Bid Live & Online in this Auction Via ArtFact Live!

Advanced registration required

When Teddy Roosevelt refused to shoot a bear that had been pursed to exhaustion and tied to a tree, he inspired Morris Michtom, a candy store owner, to design and sell a stuffed bear in his honor. This happened in 1902, and the Michtom bear with its jointed arms and legs would become the grand ancestor of one of the most popular and iconic toys in America. A century later, of course, it would also become a sought-after item among collectors of antique toys. But the Michtom bear shares this distinction with another bear, the Steiff bear, a toy designed and launched independently by German toymaker Richard Steiff at approximately the same time. Steiff was allegedly inspired by the sight of bears performing in a circus and wanted to create a toy that was jointed, soft, and somewhat human-shaped, part toy bear and part doll.

As all bear collectors—arctophiles—know, both Michtom and Steiff bears were a huge success. And since their popularity began to surge in 1904, any bear created before that year is considered one of the very first teddy bears in America, a rare and valuable find in the world of antique toys.

A wide diversity in teddy bear styles and features began to proliferate in 1906, and during the century that followed, many famous bear manufacturers rose and fell on the same waves that shaped American and European history. German bears, for example, experienced a reduced distribution to America during World War I. Only one German bear maker, Bing, managed to continue production during the war. This allowed British and American toymakers a new foothold in the teddy bear market, and when a certain British bear created by J. K. Farnell and Co inspired A. A. Milne to write the immortal Winnie-the-Pooh books in 1926, their ensuing popularity led Farnell bears to take their place beside Steiff and Bing bears as one of the most collectable antique toys of the present era.

So what sets Steiff, Bing, and Farnell Bears apart from other bears and from one another? As far as early Bing and Steiff bears are concerned, not much. In fact, Bing fought legally with Steiff over many early similarities between the two bears, including the famous button-in-ear feature. Early Bing bears had a metal plate attached to the ear with the letters GBN imprinted in a triangle. But after Steiff’s legal challenges, this identifier was called a “mark”, no longer a “button”, and it was moved under the left arm.

Both early Steiff and Bing bears had boot button eyes, usually black. Early Farnell bears had button eyes too, but later Farnell versions were distinguished by eyes made of amber colored glass. All three companies made their first bears with long, curved arms, spoon-shaped paws, and seams running up the front of the bear rather than the back. They also made their bears out of mohair and gave them features meant to resemble real bears, such as humped backs and longish, realistic-looking noses. Farnell bears often had stitched “claws” on the backs of their paws.

Among antique toys, Farnell, Steiff and Bing teddy bears are considered relatively safe items to collect since they are difficult to counterfeit. But always check the tags on your antique bear and keep an eye out for certain features like real mohair (not synthetic), velvet paw pads (rather than cotton), hand stitching, and wooden rather than metal or plastic joints. Also keep an eye out for “wood wool” stuffing, a kind of soft wood shaving. Even when the era of wool stuffing began in the 1920’s, Steiff, Bing, and Farnell were still using wood wool to stuff their bears’ heads.

Is your Steiff, Farnell or Bing bear valuable? As with all antique toys, the answer depends on the prevailing market and the condition of the bear. But recent buying guides have placed a Steiff jointed bear with a blank ear button, circa 1905, at about $1,225. Farnell and Bing mohair bears made before 1917 may be offered at similar prices. If you own a bear made during this period, or any plush antique toy, keep it safe. If you need to clean it, do so gently with a damp cloth. Better, have it cleaned by a professional. It’s easy enough to explain the popularity of the teddy bear—teddy bears are huggable! But this also makes them rare and valuable among antique toys, because they don’t tend to last long.

– Erin Sweeney

I love reading all the style magazines and checking out all the tabloids.  I’m not reading the articles, but more scanning the images to see who is wearing what vintage couture.  These days it seems celebrities and their stylists love to mix and match vintage with new.  I love that!  To me, nothing spices up a great pair of jeans and a t-shirt than a stack of Chanel bracelets on your wrist or even a pair of retro Vans.

I know I know, some of this stuff you can buy new today, but does it really have that “worn in” feel?  I mean, to me it screams “I’ve got tons of money but I’m going old skool cause I can!”  – and you can too!

Let’s take a look at who was seen wearing what…

For starters, numerous female celebrities are sporting Tiffany & Co.’s Victorian era diamond encrusted pendant necklace.  I love that even Tiffany’s is looking at making old new again!

Penelope Cruz hit the red carpet wearing a vintage Gianni Versace white gown.  She really rocked the gown by not overdoing the accessories.  A simple clutch, and chandelier diamond earrings.

Another trend hitting the red carpet are stacking bangles.  You can get the same look by passing the new high priced designer bracelets for stacks of 1950-1970s rhinestone encrusted celluloid or Bakelite ones.  The more bling, the better!

In May – InStyle magazine was inspired by Faye Dunaway and the white eyelet dress she wore on the set of Extraordinary Seaman (circa 1969). Vintage “Eyelet” dresses are a dime a dozen at your local vintage couture hot spot, and on eBay.  Add a splash of color with a great tortoise bangle and a great pair of sandals!

This floored me…remember when you were in high school or college and “top siders” were all the rage?  Thereee back! Nordstroms is still them in silver – yes, you read right…SILVER.

Aviators are still as hot as they were when we saw Tom Cruise wearing them in Top Gun.

Debra Messing come to find out is a huge fan of vintage jewelry.  I caught a glimpse of some of her prize possessions and what I noticed is she has very eclectic tastes.  Many jewelry collectors follow a specific artist, or period – she is all over the board, and I love it!  I believe she is a follower of “If I like it, I want it”

Another celebrity expressing their passion for vintage?  Scarlett Johansson!  What does she crave?  Like most women, shoes. Alas she collects vintage silhouettes from the 1940s and 50s.  That’s her idea of glam!  I know I can’t pass up a great pair of heels!

Last but not least, host Cat Deeley from “So You Think You Can Dance”   She’s loves a good flea market find or she’ll do a complete turn and sport something by Alexander McQueen.  I love versatility!

Have you seen a celebrity wearing vintage? Tell us about it – here!

The Richard Wright Collection of Moorcroft Pottery

Tuesday 21 September

New Bond Street, London

July 24th, 2010  !0am

Featuring Fine Art and Prints, Porcelain and Pottery, Modern Decorative Arts, Sculpture, European Glass, Fine Jewelry, Native American, Orientalia, Textiles, Furniture and Toys.

Reyne interviews more dealers who display items they have attained while out picking. In this episode we see antique glass plates that were bought for a song and some interesting sewing items that are worth a lot more than you would think.

Reyne Haines interviews dealers who show their picking conquests, including Civil War letters from the Wars most unlucky soldier, who was shot once in the groin, recovered only to be shot in the forehead in a subsequent battle and then buried in a mass grave, which he crawled out of on his own.

To continue with picking storage units, I thought I’d give you a peek inside a day of one of my pickers…

Yesterday he was the lucky bidder for this storage unit:

From the average person’s eye, this looks like a whole lot of junk right?  Would you pay $50 for all of this?  Before you are quick to judge, let’s take a look at what was tucked away in all those garbage bags…

Rule # 1 – Never leave food or trash in storage units.  Mice will get to them and then you will have bags with holes, and dead rats!

Rule #2 – Silver doesn’t stand up to temperature and humidity well!

Rule #3 – If you were hoping to pass down the family china, you might want to pay your bill.  (Notice the Wedgwood porcelain in the image?)

Over time, he has found a great array of designer brand items kept in storage units.  Maybe this will be more than just a bag!

Rule #4 – Unless in a climate controlled unit, you might want to leave artwork of all kinds somewhere else.  With the heat and humidity, this print has probably acquired foxing, and other paper issues which could greatly depreciate the value.

Ahhh, reward!  Hopefully the movement is still in good working order!

All in all, this wasn’t a bad buy.  Lots of garbage and furniture to toss, but the porcelain (Wedgwood, Nippon, Bavaria), there was a piece of Roseville pottery, the clock and a few misc pieces of furniture will net him around $800+

Not bad for a $50 investment!

Happy Hunting!

Reyne

August Auction Catalog now online

Du Mouchelles

Detroit, Mi

July 17th & 18th

Featuring over 1000 lots of 18th & 19th c. American, English, French and Continental antiques, Southern Paintings and Historical Material.