Grateful Dead Dancing Bear 1996 A.A.D.L.P Black + Silver Chain Vintage Wallet

Description: Vintage 1995 A.A.D.L.P WalletBlackGrateful Dead Tuxedo Dancing BearClassic Iron logo on the two snaps buttons A Design Born from Artistic CollaborationThe dancing bear design was originally created by artist and renaissance man Bob Thomas for use on the back of the Grateful Dead’s 1973 album The History of the Grateful Dead, Volume 1 (Bear’s Choice). Thomas actually has a long history tied with The Dead having co-designed the band’s iconic “Lightning Bolt” logo with Owsley Stanley in 1969 as a means of keeping track of the band’s equipment while on tour. In addition to these ubiquitous graphics, Thomas also designed the art for the The Dead’s Steal Your Face and Live Dead as well as the logo for Alembic, an American manufacturer of high-end electric guitars, basses and preamps started by Owsley Stanley, the Grateful Dead’s sound engineer.Why the Bears?The choice to create a symbol using bears as the focal point stems from Owsley Stanley’s nickname “Bear” given to him by childhood friends as a result of his excessive chest hair. There is also speculation that the moniker “Dancing Bear” was attributed to Stanley in reference to his peculiar choice of dance moves at concerts while high on acid.The actual principal design for the style of bear we now commonly associate with the Grateful Dead was born from a 36-point lead type slug featuring a generic bear print that Thomas found and used as his primary artistic inspiration.How the Bears Became PopularizedThe Bears originally appeared on the back cover of the Grateful Dead’s Bear’s Choice album launching the design into the public eye, but this album circulation only accounted for a portion of the rapid fame attributed to the bears. In addition to being the band’s sound engineer, Owsley Stanley was also one of the world’s first private LSD manufacturers.What does this have to do with the dancing bears you ask?Actually a lot! Following the release of the Dead’s album, the bears motif began appearing on Stanley’s LSD blotter art, which also just so happened to be widely circulated at most Grateful Dead concerts at the time. Because the bears were featured on the album art as well as within the social sphere of communal drug use at the band’s live performances, they quickly became a symbol deeply entwined with the culture of listening to the Grateful Dead. From there, Deadheads began creating their own merchandise featuring the dancing bears including bootleg stickers and shirts to name a few, and the symbol was forevermore associated with the Dead. Comes from a smoke free home. Please feel free to email me if you have questions prior to ordering. This item is final sale and may not be returned. I recommend taking a good look at all photos details before ordering. Please refer to the ZOOM feature on the photos for fine points and particulars. Make sure to follow our store and leave a positive review if you are satisfied with your purchase. Thank you for shopping with us!

Price: 100 USD

Location: New York, New York

End Time: 2024-03-08T20:25:15.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD