I was given this bear by an elderly german woman to give to my son. I’m not sure how old it is. The lady who gave it to me is in her 80’s and it was her older sister’s bear when she was a little girl. It has a tag on its ear that reads in cursive ‘character’ it’s about maybe 17 inches in length and the tag says it’s made of mohair.
It was owned by a German lady who grew up in Germany. It was her older sisters bear as a child. The woman who gave it to me was in her mid 80’s.
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
It is a lovely and charming teddybear. Such antique and vintage soft toys are being offered at auction on a regular basis.
The teddy bear was made by American the manufacturer Character. From the photos it appears to be an early bear from the first part of the 1900s. The honey coloured mohair fur appears to be in good condition as well as the eyes and stitches on the nose. The paws are made of felt and the body is stuffed with sawdust.
It is a lovely bear with the characteristics of an early teddy bear with straight limbs, felt paws and a hump on the back.
I believe that this particular teddy would attract the attention of both collectors and dealers if it came up for auction. It could easily surprise in a positive direction at auction if there is more than one person interested in the teddy bear.
The estimate provided is for a well-advertised specialised online antique teddys and toys auction, where I believe the teddy bear has the best chance of realising its fullest potential. However, there is no measurement for the sentimental value you might attach to the Character teddybear. Retail "asking prices" can be higher and vary.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions. I’m happy to help.
Thank you