Not currently on display at the V&A

Teddy Bear

1904 -1905 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Beige (slightly gingery) mohair plush fully jointed humped back teddy bear with beige felt paw and feet pads. The arms are long and slender, the legs have plump thighs, slim ankles and narrow feet. The paws and feet have each got five black wool stitched claws. The nose is vertically stitched in black wool with the central five stitches dropped to meet the mouth which is an inverted V shape. The ears are small and placed on the side of the head with the upper edges aligned with the head seams. The eyes are black boot buttons. The stuffing in the head is wood wool and that of the body and limbs is a mixture of wood wool and kapok. There appears to be some sort of voicebox in the lower body. There is a blank metal button in the left ear.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Mohair plush exterior stuffed with excelsior (wood wool) and kapok
Brief description
Mohair plush teddy bear made in Germany by Steiff in 1904 or 1905
Physical description
Beige (slightly gingery) mohair plush fully jointed humped back teddy bear with beige felt paw and feet pads. The arms are long and slender, the legs have plump thighs, slim ankles and narrow feet. The paws and feet have each got five black wool stitched claws. The nose is vertically stitched in black wool with the central five stitches dropped to meet the mouth which is an inverted V shape. The ears are small and placed on the side of the head with the upper edges aligned with the head seams. The eyes are black boot buttons. The stuffing in the head is wood wool and that of the body and limbs is a mixture of wood wool and kapok. There appears to be some sort of voicebox in the lower body. There is a blank metal button in the left ear.
Dimensions
  • Height: 40cm
Production typeMass produced
Credit line
Given by Miss Penelope Hawkes
Object history
The bear belonged to Professor C F C Hawkes, brother of the donor, who was born in 1905

Historical significance: Steiff blank button teddy bears were only made in 1904 and 1905. Before then there was an elephant embossed on the button and afterwards the name Steiff in various different lettering.
Production
Reason For Production: Retail
Collection
Accession number
B.253-2000

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Record createdAugust 29, 2000
Record URL
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