Coloured Teddy Bears
When you look at any of the famous Teddy Bear makers catalogues now, you will certainly find an array of Teddy Bears in almost every colour you can think of. Today, coloured Teddy Bears are very popular with collectors, but despite our love of coloured Teddy Bears now, it has not always been the case.
Indeed, in the early years of the Teddy Bear, Steiff produced a few coloured bears, but these were sadly not a success, Teddy Bear lovers preferring the natural coloured Teddy Bears that they had become use to. Only a few coloured Old Steiff Bears have survived, which is not surprising as not many were made. However, when they do show up, they fetch big prices. Take, for example, the adorable blue Steiff Teddy Bear called Elliott. He was made in 1908 and was given by Steiff as a sample bear to the famous department store, Harrods. No-one liked him, a blue bear just was not acceptable at that time and so he was put away. Many years later he was found and was put to auction in 1993 at Christies Auction House in London where he fetched a whopping 49,500.
In the years between the First and the Second World Wars, German makers such as Schuco, Jopi and Cramer made coloured Teddy Bears.
Around 1930, the famous British company, Chad Valley, made a red teddy. He was made in vivid red mohair, his paw pads also being made of red felt. It is very rare to find this red Chad Valley Teddy Bear as not many were made.
Coloured Teddy Bears were actually fashion accessories in the 1930's and as such, these bears were produced for adults rather than for children. Chad Valley also produced a Blue Teddy Bear. In the 1920's they also made a novelty bear which was called ‘Rainbow Tubby Bears'. These Teddy Bears came in a variety of colours and sizes. Around their necks they wore a kind of jester ribbon with a bell attached to it.
Then in 1931, Chad Valley produced a pink Teddy Bear, which they actually sent to Steiff as a sample bear, to show them what Chad Valley could do. When this magnificent Old Bear was returned from Steiff, it was given to a Chad Valley employee. Where the Old Bear is today, I don't know, but until recently I believe he was still living with the same family.
Merrythought certainly made a wide range of coloured Teddy Bears for example, in 1930, they made a blue teddy. Also around 1930, the Chiltern company produced a pink bear. Don't forget too, all the magnificent colours that Merrythought have produced their Cheeky Teddy Bears in. Practically every colour you can think of, even rainbow coloured Cheeky Bears have been produced and guess what, everyone loves them now.
If you should find an old coloured Teddy Bear today, you will probably find that his colour has faded quite dramatically, infact, you may not even notice at first glance that he was a coloured Teddy Bear. Often the front of an Old Teddy Bear is more faded that his back, due in most instances to his back being kept away from direct sunlight, as he has probably spent many years of his Teddy Bear life either sitting in a chair or on a bed. However, if you look very closely into his jointing area, you should see his original true colour.
I have to admit I love coloured Teddy Bears, especially from the past, but it really is down to personal choice.
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