I decided to take a break from recataloging my weblog archives this morning, and do a little antiquing. What I discovered knocked my socks off! Buried in the antique mall's vast archive of paper ephemera, I found a folder labeled "Oceania". Within that folder was a treasure-trove of old illustrations torn from the pages of ancient periodicals and books about Polynesia and Australia. I picked out 6 of the best ones, including the wonderful engraving you see above which came from an article in the April 26, 1873 issue of Harper's Weekly called Easter Island Idol Ritual, written by a young French naval officer named, M. Julian Viaud. I love the way that the artist drew the stone Moai; he was clearly rendering them from a verbal description or the author's sketchbook, because they look almost nothing like the real Moai!

My second favorite illustration is of a group of young Tahitian girls from an article published in 1881, called The Last King of Tahiti, by Lady Constance Gordon Cumming. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find out where the other illustrations came from, but I'll keep working at it.

I scurried home with my score, scanned them, and built a new webpage called Vintage Oceania. The full-size images are huge, so you may not want to click on the thumbnails if you're on a dial-up. I may be adding something else that's very cool and special to this page in the near future, provided I can cut an acceptable deal with the store owner, so stay tuned.

I'd like to wish all of you gentle readers a Happy New Year, and unlike your drinking tonight, please enjoy Vintage Oceania in immoderation.

See you all next year!

Posted by MrBaliHai at 6:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Urban archaeologist, tikijackalope, has scanned the entire 1972 Oceanic Arts Polynesian Lighting catalog and posted it over at Tiki Central. The 'lope also posted this great thread on Orchids of Hawaii lamps last year. In addition, he maintains a very cool blog that documents his discoveries while exploring roadside Americana.

All serious tikiphiles know that lighting is an absolutely key ingredient in creating the proper atmosphere in a bar or restaurant, and I've put a lot of time and attention into that aspect of the Hai'deaway. In fact, I spent a goodly part of yesterday afternoon installing these light ropes underneath the bar. I've found a couple of interesting old light fixtures like this coconut lamp and sea shell lamp at antique stores, and I built a light box for my Robotron sign, but I think that one of these vintage OA or OoH fixtures would really put the crowning touch on my digs.

I've also been working on decorating the other rooms in the basement. I hung my collection of punk fliers, japanese movie posters, and rock caricatures in the music room, and I mounted this old art history project of mine on the wall at the bottom of the basement steps. In case you don't recognize the image, that's Hipshot Percussion, the gunslinger from Stan Lynde's comic strip, Rick O'Shay.

Posted by MrBaliHai at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Tiki Santa (with a little help from the beautiful and talented Mrs. Bali Hai) stopped at our house on Goofmas Eve, and left this fantastic carved tiki post from Tiki Master! I had one empty spot left in my bar, and this fearsome effigy fits the bill perfectly.

Click on the thumbnail to see a larger version.

I'll be dancing around it in my grass skirt later this evening, but in the meantime, I'm working on my 2nd mug of Glögg in hopes that Britt Eklund soon will be here.

We had quite a feast yesterday: a classic beef roast with carrots and mashed potatoes, along with a very chocolatey pecan-rum cake that I whipped up (I was all out of Grand Marnier and Maribou Mules). I also uncorked a bottle of 2004 Barossa Valley Woodcutters Shiraz that complemented the roast perfectly. With the cake, I drank the last of my Bonny Doon Bouteille Call, a sinfully delicious portified Syrah.

After dinner, we took the kids to see The Chronicles of Narnia. We enjoyed it thoroughly. The CGI work was superb, especially Aslan, and if its message of family, friendship, responsibility, and self-sacrifice for the common good makes it horrible right-wing, fanatical fundamentalist propaganda, as that insufferably self-righteous twit, Polly Toynbee, suggested in the Guardian recently, then I say we need more of it, if only to twist her knickers into even more of a Gordian Knot of self-loathing than they already are.

Posted by MrBaliHai at 8:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Click for larger image

Thanks to HumuHumu, I just found out that the heads on my male and female Trader Vic's Menehune figures are detachable, so you can swap them for a quick and easy sex-change operation. No expensive trip to Brazil or Thailand necessary! Unable to deal with this sudden gender reversal, Sufferin' Bastard clutches his head like a stunned monkey.

Posted by MrBaliHai at 9:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Wahines and Kanes, Keikis and Kaikamahines: I'm pleased to announce that after many months of hard work, Balis' Hai'deaway is now open. Please come on in, sit down, and have a virtual look around while I mix you up a fruity cocktail or three as the tropical sounds of Martin Denny and traditional Polynesian music waft along the humid island breezes. Play some pinball if you wish, it's set to free play.

Posted by MrBaliHai at 6:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)

Posted by MrBaliHai at 5:16 PM | Permalink