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Not currently on display at the V&A

Teddy Bear

ca. 1910 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

J. K. Farnell is credited with making the first British teddy bear in about 1905. The company made this bear slightly later, and it was dressed soon after it was made. Nuns on the island of Malta made the shirt. The sailor's jacket has several appropriate medal ribbons. They include the Queen Victoria Jubilee Medal, either the Second China Medal (1857-1860) or the Boxer Rising Medal (1900), and the Queen's South Africa Medal (1899-1901) for the Boer War.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Stuffed and sewn mohair plush
Brief description
Mohair plush teddy bear made in England by J K Farnell in about 1910
Physical description
Blonde mohair plush fully jointed teddy bear. The eyes are glass and the nose, mouth and claws are stitched with black wool. The feet pads are felt and are reinforced with card. The bear is dressed in a cotton shirt and a navy blue sailor's outfit.
Dimensions
  • Height: 51cm
Production typeMass produced
Credit line
Given by Miss K. M. Finch
Object history
The bear was dressed soon after it was made. The shirt was made by nuns on the island of Malta and the sailor's jacket has the date appropriate medal ribbons for the Queen Victoria Jubilee Medal, either the Second China Medal (1857-1860) or the Boxer Rising Medal (1900) and the Queen's South Africa Medal (1899-1901) for the Boer War.
Production
Reason For Production: Retail
Summary
J. K. Farnell is credited with making the first British teddy bear in about 1905. The company made this bear slightly later, and it was dressed soon after it was made. Nuns on the island of Malta made the shirt. The sailor's jacket has several appropriate medal ribbons. They include the Queen Victoria Jubilee Medal, either the Second China Medal (1857-1860) or the Boxer Rising Medal (1900), and the Queen's South Africa Medal (1899-1901) for the Boer War.
Collection
Accession number
MISC.14-1974

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Record createdOctober 28, 2003
Record URL
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