Polar Bear Collection

Fenton Polar Bear

2008-05-15T20:54:00.001-04:00

Fenton polar bear.

Manufacturer: Fenton

Volcanic Ash Polar Bear

2008-05-13T05:48:00.001-04:00

Polar bear figure made from ash from Mount St. Helens.

1996 Olympics Coca Cola Polar Bear Tennis Pin

2008-05-11T20:41:00.003-04:00

Officially licensed by the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games. This is one a few I have.

Manufacturer: Aminco International, Inc.

Purchased: January 1997

Alaska Polar Bear Salt Shakers

2008-05-05T05:39:00.001-04:00

I think it is funny that I found these in Bluefield, West Virginia. Painted ceramic with a "Victoria Ceramics" sticker on the bottom of each.

Manufacturer: Victoria Ceramics

Dimensions: 4" x 1.5" each

Purchased: August 1997

Always Playing Soccer Coca-Cola Figure

2008-05-03T05:17:00.002-04:00

One of a sports series done by Coca-Cola. Can't seem to find much about them on the web. I might actually have to crack open a collector's book.

Manufacturer: Enesco

Dimensions: 4.5" x 4.5"

Purchased: August 1997

Polar Bear Bottle

2008-05-01T05:49:00.002-04:00

Based on the "Federal Law Forbids Sale or Re-Use of This Bottle" on the back, this bottle probably comes from somewhere between 1935 and 1964 (though it could be from later). It is embossed on the bottom with "R-776" or "R-778" and another "66" or "99". We'll go with 1935 until I discover otherwise.

Manufacturer: Unknown

Dimensions: 11.75" x 3.25"

Purchased: July 2005

Snow Baby on Polar Bear

2008-04-29T06:21:00.002-04:00

This is not one of the new Department 56 Snow Babies. I think this one may be German. I need to research it some more. I almost didn't buy it because it was a Snow Baby but I'm glad I did. You can see the glittery look to the Snow Baby's snowsuit and the snow. It has an indentation on the bottom of "S007".

Dimensions: 2.75" x 2.5"

Purchased: December 1996

Bing & Grondahl Mother's Day Plate 1974

2008-04-27T05:30:00.000-04:00

One of the annual Mothers Day plates put out by Denmark's Bing & Grondahl. At the time I bought it I thought it would be reasonably rare. But it seems like there are always at least three of these on ebay at any given moment.

Manufacturer: Bing & Grondahl

Dimensions: 6" x 6"

Purchased: May 1997

Anchorage F.O.E. 4207 Binky Pin

2008-04-25T05:59:00.004-04:00

This was the pin for the Anchorage, Alaska Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge 4207. I'm not sure they still use it. The pin features Binky, the Anchorage Zoo polar bear made famous when a woman climbed over the barrier to get a better picture.

Turns out she and Binky disagreed on how close she should really be. The woman survived and Binky became famous through a picture of him with her tennis shoe dangling from his mouth.

I actually met Binky (from a distance) a few weeks before he passed away.

Dimensions: 1.25" x .75"

Purchased: January 1996

Polar Bear Magic Towel

2008-04-23T05:30:00.000-04:00

It is funny how things affect one. This silly little "magic" towel (it expands into a full grown towel when wet), has sentimental value because it was the last polar bear item my mother gave me before she died.

Manufacturer: DTD, Norfolk (Made in Taiwan, ROC)

Dimensions: 1.75" in diameter

Received: December 1996

Daga Polar Bear

2008-04-21T06:10:00.000-04:00

I like the long, lean look of this bear. I was looking through my notes and I don't have any about this guy. File this one under "more research required."

Artist: Maigons "Mike" Daga

Dimensions: 5.75" x 6.5"

Purchased: mid-1990's?

Russian Arctic Airborne Marines Patch

2008-04-19T05:51:00.003-04:00

Russian Naval Infantry Polar Bear (Elite Arctic Fleet Marines) patch. On the top Russian State Tri-Color Flag, Blue Cross Russian Navy St. Andrew's Flag with Naval Infantry Anchor insignia. In Russian it says: "Naval Infantry Sputnik." 'Sputnik' is the Arctic Ocean Northern Fleet Marine Main Naval Base. The polar Bear is wearing a Russian naval infantry black beret with badges.

Dimensions: 4" x 3"

Purchased: December 2003

1996 Olympics Coca Cola Polar Bear Basketball Pin

2008-04-18T05:27:00.002-04:00

Officially licensed by the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games. This is one a few I have.

Manufacturer: Aminco International, Inc.

Purchased: January 1997

Sprawled Polar Bear Figure

2008-04-17T05:58:00.000-04:00

Sprawled polar bear from the Seagull Porcelain Collection. One of three bears. I like this one because it isn't a typical pose. He looks very relaxed.

Manufacturer: Enesco

Purchased: June 1997

Polar Cub Electric Vibrator

2008-04-16T05:56:00.002-04:00

Okay - so this one is a little out there. It is a vibrating massager. I did plug it in once and it ran but the cords and electrical parts are downright scary. The box is pretty nicked up but still intact. It includes six different heads. It was made by the A.C. Gilbert Company, New Haven, Connecticut. A.C. Gilbert was also the inventor of the Erector Set and also known as the "man who saved Christmas." I am guessing this is from some time in the 1920's.

Manufacturer: A.C. Gilbert Co.

Purchased: September 1997

Pot Bellys Nippy

2008-04-15T02:17:00.001-04:00

It's cute when they advertise these as "boxes." While it does come apart with a small opening, I have no idea what you would ever really put inside. This "inside" is decorated with two tiny ice cubes.

Manufacturer: Harmony Kingdom?

Purchased: A few years ago...

Polar Bear Swimming

2008-04-14T02:11:00.001-04:00

Framed print. Whimsical and colorful.

Artist: Shannon Cartwright

Purchased: May 1996

Winston's Christmas Sled

2008-04-13T01:09:00.004-04:00

I think this was a Christmas gift. I like the wideness of Frykman's bears. This is in the Ice Cubs series. Even though this is a resin figure, the 'homespun' feel makes it an enjoyable piece.

Artist: David Frykman

Dimensions: 6.75" by 4.5"

Received: December 2001

Ice Mother

2008-04-12T02:55:00.000-04:00

This is the 1990 version. Still need to find a 1950s era version. Don't have the children yet either.

Artist: C. Alan Johnson

Purchased: May 1996

Christmas Bear Cookie Jar

2008-04-11T03:08:00.002-04:00

Found this at Rich's (now Macy's) in Birmingham. I need to get some more of the information about it. But I'm surprised he's smiling while struggling with Christmas lights.

Purchased: December 1999

Starbucks Yukon Blend Sticker

2008-04-10T02:48:00.002-04:00

I just asked the barrista at Starbucks for a couple of these back in the mid-90's and she gave them to me. I don't think they're still using polar bears. But then I'm more of a Seattle's Best man myself. And, yes, I know that Seattle's Best is owned by Starbucks.

Manufacturer: Starbucks

Purchased: 1996ish?

Dimensions: 2" x 1.5"

Nesting Bears of the World

2008-04-09T06:04:00.001-04:00

Features a polar bear, grizzly bear, black bear, panda, and koala. Hand painted in St. Petersburg, Russia. Made by Golden Cockerel.

Purchased: September 2004

Standing Polar Bear Cookie Jar

2008-04-08T06:07:00.001-04:00

He wears a bright red Christmas sweater, blue mittens, and a green scarf around his neck. With his M&M cookie in his mouth, has he robbed himself? I liked this one because it was unique and I hadn't seen it before.

Artist: Coco Dowley

Dimensions: 12" x 8.5"

Purchased: Hmmm...

Smiling Polar Bear Cookie Jar

2008-04-07T06:01:00.000-04:00

Pretty sure this is the same as the teapot although I believe I purchased them separately.

Manufacturer: First Coast Designs

Polar Bear on Black Plate

2008-04-06T06:12:00.003-04:00

Trapezoid shaped black glass plate with white polar bear silhouette on it. Purchased during a Tacoma street fair. Purchased from Blue Rock Dog, Inc. As I recall, they had plates in several different colors with the same polar bear design. I liked the black plate for the contrast.

Artist: Sumo D

Purchased: July 1997