As strange as it seems, in the late 1940's and 1950's shrunken heads were big business in the United States. Tiki culture was in full swing and anything termed "exotic", including alcoholic drinks and Polynesian accouterments of the unusual infused the peculiar tastes of popular entertainment. As novelties, the dried up little craniums fascinated curiosity-seekers and were a surprising commodity for those who had a line on procuring them from exotic locales and could supply the demand.
Based in Miami, Florida, Graydon Burland sold authentic shrunken heads to anybody who was willing to pay $150 to $1,450 for them. This photo feature from the first issue of MAN TO MAN (December 1949-January 1950) shows examples of his wares. Of course, there's the obligatory pretty lady in the picture as a juxtapose between the beautiful and the beastly.
At the time that this article was published, shrunken heads had been banned from exportation from Ecuador, the main supplier of the odd objects d' art, as well as banned for importing to the States.
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