Brenda offers online teddy appraisals, which
will give you the history of your beloved old bear.

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Dear Brenda, I would like to learn about this bear.
It belonged to my spouse's father who was born in1911, and so he must have acquired the bear in the early 19 teens, probably before 1915. I believe there have been some repairs, possibly on three of the four paws, and maybe the ears. The nose and mouth appear to be stitched with black thread. He measures 16 inches high. The eyes are missing. He is made of mohair, I believe, and his insides are made of wood shavings or products, because you can hear him crunch when you squeeze him. His legs, arms, and head move pretty well. There are no markings or tags to give any indication about who made him, but you probably have a good idea about that.
All the best,
Elise

Hi Elise,
Your special heirloom teddy bear is American, dating to the mid teens- 1915 and perhaps before. He has the Ideal appeal, as many of the companies tried their hands at making this American toy. The overstitched seams are also a trait of American teddies. The right ear appears to be replaced, or repositioned. It also is slightly lighter in color to the gold mohair over the other areas. It has been replaced slightly higher than the left ear. Missing his eyes, they were glass with stickpin attached. The linen replaced pads were done many years ago. We see the thinner felt remaining on the right hand, an American trait. If you had pictures of your father-in-law as a child, with teddy, that makes the provenance complete. Otherwise, we do know who owned it! You could get a nice amber replacement eye, so he could see again. He is stuffed with excelsior and has a simple horizontal nose cord with mouth extension. The slightly humped back also shows the finishing closed seam. Value for the 16” family mohair teddy bear would be $ 350.00.
Brenda

Hi Brenda,
I have a bear that I would love to identify. I would be so grateful if you could help me.
I bought him off eBay.

Circa 1908, 16” tall cinnamon color bear with large cupped ears. Boot button eyes. Nose and mouth are both cinnamon colour. Nose is horizontally stitched Wool-like cream coloured paw pads. Stuffed with a possible mixture of wood wool and kapok. Four cinnamon claws on all four paws Small hump on back.

Hi Erika,
Your wonderful early American teddy has the characteristics of the Havana Novelty Co. of NY. They were patented and manufactured in sizes from 8,10,12,14,18, 20,22, and 24”. The Collectors History of the TEDDY BEAR was written by Pat Schoonmsker in 1981. She has a wonderful pictorial ad from this company. Many American bears were characterized as Ideal from time to time… but this ad definitely reveals the sweet countenance and styling. Done in 1908, he is a true antique bear. The mohair is golden with the horizontal rust colored nose and claws. The condition is excellent, even though the nose is partial, you can imagine he was always admired. These bears could be delivered at once from the ads indication. Little is available on this company, and they might have been short lived. Playthings Magazine was the vehicle for advertising. Your excellent excellent example is 16”, and would be valued today at $3,200.00
Brenda

Hi Michele,
Your tiny Steiff 3” mohair teddy bear is Teddy Baby, dating to the 1950s. The button is intact and his condition is excellent. Five way jointed, the appeal is palpable. He has all the charm of the larger pieces, and maybe perhaps of his miniature status, he speaks loudest! The down turned paws were intentional for his teddy after WWII. It was a kindness issue and appealed to everyone. Teddy baby was original in larger sizes from 1929. The closed mouth was also standard for the earliest pieces. Air brushing on the toes is done on the velvet. Value for bear is $400.00
Brenda

Dear Brenda,
I was cleaning out a Town Hall and found this bear. He is 14” tall. I believe it is an Eden bear from what I was able to find online, I can read part of the tag horizontally - bottom - Sewn in Haiti. Along the seam vertically, there is a shore word that clearly ends in D. At first I thought it might be for Boyd. Only letters or a word part is visible on the back side of the tag. I’d like to refresh it and give him a new home, but want to do the right thing.
Appreciate any information and assistance you can provide.
All the best,
Michelle

Hi Brenda,
The squirrel 8-9" tall. I have not removed the “bandage.” It doesn’t seem that the limb is broken. The “ bandage” is basically a thread wrapped around the limb. This squirrel was inherited by me from my friend, from whom I also inherited Ted E. Bear. I have information from her indicating she receive the squirrel as from her maternal grandmother at the time of her birth (1908). She stated that it is a Steiff.
I haven’t explored I've tried to determine what is beneath the bandage or looked for other identifying information.
My friend stated that the squirrel was purchased at Marshall, Field in Chicago. Richard

Hi Richard,
Your interesting squirrel appears to be German, but not Steiff. The main differences are ears made from a continual pattern in the head (not separate pieces), and the shoe button eyes formed in a “socket” type position, and possibly an unjointed tail. Steiff early squirrels were felt or velvet, while their later examples appeared from 1925. Possibly, Strunz or Fleischmann and Bloedel made your example. He has considerable wear issues but is still perky! I would say 1912 for manufacture. Stuffed with excelsior, the tail has the longest mohair. He has stuffing showing, but a matching piece of backing expertly sewn to cover the excelsior would be more presentable. Value for your German squirrel unrestored would be $95.00.
Brenda

Hi Brenda,
My 11" tall bear has real hair. The dark hair looks like mink and the white might be rabbit. Not really sure. He can be wound up by turning the arms. Then the arms go completely around while the legs move toward its chest and back.
It has always worked, but I guess that I just over-wound I and it seems to be stuck now. The eyes look glass and the hands and feet look plaster(?).
This is not a cuddly bear. It’s body is hard.
Flora

Hi Flora,
Your real fur teddy acrobat is French, made by Roullet et Decamps. It is rabbit fur and made in the late 1890s. He could be wound up by moving the arms, then they would release gear and start tumbling. The paws were usually wood, painted black. The nose was composition. As with all toys, when they no longer work, the value is cut in half. Don’t feel bad that you broke him…it happens and we also have a nonworking French teddy! Ken loved it…and it did work for several somersaults! He is cute regardless, and very proud to sit among others! The eyes are glass. Under the rabbit fur is a metal body, with clockwork mechanisms and such, no stuffing. When he was able to be wound up you would turn the left arm a few times, then would unwind. He could do somersaults or be hung by his hands for a pull up attempt. If he worked the value and would be $1,200-1,500. As is value for your nonworking bear is $500-700.
Brenda

Hi Melanie,
A big thank you to your Dad for serving in the armed forces! How great he brought home a teddy bear from Germany. Your large example could be characterized as a carnival bear, something very large that would be a grand prize at a booth during a fair. The fur seems to be a curly cotton plush, with arms joined through a wire inserted through the body, making them move in unison. The legs are pinned jointed, so that they can be moved separately. His inset muzzle is shaven fur- almost like velour with a plastic/rubber nose. The mouth extension is sewn cord. His eyes appear to be plastic. One such company, Alfred Volk, located in Neustadt near Coburg, had a new beginning in 1940s for the production of bears. In the earlier years, he just made voice boxes. One of his specialties were the Berlin bears. They had a banner and a crown, but most were simple plush bears. Value for your 31” German teddy would be $150.00.
Brenda

Hi there Brenda,
My husband and I cleaned out the attic last weekend and found two hefty bags full of stuffed animals that were our son’s who is now 48. We gave them all away except an old Bear that was originally my husband’s when he was 2-3 years old. So thinking the bear is probably 75? It’s never been washed and appears to have been well loved. We’re going to keep the little guy, but I do need to try to wash him. Am hoping you can guide me on which of the cleaners would work for his fur.

He could use a little stitching up in places. the bear is 15” and my husband says the bear used to have a box in his middle and spoke, but can’t remember what he said. The box was removed when the bear stopped talking and he was still a child.
Sandy

Hi Sandy,
Your hubby’s vintage teddy is American, from Character Novelty Co., Inc. It was founded by two New Yorkers- Caesar Mangiapani and Jack Levy in 1932. It was originally located in Norwalk CT. The designer was Caesar, while Jack was the expert with sales. After 1945, they moved to NY, and expanded into the stuffed toy industry. Your teddy is from the 1950s, and is in pretty good condition. The cord nose was vertically stitched and is missing some threads, but he has that adorable look with the original felt backed shoe button eyes, and his tongue remnant is also visible! The snout is inset, meaning it was a separate piece (also shorter mohair plush). At the time he was made there was a white tag on the left ear. His wool felt pads are pretty good- black cord claws are visible and oversewn onto the pad. Three claws on each appendage. He is not dirty, (amazing), but could use a thoroughly wrung out white washcloth to bring out the mohair nap. Do a gentle wiping and the mohair should rise up to the occasion! If you had pictures of him with your hubby at a young age, that would add to value. If not, please take one after you have gently wiped him! Elvis Presley in 1957, recorded, “I want you to be my Teddy Bear” and on the jacket, a Character teddy is featured! Yours is older! The box he referred to may have just been the squeaker. Value for your 15” family provenance teddy would be $200.00.
Brenda

The bear is 24" tall. The arms and legs are both moveable.

Thanks!
Mike

Hi Brenda,
I found this 20" tall bear at a thrift store in Northern California.

Tag is hand writte and looks like it says BORN on one side and possibly a number on the back. The fabric is very soft, it's body is firm.

All limbs and head are joined. Color is a charcoal brown. Eyes and nose seem to be plastic.
Joyce,

Hi Joyce,
Your 20” teddy bear appears to be an artist made teddy. I think the fur may be “real” as in beaver or mink from the plush quality. No hand or foot pads, simply the fur hand stitched to form the extremities. The BORN tag would be very appropriate, as the artist recreated the fur into a bear. Real fur has a hide backing, making it hand stitched only unless you had a commercial machine to do the seams. I see all the delicate connections, making teddy into a new creation. The eyes and nose are plastic. The late 1980s was a booming year for artists, continuing for some twenty plus years. Today the market has dwindled, but the real dedicated artists continue. Value for your 20” jointed teddy is $45.00.
Brenda