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Worldwide Collectibles Forum
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Enter the message board here:-
Teddy Bears Message Board
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The teddy
bear is a stuffed toy bear. It is an enduring, traditional form of
stuffed animal, often serving the purpose of comforting upset children.
In recent times, some teddy bears have become expensive collector's
items. Teddy bear collectors are known as arctophiles from the Greek
words 'arcto' (bear) and 'philos' (lover). The world's first Teddy Bear
Museum was set up in Petersfield, Hampshire, England, in 1984. In 1990 a
similar foundation was set up in Naples, Florida, USA.
Commercially made, mass produced teddy bears are predominantly made as
toys for children. These bears have safety joints for attaching arms
legs and heads. They also have securely fastened eyes that do not pose a
choking hazard for small children. These "plush" bears must meet a rigid
standard of construction in order to be marketed to children in the
United States and in European Economic Community.
 By
contrast, Artist Bears, are not mass produced and definitely not
intended for small children. In fact, most carry a tag saying just that.
These bears are intended for an adult market of avid collectors. They
are individually created by a whole host of artists around the world.
Many of these artists design their own bears as well as making them by
hand or stitching them up on home sewing machines. These bears are not
mass marketed. They are available for purchase through the individual
artists, specialty shops, web sites, and at art shows, Teddy Bear shows
and craft shows across the globe. These bears are almost always jointed
with movable heads, arms and legs. The jointing systems to attach these
appendages and heads are most often disk and screw or disk and cotter
pin combinations but can be done with buttons, simple string, chain or
any other method an enterprising artist may devise.
The "fur" from which these charming creatures are made is as varied and
interesting as the bears themselves. Mohair, the fur shorn or combed
from a breed of long haired goats, is woven into cloth, dyed and trimmed
to produce a fascinating choice for any artist's palette. In addition to
mohair, there is a huge selection of "plush" or synthetic fur made for
the teddy bear market. Both these types of fur are commercially
produced.
Some Teddy Bear Artists specialize in the production of bears made from
recycled materials. These artists haunt thrift stores, flea markets,
garage sales and trash collection centers as well as their own and their
familys' basements and attics in search of forgotten treasures to be
turned into a collector's dream. Old quilts, dresses, fur collars, coats
and stoles as well as beaded bags and garments are quickly transformed
into stunning teddy bears.
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