This pair of crystal “hand coolers” were designed by artist Lloyd Atkins for Steuben.
The Bear was introduced in 1985, while the Bull was introduced in 1990.
Steuben introduced the Hand Cooler line as a modern reinterpretation of the porcelain and glass objects used by Victorian ladies in the 19th century to moderate their body temperature at large social gatherings.
Each piece was a diminutive oval shaped symbolic sculpture of a creature meant to nestle comfortably in the palm.
According to a 1997 sales catalog distributed by Steuben, the Bear is “a figure of bravery and strength that presages happiness,” while the bull “conveys a sense of opportunity and good fortune.”
Height: 2 ½ inches (6.4 cm)