Geoffrey thumbnail 1
Geoffrey thumbnail 2
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Not currently on display at the V&A

Geoffrey

Teddy Bear
ca. 1955 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Chad Valley teddy bears have very distinctive noses that make them easy to recognise. These are usually stitched quite heavily and resemble lumps of coal. Chad Valley was awarded a Royal Warrant in 1938. This appears on the label on the bear's left foot. It says Toymaker to the Queen Mother, which means the bear was made after Elizabeth II became queen in 1952. Her mother granted the Royal Warrant.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleGeoffrey
Materials and techniques
Mohair plush, stuffed with kapok; rexine
Brief description
Mohair plush teddy bear called Geoffrey, made in England by Chad Valley in about 1955
Physical description
Shaggy pale brown mohair plush fully jointed teddy bear, with brown coated linen (rexine) paws. The eyes are glass and the nose and mouth stitched with brown wool. The muzzle is pronounced, the nose and mouth embroidered with black thread. The bear is stuffed with kapok. There is a growler mechanism inside the body which sounds when the bear is turned over. There is a cream woven label printed with blue lettering sewn on the underside of the left foot.
Dimensions
  • Height: 40.6cm
Production typeMass produced
Credit line
Given by Mrs M. Wrist
Object history
Given to the Museum in 1988 by Mrs M. Wrist, the self-titled 'Teddy Lady of Kingston' [87/1567]. Mrs Wrist had a collection of around seventy teddy bears. She presented the Museum with four bears from her collection which she felt were missing from ours (MISC.123 to 126-1988).
Subject depicted
Summary
Chad Valley teddy bears have very distinctive noses that make them easy to recognise. These are usually stitched quite heavily and resemble lumps of coal. Chad Valley was awarded a Royal Warrant in 1938. This appears on the label on the bear's left foot. It says Toymaker to the Queen Mother, which means the bear was made after Elizabeth II became queen in 1952. Her mother granted the Royal Warrant.
Collection
Accession number
MISC.123-1988

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Record createdOctober 30, 2003
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