Teddy bears are no longer just contained to their traditional forms as they come in plenty of different shapes and sizes these days. When you take some time to go to a store selling teddy bears as a main product be ready to be dazzled by colorful assortments and choices to match almost every preference imaginable. However, somewhere on the sides of the pile of plush toys and beanies are the antique teddy bears preserving the authentic feel of teddies of seasons past. Basking an earthier feel and natural tones, these antique teddy bears give its owner a homey feel and a reminiscent attitude of the warm and calm days.
Antique teddy bears are commonly found on classic shelves of the traditional collector. Because of their history and prime production, antique teddy bears are normally sought after as items to fit into a collection. They are however, not confined to the collectors only as they also are great ideas for gifts and symbolic items. Being a collectors’ item, antique teddy bears are normally auctioned or sold at a premium price because of their make and quality. It is very entertaining to note that these bears cost a fortune to acquire and there are surely plenty of people willing to spend some bucks for them.
Taking good care of your antique teddy bears ensures that they remain in tip-top shape for value appreciation in the future. The common question then today for the serious collector is on how much his teddy is valued for today. Here are some items that evaluation experts look into for proper assessment of the teddy’s value.
Evaluating Antique Teddy Bears
Early Steiff Teddy Bear 1915
The condition of the antique teddy bears is very important consideration because of the very nature of teddy bears being made to be toys for children. A well-preserved teddy will be much more appealing and valuable to collectors as compared to those with worn pads, missing eyes, and thinning hair. The teddy’s manufacturer also plays an important role as bears by Steiff are highly sought because of quality. There are also other German and British antique teddy bears that are sought after worldwide. These brands often have signature items on their bears like Steiff’s ear button or some brand’s nose stitch. These features may affect the valuation so dramatically that in the case of the ear button, a 25% cut can be expected when it is gone.
Antique teddy bears also have different dimensions to them like size, age, rarity and color. All of these affect value given by collectors to the bear. Normally, the larger items like the soldier bears by Schuco are more expensive than miniature ones. Depending on quality, older bears are generally more valuable. Those from World War 1 or even those in the 1950s are valuable investments because of significance. The less number produced of a given kind gets the value to spike even further. Color also has an implication on pricing giving less popular colors lower value. Collectors are now eagerly searching the market for the best quality and most appealing antique teddy bears.
The Teddy Bear has been and still is a theme for many writers and artists such as it was for the Great Elvis Presley. Click on the video below to listen to his famous Teddy Bear song.
From the days when our ancestors fought the great cave bears of the past, these powerful animals have appeared in European, North American and Asian legends. In later centuries, the bear was still a popular figure in many folk tales and songs. By speaking to it this way, people tried to tame this majestic beast in their minds, so that terror was turned into affection, and fear into trust and love. The gentle, protective bear became legend, and was eventually transformed into a soft, cuddly, warm creature that even children could hold in their arms.
Psychologists explain the ties that bind a Teddy Bear to one who loves it: they say ‘its animal shape reflects the archetypal images already in the unconscious’. We know instinctively the powerful and frightening characteristics of the bear but at the same time we know the warm softness of the Bear’s fur, its cuddly size and its unspoken comprehension of our needs confirm other images in our consciousness – of friendliness, affection and love.
In the late 1970′s, British actor Peter Bull appeared on numerous talk shows in Britain and the USA saying “Look! It’s all right for grown-ups to love Teddy Bears!”
