No doubt you have bears from all corners of the world, of different ages and made from different materials and with different values. I’m also sure if you are a collector, even if you have not done any restoration work, that you will have least kept them in the best condition possible. So how can you make money if you are unsure of their value?

Buying And Selling Antique Bears

The simple answer is probably to buy a good reference guide book that will list the most collectible and popular bears. You certainly need to know what you are looking for in terms of identifying certain bears, but once you have an idea, get yourself off to those second-hand shops, flea markets and auctions. At first you may like to take the book with you to sneak a look in a corner but after a bit of practice, you’ll soon get the hang of what is of value and what is not. Also keep an eye on Ebay and more particularly the lesser known auction sites and Craigs List for example. As Ebay attracts the big dealers, it may just be wise to see what’s there and the end result rather than bid yourself.

The most collectible names to look for are Steiff, Ideal, Chad Valley, Farnell, Merrythought, Hermann and Chiltern.

When it comes to selling your bears, get as much of their general and personal history as you can. Not only will this make you sound knowledgable, it will give people confidence to buy from you. And if you can’t bring yourself to sell your newly acquired antique bear, you can always keep it safe yourself!

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Now what kind of condition is it in? Does it have worn spots where it has been played with? Please stand back and look at the antique teddy bear like a buyer and not a seller. Some wear is acceptable, but not as a rule.

What kind of joints does it have if it has joints at all? Some bears are called jointed because the arms and legs move. Is there any missing pieces? Eyes and mouths and even arms and legs are sometimes missing. Do you have the part that fell off? If so keep it handy as it can be repaired.

What type of eyes does your antique teddy bear have? Glass or shoe button eyes or sewn on eyes? This will be relevant to the age of the bear. Does the bear have a button or the remains of one in its left ear? If it does have a button it may be a Steiff teddy bear and this is very good for a high appraisal. Measure the bears height. The height also adds to value.

Now that you know alot about your bear, write it down and go to your favorite auction site. Use the information you have obtained to compare your bear to ones that are for sale. Always keep an eye on completed listings and use these to determine your antique teddy bear’s worth.

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Some of the fillings used in the older bears were never designed to be washed, so never put your bear in the washer! Apart from it being traumatic for the owner watching the little thing spin, your antique teddy bear will probably come out in bits!

If your bear is really valuable, seek professional help and do not attempt cleaning it on your own. Professionals are insured (check first though) but you are not. If you must attempt to clean your bear do make sure it is in excellent condition first and wear cotton gloves to prevent the transfer of natural oils from your hands. Use a little luke-warm water with some very mild liquid detergent that is specially designed for fragile fabrics and swish it up. Dip a sponge or very soft cloth into the foam only and gently stroke the fur. Do not make the fur wet! Dab off any wetness with a dry soft cloth, but do not rub the material.

Leave your antique teddy bear in a warm and natural atmosphere to dry completely on his own. Then fluff up the fur gently with a soft brush.

There are not that many around, but a really useful book to read that is full of excellent tips and information about cleaning and restoring your antique teddy bear can be found HERE.

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Teddy Roosevelt was not a particularly keen hunter but was an avid sportsman. In the course of a bear hunting trip in 1902 where most of the party (but not Roosevelt) had already shot something, some of Roosevelt’s attendants after a long and sometimes violent chase, managed to subdue a black bear and tie it to a tree and suggested that Roosevelt shoot it.

Given the unsportsmanlike circumstances, Roosevelt refused to shoot the bear but had the bear killed to relieve it of its misery. It was this event that led to a political cartoon in The Washington Post.

The cartoon evolved, and later inspired Morris Michtom to create a new toy. This stuffed bear became known as ‘Teddy’s bear”. Michtom’s bear was not the only one to evolve at this time and Richard Steiff also created a similar toy in Leipzig in 1903 after which the Steiff teddy bear was exported in large numbers to the United States.

It only took a few more years for the bear to catch on with other manufacturers and they soon became prize possessions of adults as well as children. Perhaps not surprisingly, Teddy Roosevelt kept the original bear given to him by Michtom.

Although the early bears may not have been safe by today’s commercial standards, they were still much loved and cherished for years to come and the Steiff teddy bear in particular remains a collector’s item all over the world.

New Steiff Teddy Bear

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Let’s take it from the inside out. Antique teddy bears were originally stuffed with wood wool, this practice continued until just after World War I when wood wool was replaced by kapok. The construction of the bear itself was from mohair that is derived from Angora goats with the bear’s paws being cut from felt or suede. In order to make the bear ‘growl’, small bellows were attached to tubes of cardboard with a reed were inserted. These worked when the bear was turned over as a weight would force the bellows open and on turning the bear again, the bellows would release the air through the reed creating the ‘growl’. The joints that made the arms, legs and head move were quite basic and worked because of metal or card discs secured by pins.

Looking at the facial features of an antique teddy bear, the eyes themselves were derived from a couple of sources; either shoe buttons or glass that had been painted at the back that were attached via a hook. The nose and mouth tended to be embroidered by hand although the exact shape of the nose tended to differ between manufacturers.

Today, although antique teddy bears still retain the charm of the collectible bears, their construction is somewhat dissimilar which is especially notable by the colours and clothing. We now even have talking bears with flashing noses!

However, one thing will never change, our children’s love of these cuddly toys will often extend into adulthood. I know my children who are now in their twenties and thirties still have their stuffed bears, whether they are collectible bears, or a vintage bear or not.

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