So youve become a Tiki fan after your visit to the local Tiki bar. Now you want your own place to have that Tiki feel exotic and unique ambiance that conveys warmth and excitement. You want to be surrounded by authentic-looking Tiki artifacts: statues, totem poles, masks, mugs and everything Tiki. So you wonder: Where do I start?
Most cities have shops that sell memorabilia for Tiki fanatics. The best way to know if a city has a Tiki shop is by looking for Tiki-themed bars or restaurants (as these are often advertised more blatantly than simple shops). If a city has one, then it is likely that there are enough Tiki-philes around to justify a store dedicated solely to Tiki merchandise. Most likely, stores are found near Tiki bars, as putting up shops near where probable clients are is always a great business strategy. Or you can find Tiki shops online. There are many Tiki specialty shops on the Internet. The Royal Tiki shop is a great online site to visit when you need genuine Hawaiian-made artifacts.
When you find a shop you can do business with, the next question would be: What artifacts will I buy?
Well, it depends really on your home and what you really want. Totem poles and large statues are nice but usually these look better outdoors and in large surroundings. If you have the money and a nice garden to put these large artifacts into, placing a couple of poles or statues would surely make your lawn a lot more unique. For indoor decor, small Tiki statues are perfect, especially if your living space is quite limited. Or you can try masks instead, if you plan to really have a tropical theme in your home.
An intricately designed face mask in your doorway is an excellent way to welcome visitors and ward off evil spirits (if youre the superstitious type). Placing another Tiki mask in your mini bar reminds visitors of the relaxing atmosphere of a tropical bar where exotic drinks are served (never mind that a pia colada is the only cocktail drink you can whip up). Having a couple of Tiki masks around would not only make your place look good and relaxing but you wont have to grapple for ice breakers when you have unfamiliar guests - Tiki masks are natural conversation pieces that would surely get the ball rolling.
Now, to have an absolutely endless source of small talk, why not take down the drab paintings on your living room walls and replace these with a multitude of exciting Tiki masks. There are thousands of mask designs available.
As each mask has its own story to tell from its name, provenance or legends about the character depicted on it you would have a grand time entertaining your guests with tales and anecdotes relating to each Tiki mask. And when you have that number of masks sitting around and your close friends and relatives come visiting, you can conveniently start talking about your collection and drop hints (subtle or in-your-face - its your choice!) that you really like receiving gifts that will add to your mask collection.
Tiki masks, or at least the ones which genuinely came from Polynesia and Hawaii, are mostly handcrafted by meticulous artists who put so much time and effort in creating each artwork. Thus, you must care for your Tiki mask as you would other, more fragile objet d'art. Tiki masks are hung on the wall and are not designed to be worn (unless you dont mind carrying 5 pound gear on your head). These are not toys either so playing with these collectible items is a no-no. Maintaining your collection doesnt require special care just dusting every now and then. You dont even have to wash or use chemicals for cleaning, as you would remove the patina that marks the age of each mask.
Royal Tiki's genuine Hawaiian Tiki statues, totems and masks make a great addition to any Tiki bar. Also check our Tiki bar accessories
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