Ernest
Teddy Bear
1914 (manufactured), 1989 (made)
1914 (manufactured), 1989 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A little bear, called Ernest, was given to the owner when she was two years old in March 1914. It was a Record Teddy made by Steiff and originally sat on a four wheeled open cart with his arms and legs outstretched. When the cart was pulled along the bear moved to and fro like an oarsman. The bear was removed from the cart at an early stage so it could be cuddled.
In 1946 the bear suffered an unfortunate accident. A young cousin came to stay who played with the bear and with the family's pet dog, a West Island Terrier. Left alone with the bear the dog tore it to bits and only the head remained intact. The owner kept the head for many years and in 1989 a friend of hers made it a new body.
In 1946 the bear suffered an unfortunate accident. A young cousin came to stay who played with the bear and with the family's pet dog, a West Island Terrier. Left alone with the bear the dog tore it to bits and only the head remained intact. The owner kept the head for many years and in 1989 a friend of hers made it a new body.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Ernest (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Sewn and stuffed mohair and fur fabric |
| Brief description | Teddy bear with original head made in germany by Steiff in about 1914 and a later addition body, Germany, 1914 |
| Physical description | A fully jointed teddy bear with mismatching head and body. The head is a very faded brown colour with ears sewn over the seams. The glass eyes are clear with black pupils. The nose is mouded gutta percha and the mouth sewn with black thread. The body is a soft light brown artificial fur with velvet pads on the hands and feet. Each extremity has three long black wool claws. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by Miss Edna I Milsom |
| Summary | A little bear, called Ernest, was given to the owner when she was two years old in March 1914. It was a Record Teddy made by Steiff and originally sat on a four wheeled open cart with his arms and legs outstretched. When the cart was pulled along the bear moved to and fro like an oarsman. The bear was removed from the cart at an early stage so it could be cuddled. In 1946 the bear suffered an unfortunate accident. A young cousin came to stay who played with the bear and with the family's pet dog, a West Island Terrier. Left alone with the bear the dog tore it to bits and only the head remained intact. The owner kept the head for many years and in 1989 a friend of hers made it a new body. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.120-2014 |
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| Record created | April 20, 2015 |
| Record URL |
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