki chain wars, Victor Bergeron’s, Trader Vic’s is also perhaps the most beloved. Like “Don the Beachcomber”before him, Bergeron fashioned himself into the quasi-autobiographical living mascot of his business. Decades before Dos Equis beer made the boastful corporate claim for its representative, Trader Vic was arguably the world’s most interesting man!
Trader Vic’s truly lived up to the hype, presenting the best from Vic’s own supposed far- flung exploits. Mementos of his swashbuckling adventures functioned as décor and specialized exotic cuisines served as a tactile account of his distant travels. This was themed-environmental dining at its apex. Oh, but the drinks! Picking up and sprinting with the torch passed by Donn Beach, Trader Vic’s also featured a centerpiece bar in each of its locations with the most thorough, imaginative and closely guarded exotic cocktail recipes in the world!
The artifacts offered here at La Luz de Jesus host a fair representation of the high caliber décor Trader Vic’s featured in its many locations across the globe. Some of these date back to Trader Vic’s earliest days and include locations such as Oakland, San Francisco, Chicago, Scottsdale, New York, Washington, DC, St. Louis, Osaka, Japan and in addition a partly completed, never opened location in Detroit dating from 1963! Everything from Hawaiian war shields to Marquesan figural poles and sculptured idols are represented in this rarely offered selection.
83×6” $2,400 Sold
96×6.5” $2,600 Sold
$2,400 Sold
80x9x9″ $2,600 Sold
84x9x9″
$5,000 Sold
81x20x20″
$10,000 Sold
$15,000 Sold
$15,000 Sold
96×6″ $2,500 Sold
96×8″ $3,000 Sold
96×8″ $3,200 Sold
112×9″ $2,200 Sold
83×8″ $1,800 Sold
83×8″ $2,000 Sold
$3,600 Sold
86×22″$1,600 Sold
83×12″$1,200 Sold
83×12″ $900 Sold
63x 12.25” $1,200 Sold
$1,200 Sold
$800 Sold
$900 Sold
$1,000 Sold
9×21.5×21” $1,200 Sold
$1,200 Sold
$1,200 Sold
53 x 87 x 2” (x2)
$8,000 Sold
11.75×70″, $1,600 Sold
57.5×5″, $1,200 Sold
11.75×74.5″$600 Sold
11.75×74.5″ $600 Sold
7.75×51.5” $500 Sold
7.75×50.5” $500 Sold
9×38” $250 Sold
9×38” $250 Sold
$1,000 Sold
$1,600 Sold
52×9.5” $1,200 Sold
29×21” $2,000 Sold
31×17” $3,200 Sold
29×21” $2,400 Sold
62×30” $1,800 Sold
59×9” $2,600 Sold
34.5×12.5” $3,600 Sold
45×10.5” $950 Sold
60.5×5.75” $600 Sold
44×12” $1,000 Sold
52×9.5” $750 Sold
9×48.75” $500 Sold
9×48.75” $350 Sold
9.25×48.75” $350 Sold
9.25×48.75” $350 Sold
9.x38” $350 Sold
9.x48.5” $350 Sold
9.x35.5” $500 Sold
60.5×7.5” $2,400 Sold
9x8x8” $3,600 Sold
9x8x8” $3,600 Sold
77x19x20″
$10,000 Sold
73×14” $6,000 Sold
$3,000 Sold
14×83″, $1,000 Sold
$6,000 Sold
37.5×12.5×2″ $1,600 Sold
11x11x50″, $1,400 Sold
37.5×12.5×2″ $1,000 Sold
7x7x22″, $500 Sold
37.5×12.5×2″ $1,600 Sold
44x9x9″, $2,200 Sold
97x11x11″, $3,600 Sold
72.5×22.5×2.5″, $4,000 Sold
30.5×11.5 x3″, $450 Sold
36x8x4.5″, $300 Sold
39.5×41.5×5.5″, $3,600 Sold
Outrigger includes pontoon, cross bars, and original paddle. 173×15.5×22″, $8,500 Sold
84x6x1.5″, $800 Sold
24×28″, $7,500 Sold
108×11.5×10.5″, $3,800 Sold
40.5×7″, $350 Sold
84×17.5″, $3,500 Sold
36×18″, $1,600 Sold
40.5×5.5″, $850 Sold
44×11.5″, $1,600 Sold
42×6″, $800 Sold
44.5×7″ (11.5×12 base), $1,600 Sold
44.5×7″ (11.5×12 base), $1,600 Sold
44.5×7″ (11.5×12 base), $1,600 Sold
44.5×7″ (11.5×12 base), $1,600 Sold
31×4.5″, $900 Sold
9x8x8” $3,600 Sold
36×8.5″, $1,800 Sold
36×7″, $1,800 Sold
32×11″, $1,600 Sold
19×16″, $900 Sold
19×16″, $900 Sold
19×16″, $900 Sold
12×16″, $400 Sold
17×27″, $1,600 Sold
24×15″, $1,600 Sold
4×28″, $1,600 Set Sold
24x15x12″, $1,000 Sold
36x18x2″, $4,000 Sold
Contact Gallery Director Matthew Gardocki for purchase info:
info@laluzdejesus.com (323)666-7667