Large teddy bears are a staple of every child’s bedroom and/or playroom. Because of their popularity and ability to transport you right back to when you were young, you may find them in a few adult bedrooms as well. It’s hard to imagine what a childhood would be like without large teddy bears, and let’s hope we never have to find out.
The Harwin & Co. Ltd. were a British producer of top quality teddy bears. It was founded by G.W. Harwin in 1914 in response to the import ban on German goods after the declaration of World War I.Harwin’s early productions focused mainly on felt dolls which is why its most famous (and memorable) bears were dressed in the finest felt clothes; they were designed by the founder’s daughter Dorothy. Ally Bears as they were called
Collecting teddy bears is a really great hobby. It often starts with your childhood teddy bear since many people find it hard to part with their “friend”. They will keep it around for years and this makes a pretty good starting point for a collection of teddies.
Whether you collect expensive and hard to find antique bears or modern bears,you will derive great enjoyment from the search.
If you don’t know much about about old teddy bears, you can certainly buy a book or reference guide to help you. There are plenty of books available which will provide you with the necessary information about the most popular and collectible bears.
If you enjoy going to auctions,thrift shops,garage sales,and flea markets you have a great source for teddy bears. You can find both antique and modern collectible bears for your collection.
If you know a bit about teddy bears you can try following online auctions. Auctions are one of the best ways to find the scarcer teddy bears. Your online search will obviously be a lot easier if you learn the names or kinds of teddy bears which are most collectible.
Collecting rare and valuable teddy bears definitely requires more knowledge. For this reason I would suggest researching the various types of bear and how you can identify them. You must know what to look for to identify a good collectible teddy bear. This knowledge will help you to build a really valuable collection of old bears.
Teddy bear collecting is a hobby which can be enjoyed by anyone. When you are out searching or browsing online for a teddy bear it will help immensely if you have researched the history of the manufacturers. Knowledge is the most important thing in collecting antiques. Bears are certainly no exception to this rule.
Most people are surprised to learn the history of teddy bears. The first teddy bears were produced in the year 1902. The story of American President Teddy Roosevelt and his bear hunt is very well known so I will not repeat it here. The Teddy bear was of course named after Teddy Roosevelt. In that same year the Steiff company in Germany produced a toy bear. Steiff bears,especially the early ones are among the most valuable bears for collectors.
Other well known manufacturers of collectible bears in the USA and England include Ideal, Merrythought, Chad Valley, Chiltern, Farnell and Hermann. If you are lucky enough find an old bear by any of these makers it is very collectible.
You can build a collection of teddy bears which will give you great enjoyment. Your collection will also continue to increase in value as years go by.
Are you looking for collectible teddy bears and other toys? You will find a lot of free information and a great selection available on our website at Teddies and Toys
Image by CraftyGoat
Teddy Bear was created at the April 08 meeting of the Central Oklahoma Polymer Clay Guild. Nance Ross taught the lesson. He’s made of Premo brand polymer clay & has eye pins through his arms & legs so they can move. I finished him with some dry brushing & a wash coat to give the fur a little extra definition.
Any child that has not had the pleasure of having a huge teddy bear, is at a distinct disadvantage to those that have. A huge teddy bear has occupied the place of the perfect friend and comforter since 1902 when teddy bear’s were first created. For the child (now an adult) that can’t tap into the nostalgia of that soft toy, it’s nothing short of tragic.
When adults see displays of huge teddy bears in a toy shop or in an online store, they are continually attracted to them, trying to recreate an experience or sensation that has become lost over time. There is no denying soft toys are an extremely important toy for children of all ages. So much so, that experience with them is more often than not, carried into adulthood. Some soft toys are so cherished, in fact, many children refuse to part with them no matter how battered and worn they become.
Just about every animal one can imagine is now replicated in a soft, miniature form. Despite the fact that some fine details may have been omitted in the quest to make the desired image, that doesn’t dissuade anyone from going on to purchase their favorite. The key to any soft toys attraction is its facial features, closely followed by the feel of its ‘fur’ or skin and then the stuffing. When teddy bear creator Margarete Steiff first made felt pincushion animals to give as gifts, the children of the mother’s they were intended for fell so in love with their feel and size, they went on to claim them for themselves.
The key to the characterization of the huge teddy bear must fall squarely on the shoulders of Steiff’s nephew Richard. While his primary role in the Steiff company was to develop and design new toy lines, from the beginning he was fascinated by the possibilities of a soft toy bear. As a result, he spent many hours trying to design one that would be attractive to children. To this end, he made numerous sketches of bears he saw at the Stuttgart Zoo in Germany, in addition to those he saw at circuses and animal shows. His early models, in fact, were far too realistic – frightening rather than reassuring for the young people for which they were intended.
Near the end of the 19th century, Richard Steiff designed several bears that were meant to be ridden or pulled as they were positioned on all fours and set on cast-iron wheels. There were also bears produced that stood upright on their hind legs. And, despite being covered in mohair plush, they were not very huggable given some had internal metal frames and tightly stuffed woodwool making them feel too solid. In 1902, Steiff came up with a string-jointed movable animal which included a bear. It was the first such toy in the world.
Copyright Shelley Vassall, 2010.
Shelley Vassall is a writer and collector of huge teddy bear toys.
Who knows where big teddy bears would be had it not been for some felt animal pincushions that were designed in 1902 by Margarete Steiff. Following their popularity, Margarete went on to create the teddy bear. While his looks have a changed a little over the years, that original bear she designed, is still the iconic soft toy we know and love today.
In past historical documents, the hibernation habits of brown bears living in Spain had been questioned. As a result, between 1998 and 2007, Spanish scientists decided to to follow the brown bear population through the mountains of the Cantabrian Cordillera, so they could put to rest the ongoing debate.
According to The Libro la Monteria – circa 14th century authored by King Alfonso XI, female brown bears with cubs born in the previous year, did not sleep in the winter. Or at least, not all brown bears did. Carlos Nores, lead author of this new study, which was conducted some 400 years after the writings of the 14th century document, said
