Lot Essay
This novelty teddy was expected to be a great success, but surprisingly there was very little interest in the bear, only 90 examples were made from 1907 to 1914.
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Details
A very rare Steiff hot-water bottle teddy bear
with golden mohair, black boot button eyes, pronounced clipped muzzle, remains of black stitched nose and mouth, swivel head, jointed elongated limbs with felt pads and black stitched claws, hump, FF button in ear, opening at front seam fastened with brass hooks and brown lace with coiled brass tips and rare original tin cannister, circa 1907 --19½in. (49.5cm.) high (some thinning to mohair on face, chest and tips of limbs, holes in right foot and hand pad, slight holes in others, missing most of nose and mouth stitching and cannister dented and missing one stopper); two small studio photographs of the owner as a young girl; and a colour print of a portrait of the owner by Rose Bonner, date 1909
(3)
with golden mohair, black boot button eyes, pronounced clipped muzzle, remains of black stitched nose and mouth, swivel head, jointed elongated limbs with felt pads and black stitched claws, hump, FF button in ear, opening at front seam fastened with brass hooks and brown lace with coiled brass tips and rare original tin cannister, circa 1907 --19½in. (49.5cm.) high (some thinning to mohair on face, chest and tips of limbs, holes in right foot and hand pad, slight holes in others, missing most of nose and mouth stitching and cannister dented and missing one stopper); two small studio photographs of the owner as a young girl; and a colour print of a portrait of the owner by Rose Bonner, date 1909
(3)
Provenance
This was the childhood bear of Mary Vernon Pegge born 24 September 1903 at the Elms, Briton Ferry, Wales. Her father was a doctor, he died suddenly when Mary was about 10 years old and she moved to Bedford with her Mother and younger brother. Eventually she marrided Hubert Boys-Stones, classics master at Bedford School.
She died in her sleep on 22 January 1993 - the bear having been with her all her life.
She died in her sleep on 22 January 1993 - the bear having been with her all her life.
Literature
See Steiff - Teddy Bears love for a lifetime, Jürgen & Marianne Cieslik, page 35.
For a similar example sold in these room see - 100 Years of the Teddy Bear, Tuesday 3 December 2002 - lot 383.
For a similar example sold in these room see - 100 Years of the Teddy Bear, Tuesday 3 December 2002 - lot 383.
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.
Further details
END OF SALE