Lot 179: Early 20th Century Jointed Mohair Teddy Bear
A vintage five-way jointed teddy bear, constructed from brown mohair plush on a woven backing. The bear features a hump-backed profile, elongated limbs, and a pointed muzzle consistent with early 20th-century design. It is stuffed with wood-wool (excelsior) and has glass or boot-button eyes. The nose and mouth are hand-stitched with wool yarn. The paw pads are fashioned from a coarse woven fabric, possibly linen or cotton. Internal discs allow for the movement of the head, arms, and legs. An orange adhesive label is attached to the chest reading 119 in handwritten black ink, and a small white adhesive label above it reads 21 in printed black characters. There are no maker’s marks, tags, or buttons visible on the body.
Condition report:
The bear shows extensive signs of age and significant play-wear. There is widespread mohair loss and balding across the head, torso, and limbs, exposing the woven substrate (photo 1). The fabric on the ears is frayed and thinned, and the paw pads show similar wear and thinning of the material (photo 1). The hand-stitched nose and mouth show wear but remain largely intact. A visible seam opening or repair is present on the right side of the chest (photo 1). The internal stuffing has shifted or settled in several areas, particularly in the limbs.
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