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 Definition of an Artist Teddy Bear
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An Artist Teddy Bear is a teddy bear completely created by a teddy bear artist, a craftsperson who has an artistic flair and vision to design a teddy bear pattern by herself and work through the various stages of construction to the final stage of dressing the bear and creating an expression on the bear’s face.
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It may be offered as a one-of-a-kind, limited edition or an open edition.
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The quality of materials used and the fine craftsmanship of an artist teddy bear is very important. Even more important is that indefinable spirit that is imparted to a bear, like some magical spell, by a true artist.
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About Mohair
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Mohair is a wool-like fibre produced by the gorgeous little billy-goat, the Angora. Originally reared by Tibetan mountain tribes in the high Himalayas, the Angora breed found their way to Turkey. Turkish Sultans so prized their mohair that until the 19th century, no-one was allowed to take Angoras out of the country.
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Today, we can find substantial mohair producing industries in South Africa, Texas (USA), Australia and Argentina.
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Affectionate and nimble, the Angora goat is a real showstopper with its long creamy-white ringlets. Twice a year, these ringlets are cut off to make a yarn and unlike wool, mohair is smooth, it has no scales or pockets for bugs to lurk in.
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About Alpaca
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The Alpaca is a domesticated species of South American camelid. The Alpaca is a domesticated species of South American camelid. It resembles a small llama in superficial appearance. Alpacas are kept in herds that graze on the level heights of the Andes of Ecuador, Southern Northern Bolivia, and Northern Chile at an altitude of 3500 to 5000 meters above sea-level.
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Alpaca fleece is a light-weight, lustrous and silky natural fiber. While similar to sheep’s wool in that it is a natural fiber, it is warmer, not prickly, and bears no lanolin which makes it hypoallergenic. It is also soft and luxurious. In physical structure, alpaca fiber is somewhat akin to hair, being very glossy, but its softness and fineness enable the spinner to produce satisfactory yarn with comparative ease. It is hollow as well, which makes it a good insulator.
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Teddy Bear History
The origin of the teddy bear dates back to 1902. It seems that President Theodore Roosevelt took a little hunting trip down in Mississippi and when he refused to shoot an exhausted bear tied to a tree, declaring it to be unsportsmanlike, the Washington Post called attention to the event.
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An ensuing editorial cartoon drew national attention and before long, an enterprising Brooklyn merchant capitalized on the opportunity. Shopkeeper Morris Michtom's wife handmade several plush toy bears stuffed with excelsior and decorated them with black shoe button eyes. With Roosevelt's knowledge and blessing, they were dubbed 'Teddy's Bears'. The fuzzy bears gained popularity and as demand increased, Michtom relocated his business to a larger space and renamed it the Ideal Novelty and Toy Corporation.
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About the same time, Steiff began producing jointed stuffed bears in Germany. An American buyer viewed them at the 1903 Leipzig Fair and imported several thousands to sell in the United States. Other companies have produced teddies throughout the years, including Bing and Farnell, which can also be very expensive when found in excellent condition. Faithful collectors love them all.
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Now collectors clamor to find these treasures. Never failing to please consumers, talented entrepreneurs make many versions of new bears these days as well.
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Starting a Teddy Bear Collection
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Even the most simple bear styles appeal to collectors. Often starting out with a childhood friend, teddy lovers begin to amass a collection built around cherished memories. The most important aspect of adding to a collection comes with choosing things you'll enjoy owning, just as you enjoyed saving that special bear all those years.
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Many people wonder what to keep for their children to have when they grow up. Knowing you cannot salvage everything, how about choosing one favorite teddy bear or other stuffed animal? Who knows, one day it may offer the foundation for a special collection to be passed on to future generations.
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And remember, it is never too late to start a collection. If you've been eyeing a teddy thinking you might like to own it........ get into the spirit of collecting and take the plunge. It doesn't have to be expensive, just loved.
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