'Jimmy', a Bing teddy bear

細節

'Jimmy', a Bing teddy bear
with golden mohair, black boot button eyes, pronounced snout, black stitched nose, mouth and claws, swivel head, jointed shaped limbs and felt pads --16in. (40.5cm.) tall, circa 1908 (one foot pad recovered, repair to other three pads, repair to split ankle seam, overall wear to mohair) and three photographs of 'Jimmy's' family, one dated 1908 of 'Jimmy' and original owner, Ivy Tapp

See Colour Plate 2

拍品專文

On St. Valentine's Day the 14th February 1908, for her 7th birthday, Ivy Tapp was given the special present of a Bing bear by her father, James Tapp, of Teignmouth, Devon. Ivy named the bear 'Jimmy' after her father. This very appropriate St. Valentine's gift meant everything to Ivy and was the start of a lifelong love affair. James Tapp was employed as Head Gardener of a large Estate in Teignmouth all his life and lived in a small cottage on the Estate with his daughter Ivy and 'Jimmy'. In order to save up sufficient money to pay for 'Jimmy' James played the euphonium in the Teignmouth Town Band.

Ivy died in Teignmouth in 1980 and 'Jimmy' went to live in Tenterden, Kent with one of her daughters.

The family have now decided to ask Christie's to find 'Jimmy' a new home as it would have been difficult to decide which of their five children should look after him.