House of Nisbet UK Collectible Teddy Bears & Peter Bull

House of Nisbet UK Collectible Teddy Bears

In 1953 Peggy Nisbet founds Peggy Nisbet Ltd, making collector portrait dolls at her home in Weston-super-Mare, England, later moving to larger premises.



Costume Doll by "Peggy Nisbet, Made in England".

Hang Tag Shows Peggy Nisbet

Costume Doll by Peggy Nisbet

In 1975 Canadian Jack Wilson becomes executive chairman, employed by a Canadian investment company who acquires control through their UK subsidiary and company is renamed the House of Nisbet Ltd in 1976.

Jack's Bear by House of Nisbet

The first range of Teddy Bears were introduced in 1976, designed by Alison Nisbet, daughter of Peggy, and later wife to Jack Wilson.  Alison was based at Dunster Park, Winscombe, Avon, England.

House of Nisbet 1980s foot pad label

The House of Nisbet embroidered foot pad label shows a shield with the letters "CNC". "CC" stands for Childhood Classic, and "N" for Nisbet.

In 1987, with Norton (Weaving) Ltd, supplier of mohair fabric in England, Jack Wilson invents a process for distressing mohair using an old 1904 velvet crushing machine.  Jack's Bear is made with two-tone alpaca plush, distressed using this new method.








In 1979 The House of Nisbet initiated an association with Peter Bull (b. 1912 d. 1984) resulting in the Bully series of books and later producing the Bully Bear series of Teddies, characters from the books. Peter Bull, an English actor is recognized as the catalyst behind the worldwide arctophilly movement (Teddy Bear collecting) beginning in the late 1960s.  Best known for starring in the UK television BBC series Brideshead Revisited, on the show he had an old 1907 Ideal USA teddy bear called Aloysius, his own bear sent to him from a deli in Maine USA by the previous owner that he had named Delicatessen in honour of the bear's roots.  In 1987, to celebrate Peter Bull's 80th birthday, The House of Nisbet issued a replica bear made from distressed mohair.

Young Bully Bear

Named "Young Bully" a mohair plush Limited Edition Teddy wearing his robes of the Worshipful Association of Peanut Butter Eaters. He has his original hang tag, showing a picture of Peter Bull on one side and some of the Bully Bears in the series on the other side. 

Hang Tag showing Bully Bears in Series

Under his arm is his House of Nisbet seam tag label, hand numbered with his Limited Edition No. as well as the company logo.  Issued in the early to mid 1980s.

Young Bully Bear Seam tag label

The House of Nisbet issued several different series of Teddy Bears during the 1980s. The Celebrity Collection was introduced in 1987 to honour bear makers and arctophiles (Teddy Collectors). One such replica was a golden mohair plush Wendy Boston Teddy. Peter Bull had had one in his own collection. The Signature Edition series, also introduced in 1987, honours collectors and authors such as Linda Mullens.  In 1984 the Zodiac Bear Series was introduced, issued along with the 12 books Peter Bull co-wrote with Pauline McMillan. The House of Nisbet issued all 12 of the character teddy bears from the series as well as published the books themselves. 

After his death in 1984, Peter Bull's Teddy Bear collection was bequeathed to the London Toy and Model museum. Most of his bears are still displayed but some were sold, including "Aloysius"/"Delicatessen" now on display in his home in California.

In 1989 Dakin acquired the House of Nisbet via share capital and David Potter, Dakin's Europe/UK managing director became Nisbet's managing director, with Jack Wilson as director and honourary chairman. Jack Wilson and his family retired to Florida.

House of Nisbet Artist Teddy, Limited Edition

Limited Edition seam label

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