The Classic Honeybear In Art and Design. 40 Awesome Items Inspired by The Bear-Shaped Honey Dispensers.

honeybear in art and design

The classic Bear-shaped honey dispenser which has simply become known as a “honeybear” reportedly dates back to 1957 when Ralph Gamber, future president of the Dutch Gold Honey company, reasoned that “a bear likes honey, why not a bear of honey?”

The Classic Honeybear In Art and Design

Classic honeybear honey dispenser

In terms of the originator of the design, Edward Rachin filed the US patent shown below on the design in 1950:
honeybear bottle patent

A survey conducted back in 1995 showed that some 15.5 percent of the honey sold was packaged in such bottles and many honey producers in the United States still market their products in the bear-shaped bottles.

There was even a movement, started in 2010, called Save The Honey Bear to save 100% pure honey, threatened by honey-flavored syrups. The site has since been removed.

save the honeybear

The now iconic design has been used as packaging for other products, most often for children’s bubbles and soap dispensers. But the Honeybear has also inspired artists, sculptors and more to create interpretations of the Honey Bear that serve as  fine art, home decor, jewelry and even bongs.

One cannot talk about honeybear art without mentioning the San Francisco artist who has since turned it into an icon, Fnnch. His prints, street art and fund-raising honeybears have become de rigeur for any honeybear lover.

Fnnch Honeybear Art
honeybear artist

fnnch street art
SF Honeybear Street art by Fnnch

Floyd, the Honey Bear Bong:
honey bear bong

Artware editions is now selling a limited edition (only 25) of The Long Life China Company’s “Floyd” by artist Glen Baldridge. “Floyd” is a porcelain crafted fully functioning bong or water pipe made in the image of a the familiar Honey Bear honey dispenser.

Floyd the honey bear bong
Glen Baldridge, Floyd, 2012
Porcelain
6 1/2″ h x 3 3/4″ x 2 1/2″
edition of 25,
$525 USD
SOLD OUT
buy him here

Honeybear Glass Vases By Esque Studio:
Honeybear Glass Vases By Esque Studio

The Honeybear Vase from Esque Studio is a mold blown vase that stands approximately 15″ tall and was designed by Andi Kovel and Justin Parker.

Honeybear Glass Vases By Esque Studio
Available in five different colors for $280 USD each, you can purchase them here.

Cast Porcelain Honey Bear Vases by Lesley Anton:
Cast Porcelain Honey Bear Vases by Lesley Anton
Cast Porcelain Honey Bear Vase by Lesley Anton
Glazed in pearl white, matte black or metallic
buy them here  (SOLD OUT)

Honeybear Gemstone Pendants by David Lowrie of Stonesmith Galleries:
Honeybear Gemstone Pendants
An inch tall Honey Bear pendant made of carved Baltic Amber and 14k gold on chain
$825 USD (SOLD)

Honeybear Gemstone Pendant
Honeybear Gemstone Pendant
5 carat Golden Beryl carved Honey Bear pendant and 14k gold on chain
$2,300 USD, (SOLD)

Resin Honeybear earrings by Catrina’s Toybox: 
honeybear earrings
$20.80, buy them here

Sterling Silver Honey Bear pendants and necklaces by Mark Poulin:
Sterling Silver Honey Bear pendants and necklaces by Mark Poulin
Sterling Silver Honey Bear pendants and necklaces by Mark Poulin
prices vary depending upon size, buy them here

Honey Bear Tray:
Honey Bear serving tray
Melamine tray featuring photography by Keller and Keller at the Deluxe Town Diner in Watertown, Massachusetts. Dishwasher safe, not for microwave use. 14″ diameter.
$22, buy it here No longer available

honeybear tableware
Also available as one melamine plate in a set of four featuring Diner imagery
$40 USD, buy them here No longer available

Beeswax Honeybear Candle by PeaceBlossomCandles:
Beeswax Honeybear Candle by PeaceBlossomCandles
$10.75, buy it here

Honeybear Pencil Case by MemiTheRainbow.
Honeybear Pencil Case
Zippered canvas pencil case, hand stamped with a hand-carved Honey bear rubber stamp set, both which you can find here

Blind Bicyclist on Etsy specializes in Concrete Honey Bears made into many different items such as match strikers, bottle openers, corkscrews and photo holders.
Concrete Honey Bears
Shop for these and more here 

Fine Art homages to the Honeybear.

Honeybear Painting by Luke Chueh:
painting by Luke Chueh

Honeybear Paintings by artist Craig Stephens:
Honeybear Paintings by artist Craig Stephens
Craig Stephens

Honeybear Painting by Kristen Reitz-Green:
Honeybear Painting by Kristen Reitz-Green:

Losing My Mind by Jeanne Vadeboncoeur:
Losing My Mind by Jeanne Vadeboncoeur

On The Line by Aaron Lifferth:
On The Line by Aaron Lifferth

Honey Bear Is Watching. A linocut print from Isle of Printing:
linocut by Isle of Printing

Honey Bear artwork by Danielle Podeszek:
Honey Bear artwork by Danielle Podeszek
Available as art prints, stationary, cards, canvases, mobile phone cases and throw pillows from Society 6

Honey Bear by Shari Mendleson:
Honey Bear by Shari Mendleson
plastic from discarded bottles, hot glue, beads, 10″x3.5″x3.5″, 2010 (not for sale)

The Peeing Honey Bear, a one-off prop (no photoshop), Honeybear Instagram image and the Honey Bear T-shirt, all by Brock Davis, aka Laser Bread:
The Peeing Honey Bear

Honey Bear photo by Eric Turner, available as prints here
Honey Bear photo by Eric Turner

Honeybear Image Making. A Book by Gretchen Honeybear Image Making. A Book by Gretchen NashNash.

Honeybear Image Making. A Book by Gretchen Nash
Honeybear Image Making. A Book by Gretchen Nash
A book that is compiled of object iterations based around the basic subject of Honeybears. This book is a massive formmaking experiment that includes photography, illustration, painting, transfers, and mixed media.
Honeybear Book, 7.5 x 10″, 90 pages

Honey Bear Recycled Greeting card from Branch Out
Honey Bear Recycled Greeting card from Branch Out
The Honey Bear card is lovingly handcrafted in the Philippines by women survivors of sex trafficking. The card incorporates a variety of handmade, recycled papers, making it environmentally sustainable, too. Envelope included.
Buy it here

Need some cheesy honey bear clip art? These downloadable images are provided for you from the National Honey Board
honeybear clip art

And finally, want to buy some empty Honey Bear Bottles to attempt making something of your own? Go here.