Bear made from a 1960s McCall's pattern in 1987; Winnie the Pooh; English/USA; 1987. McCall's paper pattern.

Seated teddy bear representing Winne the Pooh, made from golden-coloured machine-knitted synthetic plush, stuffed with pieces of fabric and possibly plastic foam. Pooh's facial features are cut from cotton-backed PVC fabric. He wears a short-sleeved, V-neck sweater with a turned-down collar, made from red cotton.

Given by Mrs. M. Wrist

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).

McCall’s was founded by James McCall, a tailor who had emigrated from Scotland to the United States. The McCall Pattern Company was inaugurated in 1870, in New York City. A magazine known initially as ‘The Queen’, then as ‘McCall’s Magazine – the Queen of Fashion’, before settling on ‘McCall’s Magazine’, began to be published by James McCall from 1873. The magazine grew from being a mere vehicle for the sale of sewing patterns to achieve enormous popularity, peaking in the early-1960s. Sewing patterns for fashion and for toys were sold through many high street retailers. The company still exists today.

Winnie the Pooh is a fictional anthropomorphic teddy bear, created in the 1920s by British author A.A. Milne. Pooh was based on a toy bear owned by his son, Christopher Robin Milne, as were most of the other characters. All of the characters live together in the Hundred Acre Wood. The Pooh stories are some of the best-loved children’s literature ever produced, they have been translated into many languages, including Latin. US and Canadian rights to the character were purchased from Milne in 1930, by Stephen Slesinger (1901- 1953), it was at this point Pooh acquired his now-familiar red shirt. Certain rights were licenced to Disney in 1961, the corporation have since gone on to turn Pooh into a truly global commercial asset, boasting numerous feature films, television series’ and merchandise.

Made by the donor after McCall pattern no. 8087 (see B.95-2015).

MISC.126-1988