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Monkey Hand Puppet

1930s (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

J K Farnell is credited with producing the first British teddy bear in 1906. The company had been in existence since the mid-nineteenth century and was already making soft toys. It quickly established itself as one of the leading manufacturers. Farnell used the trademark Alpha. Its factory was destroyed twice, once by fire in 1934 and once by bombing in 1940. It survived both these disasters but eventually ceased trading in the 1960s.

As well as teddy bears Farnell made soft toys and cloth dolls. It produced some puppets and this monkey is an unusual example because it has all four limbs rather than the more usual two, and would have been quite hard to manipulate.


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Sewn mohair plush and felt
Brief description
Mohair plush monkey puppet made in England by J K Farnell in the 1930s
Physical description
Light brown mohair plush monkey hand puppet with all four limbs. The extremities of the limbs are of beige felt as is the face and ears. The chin area is of a paler mohair, white or pink. There are two glass eyes, orange with black pupils. There is a tail sewn into the lower back area. The bottom of the puppet is open for the insertion of a hand.
Dimensions
  • Height: 26cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
FARNELL'S ALPHA TOYS MADE IN ENGLAND (On label sewn to lower back edge)
Credit line
Given by Ian Baker
Summary
J K Farnell is credited with producing the first British teddy bear in 1906. The company had been in existence since the mid-nineteenth century and was already making soft toys. It quickly established itself as one of the leading manufacturers. Farnell used the trademark Alpha. Its factory was destroyed twice, once by fire in 1934 and once by bombing in 1940. It survived both these disasters but eventually ceased trading in the 1960s.

As well as teddy bears Farnell made soft toys and cloth dolls. It produced some puppets and this monkey is an unusual example because it has all four limbs rather than the more usual two, and would have been quite hard to manipulate.
Collection
Accession number
B.26-2005

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Record createdJuly 7, 2009
Record URL
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