Saturday, March 1, 2014

Collectible Teddy Bears - What is an Artist Bear?

In the World of Arctophily (Bear Collecting) What on Earth is an "Artist Bear"?


Everyone knows what a Teddy Bear is; a few people are vaguely aware that some folks collect teddies; but what exactly is an "Artist Bear"?  Unless you are immersed in the world of Arctophily or are an Arctophile (Bear Collector) yourself, you may not know how far Teddy collecting has progressed since it first became a "recognized" hobby in the late 1960s.

Peter Bull, an English actor, is recognized as the catalyst behind the arctophily movement. He authored "Bear With Me" in 1969 and "A Hug of Teddy Bears" in 1984, the year of his death. In 1979 he was invited by The House of Nisbet in Britain to collaborate on the creation of a Bully Bear line.

Bully Bear by House of Nisbet UK
The resurgence of Teddy mania in the 1980s was fueled by the appearance of "Aloysius", a vintage teddy owned by Peter Bull, in the British television series Brideshead Revisited".

Artist Bear / Bear Artist:  A bear created from scratch by one person; from the design, the pattern then drawn on the fur/plush material, cut out, sewn, stuffed and assembled. Extra care is taken with the face which is "the soul" of the Teddy Bear.  Basically, producing an original work or soft sculpture art. 

Bear artistry began on the West Coast of the USA in the early 1970s, spread to the UK in the 1980s and now many countries are renowned for the work of their bear artists throughout the world.

Benny by Hearts O' Fur New Brunswick Canada
This is Benny, a bear created by Nancy and Tom of Hearts O' Fur a cottage industry studio shop located in New Brunswick Canada.  Made from recycled fur coats rescued from Thrift Shops or commissioned by owners, Nancy cuts out and stitches the parts adding a lucky penny to the paw pad, Tom joints and stuffs the bears adding a furry heart, and Nancy creates the faces.

Hang Tag for Benny
An embroidered label is stitched to one paw pad and a card hang tag is added with the bear's handwritten name and number referenced.

Artist Bears are not found in typical shops. There are very few actual "brick & mortar" shops that carry these types of bears. Most are only found in specialized Teddy Bear Shows that are held throughout the world or on line. 

My Dream Bear 1994 by Johanna Haida Germany
Artist Bear by Johanna Haida of Sonneberg Germany, My Dream Bear born 1994 with Birth Certificate hang tag and embroidered seam tag. 

Birth Certificate Tag












Inside Tag Details

Johanna Haida also designed bears for the renowned traditional teddy bear company Hermann Spielwaren Germany.






Tracking down information on vintage artist bears and their original 1980s and 1990s Bear Artists can prove difficult. In those days there was no internet or websites (commercial internet as we know it began in the mid 1990s). Some artists went on to design for the bigger retail plush companies and many of their works are documented in Teddy reference books on the market.

One such story was artist Robert Raikes who was known for his wooden faced teddy bears.  He was an accomplished sculptor and artist working out of his Mt Shasta California Studio.

Applause Robert Raikes Jamie Bear
The first teddy produced by Applause (division of Wallace Berrie) designed by Robert Raikes was Jamie in 1985. Robert Raikes was known for his carved cypress wood teddy faces. This collaboration lasted into the early 1990s upon which time he took back control of his bear creations under his own company name and production.

Hang Tag on Jamie Applause Raikes Bear
Applause Seam Tag
Applause Seam Tag

























One result of researching a 1980s artist over many months, concluded with very satisfying results. I had acquired 3 lovely artist teddy bears from a local Antique Show. All were jointed and all had their original seam tags which simply stated Hand Made by Shirley Kitchener Ontario Canada.

Shirley Bear Kitchener ON
Seam Tag Shirley Kitchener
When I attended a local Antique Show sometime afterwards, I spoke to a lady who had a Teddy Bear booth and she provided me with a last name that she thought may be the artist of my bears. I searched "Voelker" on line and came up with a teddy bear making supply business in Ontario. I emailed the site and had a wonderful reply from Karen who turned out to be Shirley's daughter who had taken over the supply business her mother had begun. She confirmed that her mother Shirley Voelker had made the bears back in the 1980s and had started the on line supply business because she had had such a difficult time finding the raw materials to make bears herself. Her mother is now 85 and still living in Kitchener and was pleased to know her bears were still "out there" and being appreciated by collectors. 

Shirley Voelker 1980s Artist Bears
I acquired a beautiful pale pink mohair Artist Bear named Emily in 2008 for my own hug (collection) and finally made the decision to offer her for adoption a few years later so another could enjoy her company. 

Emily Artist Bear by Bouffa Bears 1987 Limited Edition 7/100
I listed Emily for sale and on Christmas eve I had a buyer. The buyer contacted me to tell me she was the original Artist of Emily! She had made 100 of these bears in a limited edition on the 2nd floor of a farmhouse in Reed City Michigan in 1987 and had never kept one for herself. It was Amy Jo Williams, nee Boufford who had hand made bears under the name Bouffa Bears up until 1988 when she had to close her business due to the pricing of the mohair vs return on her creations. She had moved on to Ohio and began a career in veterinarian medicine but never forgot her bears. Emily was going home to "mom"!

Bear Artists frequently use decorative printed or embroidered labels as trademarks and the artist's signature and edition number often appear on the label or directly on the foot pad of the bear. An artist bear will sometimes be OOAK (one of a kind).

Pouzeli Artist Bear Quebec Canada

Hang Tag Pouzeli
Pouzeli Howick Quebec Canada Artist Plush Teddy Bear. Tag signed Sparkle the Fairy of Light, real heart in his chest.

Mummer's Artist Teddy Bear

 
Mummer's Bear Seam Tag
Artist Bear by Arlene Hayashida with seam tag in neck. Mummer's or Mardi Gras Teddy Bear made of plush and fully jointed. Holding puppet.








Hang Tag Edition 5 of 5





Celtic Teddy Artist Bear

 Celtic Teddy Bear handmade in Cornwall UK named George, limited edition 5 of 5.

Out-of-the-Woods Teddy Ontario Canada


Out-of-the-Woods Teddy Tag 1992
Out-of-the-Woods Teddy Bear by Susan Sanderson 1992 named Podge.











Bears by Sue Kruse 1982 






Limited Edition Artist Bear by Bears by Sue Kruse 1982, No 005 made from Wool Plush. 

Label Sue Kruse Bear 005

Hand dated 4/82 seam label. Hand numbered 005.









Vintage home made bears, while not officially recognized as "Artist Bears" are also collectible in their own right. During and right after WWII, especially in Europe, there were very few stuffed animal toys available due to factories being repurposed for use for the War effort and many home made bears were created using burlap, military woolen blankets, and other fabrics of opportunity that were available at the time, including knitted animals. Patterns were created to help out the home front. Some large companies had their start creating teddies during the war time rationing period, using unique materials.

Keep your eye out for Vintage Teddy Bears and other animals that could be either Artist Bears or home made creations that may be from the War generation or considered folk art.

Many of the bears featured here are available for adoption at Mandicrafts. 

Bear Hugs
Mandy
Mandicrafts
©mandicrafts



 
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