Vintage 1960s Kon Tiki Compote Steve Crane Sheraton Hotel

This is a wonderful Kon-Tiki compote used at one of Steve Crane’s Kon-Tiki restaurants. The piece reads “Kon Tiki “ in brown on the top to the side of the compote which is a yellow colour - the Kon-Tiki restaurants were embedded in various Sheraton hotel locations starting in 1958, including Montreal, Portland, Cleveland, Chicago, Cincinnati and Honolulu. This compote was found in Montreal, so most likely it came from the Montreal location. It is unmarked as to maker. It measures 7 1/4” in diameter across the top and 3 3/4” in height. It is in very good condition with some slight wear to the top.
Tiki collectors know that Steve Crane was both an actor in B films and the founder, during the early 50s, of the Luau restaurant on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, a Polynesian themed spot that featured a Tiki decor and was popular with Hollywood celebrities. Crane went on to establish the Kon-Tiki chain of restaurants that were housed in Sheraton Hotels, Montreal being the first location established in the chain, opened in 1958 and closed in 1981. In addition, Stephen Crane was associated with some of Hollywood’s most glamorous women. He married Lana Turner, but the marriage was annulled because Crane was already married. After Turner discovered that she was pregnant by Crane, he obtained a divorce and then remarried Turner, only to divorce her a year later. Crane was also seen with Rita Hayworth, Ava Gardner and Mamie van Doren.
This vintage 1960s Kon Tiki compote makes a nice display piece for either the Tiki collector or the restaurant ware collector!