OMC is best known for its tiki-themed products for bars and restaurants, although they also sold a wide range of higher-end of ceramics carried by retail stores. Their tiki line, which is highly prized by collectors of tiki mugs and other ceramic pieces, started in the 1960s. Most Otagiri ceramics can be identified by the initials "OMC" and "Japan" on a stylized yellow and gold sticker or a similarly shaped gold sticker that reads "Hand Crafted Otagiri Original" and "Japan" at the bottom.
I became interested in Otagiri products when we realized that a tea set we in our store was manufactured by the company. I was surprised to learn its origin, because I would have guessed its spare, cylindrical design to be American or Scandinavian. It is quite different from all the other examples of OMC pieces I found.
The company was sold in 1994 and the OMC line was discontinued.
From tikipedia.com
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| Otagiri Mercantile Company tea set in our store |
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| Aloha Hut tiki mug from the collection of Tattoo ooga-mooga.com |
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| Hu Ke Lau Kon-Tiki mug from the collection of ScarabaTiki ooga-mooga.com |
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| Fireside Moai from the collection of TikiDiego ooga-mooga.com |
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| Aki Tiki Lounge droopy mug from the collection of ScarabaTiki ooga-mooga.com |
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| Peacock modern dinnerware freeimagefinder.com |
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| Bittersweet cups and saucers ebay.com - rockido1 |
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| Casserole dish ebay.com - twasonce |
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| Diamond Dot vase ebay.com - modmodmodinc |
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| Horizon tea set ebay.com - 918cottageofcontent |
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| Otagiri sticker ebay.com - californiatull |
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| OMC sticker ebay.com - corrnucopia |
You had me at the Aloha Hut Tiki. I seriously think he is calling to me. Not sure what he's saying - I don't speak tiki and that may be for the best.
ReplyDeleteI think we all have our little collectible niches, and tiki usually isn't one of mine (as I'm sure my Russel Wright isn't everyone's passion either), but there's something about the Fireside Moai that I love. Just goes to show that if you keep an open mind, there's no telling what you might end up collecting at some point. Is a tiki bar in my future?
DeleteThe Otagiri tea set that you show here....do you still have it in your store and is it for sale?
ReplyDeleteTracy
No, sorry, Tracy. It sold quite some time ago.
DeleteMy tiki looks just like your photo above: Hu Ke Lau Kon-Tiki mug from the collection of ScarabaTiki ooga-mooga.com However, mine does not have the name/marking on the back and the mark on the bottom reads "Import By Otagiri Co" - do you know anything about this mark? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteFrom the little research I did for this post, I can only guess that the mug was a special order for a tiki bar somewhere called Hu Ke Lau or Hu Ke Lau Kon-Tiki.
DeleteI found your website while trying to research an estate sale find. It appears OMC wasn't only into ceramics as I have two little girl wood figurine music boxes and they too look to be Scandinavian or Dutch. Both have the yellow & gold OMC sticker on them. How can I send pictures? Then gain this blog is so old you may never see this message.
ReplyDeleteAnnie, I'd love to see them. You can send pictures to dana@mid2mod.com.
DeleteThanks Dana, I sent you the pictures.
DeleteAnnie
does anyone know when they stopped stamping otagiri on the bottom of cups?
ReplyDelete