Since the first teddy bear was made, people have had a desire to collect them. Morris Michtom in America and Richard Steiff in Germany apparently came up with the idea for the original bear at about the same time. A cartoon of Teddy Roosevelt refusing to shoot a bear was the inspiration for Morris Michtom, whose wife made a bear for their shop window. The Steiff bear was first made by Richard Steiff for his aunt who owned a toy company. Today, collectors will go to a great deal of trouble and expense to own one of these collectible teddy bears.
Around the same time as this was happening in the United States, a German, Richard Steiff, made a bear for his aunt who was the owner of a large toy company. The company began manufacturing this item and they are still doing so today in the same factory where they first started. Their products, whether they were made years ago or today, are highly desirable to collectors. The ones made between 1903 and 1905 with their long snouts, big feet, long arms and curved paws, fetch the highest prices.
Many manufacturers began making bear toys before World War 11 but after the war, plush toys made in Asian factories began flooding the market. Fortunately, this did not kill the desire to collect vintage items. This has continued over the years and many people enjoy collecting. Teddies are always well loved but not all of them are collectible. If you want to become a collector, it is important to know what to look for to spot a genuine article from a fake. One way to do this is to become as familiar with the subject as possible by reading books, researching online and going to museums and auctions.
When looking at a bear it is important to determine its condition, provenance and authenticity. There are certain features which can tell you a great deal about how old it is. For example, the materials used to manufacture it can help to place it in time. The first bears were stuffed with excelsior or wood wool. Later ones were stuffed with kapok and more modern ones with foam. The earlier ones were covered in tawny mohair. Later, silk and cotton were used and eventually synthetic materials took over. The pads were first made of cotton or felt and later of velvet and fake leather.
There are many books available to help collectors. For example, they may discuss the products of different manufacturers, many of whom sewed labels into the seams for identification. These labels would change over the years so you can find out by whom and when your bear was made by checking the label and other identifying marks. Steiff products are easily identified by a metal button in the left ear.
The eyes of the first teddies were made from black boot buttons which gave them a beady look. These buttons were replaced by glass eyes at a later stage which gave them a more friendly appearance. Eyes today are often made from plastic.
Earliest teddies were made with metal rods joining their limbs to the body. Later wooden joints were used and finally those with no joints were produced. Another feature which changed gradually over the years was the humped back which became gradually became flatter and flatter.
Very rare collectible teddy bears may be too expensive for many collectors. However, there are many others available which are desirable to modern collectors. This includes those manufactured today by companies like Steiff, Merryweather and Farnell.
Around the same time as this was happening in the United States, a German, Richard Steiff, made a bear for his aunt who was the owner of a large toy company. The company began manufacturing this item and they are still doing so today in the same factory where they first started. Their products, whether they were made years ago or today, are highly desirable to collectors. The ones made between 1903 and 1905 with their long snouts, big feet, long arms and curved paws, fetch the highest prices.
Many manufacturers began making bear toys before World War 11 but after the war, plush toys made in Asian factories began flooding the market. Fortunately, this did not kill the desire to collect vintage items. This has continued over the years and many people enjoy collecting. Teddies are always well loved but not all of them are collectible. If you want to become a collector, it is important to know what to look for to spot a genuine article from a fake. One way to do this is to become as familiar with the subject as possible by reading books, researching online and going to museums and auctions.
When looking at a bear it is important to determine its condition, provenance and authenticity. There are certain features which can tell you a great deal about how old it is. For example, the materials used to manufacture it can help to place it in time. The first bears were stuffed with excelsior or wood wool. Later ones were stuffed with kapok and more modern ones with foam. The earlier ones were covered in tawny mohair. Later, silk and cotton were used and eventually synthetic materials took over. The pads were first made of cotton or felt and later of velvet and fake leather.
There are many books available to help collectors. For example, they may discuss the products of different manufacturers, many of whom sewed labels into the seams for identification. These labels would change over the years so you can find out by whom and when your bear was made by checking the label and other identifying marks. Steiff products are easily identified by a metal button in the left ear.
The eyes of the first teddies were made from black boot buttons which gave them a beady look. These buttons were replaced by glass eyes at a later stage which gave them a more friendly appearance. Eyes today are often made from plastic.
Earliest teddies were made with metal rods joining their limbs to the body. Later wooden joints were used and finally those with no joints were produced. Another feature which changed gradually over the years was the humped back which became gradually became flatter and flatter.
Very rare collectible teddy bears may be too expensive for many collectors. However, there are many others available which are desirable to modern collectors. This includes those manufactured today by companies like Steiff, Merryweather and Farnell.
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