Soft Toy
1960s (manufactured)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This duck has a Clemens manufacturing tag around its neck. This is a trademark of the Clemens bear and the tag has changed very little since the companies inception in 1952. They initially started off as a metal tag but during 1963 and 1968, a red plastic tag was used, which is the type on this toy. In 1989, the company went back to using metal tags, hung on a blue ribbon to symbolise reliability and a unique design.
Clemens was established by Hans Clemens in Germany, shortly after the Second World War. He had lost everything due to the war so opened a retail business specialising in glass porcelain and gifts. However, due to the demand from customers for teddy bears, he began making bears from old army blankets. His son, Peter Clemens took over the business but retired in 2002. The company, however, are still producing new bears today.
Clemens was established by Hans Clemens in Germany, shortly after the Second World War. He had lost everything due to the war so opened a retail business specialising in glass porcelain and gifts. However, due to the demand from customers for teddy bears, he began making bears from old army blankets. His son, Peter Clemens took over the business but retired in 2002. The company, however, are still producing new bears today.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Felt and metal |
| Brief description | Soft toy, metal and felt plush duck, made by Clemens, Germany, 1960s. |
| Physical description | A felt soft toy in the shape of a duck. Its main body and shape of the head is made out of one part of felt, stuffed and stitched. The wings are two pieces of felt sewn together and then sewn onto the main body either side. The legs and beak are also stitched on in an orange coloured felt. The beak has a small bit of padding and the legs have a metal structure within to allow the toy to stand. The duck has a blue head scarf tied around its neck, which has an orange felt heart sewn onto the left side. Its eyes are glued on with a larger white circle and a small black circle together. There is a red plastic triangular label tied around its front with purple thread. The label is the mark from the manufacturer and reads the same on both sides, 'Clemens Spieltiere Made in W-Germany'. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'Clemens / Spieltiere / Toy-Animals' (On tag around neck) |
| Historical context | This soft toy is from Daniel Agnew's collection. He is best known for running Christie's famous Teddy Bear auctions from 2000 to 2007, but his passion for Teddy Bears and all toys goes back much further than that. His mother is a well-respected antique dealer known throughout Britain. As a child he was fascinated with the bits and pieces that she bought home from her various buying trips. Daniel started to attend auctions and shows with her at the weekends and as a child of 9 or 10, what caught his eye most were the toys. |
| Summary | This duck has a Clemens manufacturing tag around its neck. This is a trademark of the Clemens bear and the tag has changed very little since the companies inception in 1952. They initially started off as a metal tag but during 1963 and 1968, a red plastic tag was used, which is the type on this toy. In 1989, the company went back to using metal tags, hung on a blue ribbon to symbolise reliability and a unique design. Clemens was established by Hans Clemens in Germany, shortly after the Second World War. He had lost everything due to the war so opened a retail business specialising in glass porcelain and gifts. However, due to the demand from customers for teddy bears, he began making bears from old army blankets. His son, Peter Clemens took over the business but retired in 2002. The company, however, are still producing new bears today. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.132-2010 |
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| Record created | May 11, 2010 |
| Record URL |
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