Bear News - Morpeth Teddy Bears

‘MORPETH BEARS REPORT’
Campbell’s Store Craft Centre/Morpeth Gallery
175 Swan Street, Morpeth NSW 2321
Phone 02 49343938 Thursday to Sunday
or 02 49331407 any time. Fax 02 49342107
Shop open 10am-5pm Thurs till Sunday
Website: www.campbellsstoremorpeth.com
www.morpethteddybears.com
www.morpethgallery.com
Email: info@morpethgallery.com
June 2012
www.morpethteddybears.com
Goodmorning,
Cabinets of Curiosities
The “Cabinets of Curiosities” collectors museum opened on June
nd
2 2012 on the top floor of Campbell’s Store. As I worked in the
museum the first weekend, it was very rewarding to see the
excited faces of visitors and receive the many accolades on a job
well done! As bear lovers I know you are going to love your visit
to the Cabinets of Curiosities. There is a collection of miniature
bears collected over the past 20 years. They are not just
miniature bears – they are little works of art!
The large collection of Kylie’s Gollies was very popular with 100%
approval and delight that Gollywogs were on display.
Miniatures made by Megan & Wendy Chamberlain
History of the Golliwogg.
Florence Upton was born in Flushing New York. She was the second of four children in a creative and slightly
eccentric household. By 1889 at age 16 Florence obtained work as a professional illustrator. In 1893 Florence
went on an extended visit with her family to her mother’s relatives, the Hudson’s, who lived in London.
With an established reputation from her published work in New York, Florence had no difficulty in finding
employment with London publishers. When the rest of the family returned to the United States, Florence opted
to stay in England and began experimenting with ideas to supplement her income so that she could afford
further art training.
She began to sketch out ideas for a children’s book, using ‘penny wooden’
dolls as her models. However, without a central character on which to hang
the tale, progress came to a standstill.
Her aunt, Kate Hudson, found an old toy in her attic that had belonged to the
Upton children, left behind from an earlier visit. This toy, which she named
Golliwogg, provided inspiration, with the first story produced in 1894. The
publishing house of Longmans, Green & co. offered Florence a contract, and
The Adventures of Two Dutch Dolls and a Golliwogg was published for
Christmas 1895.
After three years of work, Florence continued her studies in New York, Paris
and Holland, before returning to London in 1906 to take up permanent
residence. Through the years Florence and her mother Bertha collaborated on
Original versions of Florence’s
a total of 13 Golliwogg adventures, the series ending as, over the years,
books, over 100 years old, are on
display at ‘Cabinets of Curiosities’
cultural drift caused interest in the series to wane & Florence sought a career
as a professional artist. The last of the Golliwogg books was published in
1909.
Due to health issues, Florence was found unfit to serve in any physical capacity during WWI. She aided the
war effort by donating her original dolls and drawings to a fundraising auction for the Red Cross, conducted by
Christies in 1917. The dolls, sold as a lot, funded the purchase of an ambulance, christened ‘Golliwogg’, which
went to the front and served in France.
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At age 49, Florence died 16 October 1922. The original Golliwogg and Dutch Dolls resided for many years at
Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country estate in Berkshire. They now receive visitors at the V&A Museum of
Childhood at Bethnal Green, London.
It is difficult nowdays to appreciate the enormous impact that the golliwogg had at the height of its popularity.
Children had a passionate attachment to the doll stories and a new golliwogg book was a great excitement in the
nursery. Florence did not patent the character, and many toy companies took advantage of the popularity of the
books and manufactured the doll, while other writers and illustrators took equal advantage, many changing the
nature of the series.
The prolific Enid Blyton, for example, chose to depict golliwoggs as rude and untrustworthy or stupid. The
name golliwog came to be used as a degrading term for anyone who wasn’t white skinned, and new origins
were suggested for the word. Florence Upton despaired, ‘I am frightened when I read the fearsome etymology
some deep, dark minds can see in his name’.
Other Cabinets contain collections of monkeys, painted
eggs, motor bikes & car things, Barbie Dolls, toys,
cameras, biscuit tins, laundry, 1800’s Christening/day
dresses, lace, buttons, sewing machines – all of which
will arouse your curiosity. The large cabinets were built
in to the rooms by local builder David Lidbury. Thankyou
to Dave for an excellent job. If you are planning on
building a new house, renovating a room or adding a
deck, then Dave is the man for you.
New to Morpeth Bears are “CLEMENS”, Germany I have looked at these bears many times. Finally we are selling them at Morpeth Bears.
Hans Clemens was founded in 1948 in Kirchardt/Baden, Germany just after the second World War. He had lost
everything in the war, including his manufacturing business and wholesale trade business in shoes.
He opened a gift shop in Mannheim and was constantly
asked for Teddy Bears, since these were not available
during the war. So to please his customers, Hans had his
sister make Teddy Bears from old army blankets to sell at
the shop.
Soon the demand for the bears increased and the business
was extended again and again and Hans enlisted his first
employees. Other animals were introduced to the range,
but Teddy Bear remained the favourite. The company grew
from strength to strength.
The company was taken over by Hans’ son Peter. Peter retired from
managing the company in 2002, but continues to develop new designs
and concepts for their collections. Clemens, like many others have been
forced to go off shore to have much of their bear-making done. The
factory is large and well laid out and Peter knows every stage of
manufacture extremely well. The bears at the factory are still made in the
hand traditional way. Many of the bears designed by well-known bear
artists such as Marina Lehr, Jack & Marion Finhold, Angelika Kreiert, Ren
Bears, Eleonore Unkel-Schaufelin and Isabella Hoffman which means the
bears have their own unique personalities and modern style, whilst
remaining traditional and fun-loving.
Elephant with Clown
Bear $215.
Teddy Fratz 13cm can
hang around your
neck $145.
We visited the factory in March this year and personally chose a selection for the shop. Peter was in hospital
having suffered heart problems. He checked himself out of hospital to come and greet us at the factory
showroom and then back into hospital that evening ready for a heart operation the following day. Not to be outdone, Peter’s wife left a convalescent hospital where she was recovering from an illness and came to see us
along with Peter…….that’s dedication!!
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Yes, I do have some of my collection bears to sell. The first one is a Clemens bear who was the official bear for Teddy Total 2006. The official Teddy Total Bear is made by a different company each year. Teddy Total is a very large fair held in Germany. This is an especially nice 38cm mohair bear and an edition of 300. He comes with a pop-­up bear in a cone. Price $450. Peter Clemens & I at the
Clemens Factory
a few years ago.
Clemens Bear FOR SALE $450.
Another bear for sale is made by Hermann Red and was the
official bear for Teddy Total for 2003. It is a 25cm musical mohair
clown bear wearing a neck ruffle and clown hat. It has an open
mouth and flat feet which enables it to stand. Price $395.
Hermann Red Clown $395.
Teddy Hermann Red
Hermann Teddy Original, otherwise known as Hermann Red, have a red medallion style seal that is attached to
all their items. During 1940-1960 it may have also been a paper style tag. They began in 1907 when Johann
Hermann started making teddy bears in Neufang near Sonnenberg, Germany with all his family members
helping him. His oldest son Bernhard Hermann, then founded of the Teddy-Hermann Company now based in
Hirschaid started his own business in 1912 and married Ida Jager. They moved to Sonnenberg where he
established his small factory. He employed several men and women who were specialised in manufacturing
teddy bears and dolls and started production.
Sonnenberg was at that time, the world’s centre of toy manufacturing. Hundreds of small, cottage industry style factories
had been established in the town. Many prominent American purchasers such as Woolworth, Borgfeldt, Louis Wolf & Sons
maintained export houses in the town of Sonnenberg and they purchased teddy bears from Bernhard Hermann to import to
the USA. Bernhard’s four sons all worked in the family business and added other plush animals, such as monkeys and cats
to their range.
In 1948, after the war was over and the wall went up, Sonnenberg found itself on the Eastern German side. Bernhard fled to
the West German side and relocated the business and factory to Hirschaid near Bamberg. Since that time the factory has
continued to thrive, now with three of the four sons running the business. Bernhard Hermann died in 1959.
Today two grand-daughters of Bernhard run the company, and
another relative is in charge of design. The Hermann company
continues the high ideals of the old firm in manufacturing only the
finest quality of teddy bears and soft toys. Whilst their limited edition
ranges are still made onsite in the traditional way with wood wool
stuffing and noses still all stitched by hand, their plush range is made
off shore, under the strictest attention to detail.
When Kylie & I visited the factory in 2012, one of the men who
stuff the bigger bears was legally blind and had been working
there for over 50 years. He has stuffed so many bears, he
can do his job almost entirely by feel. Incredible! Hermann
Red is represented in Morpeth Bears. In the Cabinets of
Curiosities you can view Hermann Red monkeys that are 60
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Hermann Red Chooks, chickens & ducks.
years old and more than a few miniature bears.
Hermann Red celebrated their 100 year
anniversary in 2012.
We have just received a large shipment of
Hermann Red bears and animals which we
selected on our trip to Germany in February.
There are some beautiful pieces. Be sure to check
out the chooks with their chickens!! And the Titanic
bear to celebrate 100 years since the sinking of the
th
Titanic. There is a queen bear for the 60
Anniversary along with many others.
Titanic Bear 36cm $340.
Queen 28cm $370.
Klara with pram $320.
Steiff Will Teddy Bear
Will is a 28cm young boy with dreams of sailing. And he is
ready to hit the seas with his canvas sea bag. Will is made
from cinnamon coloured felted mohair for a vintage effect.
Limited Edition of 1,500 pieces worldwide, safety eyes and
synthetic stuffing. Gold plated “Button-in-ear”. He wears a
cotton knit pullover sweater with an embroidered anchor. He
can be carried in his duffel bag or you can pack your own
items inside, for your trip to the beach. He’s beautiful.
$390. At Morpeth Bears now.
Valentina Rabbit
Valentina is the girl friend to last year’s Valentin. She is sweet
and elegant. Valentina’s body is white and brown alpaca with
sandy brown around her eyes. She is 23cm, has a white
muzzle, chest, tummy, and cheeks. The airbrushing detail to
her eyes makes it look as if she has eyelashes – giving her a
feminine appeal. Limited to 1,500 pieces worldwide, safety
eyes and stuffed with synthetic filling.
Price: $350.
Steiff Sunny Teddy Bear
Bigger isn’t always better – unless you are talking about Sunny, at
60cm, the largest Teddy bear in the 2012 collection of limited edition
Steiff Bears. He is truly a beautiful bear!!
He’s made from cream long pile curled mohair on a sand coloured
backing. Sunny is based on mid 1920’s Teddy Bear Designs. He
has a big round head and a shorter muzzle and dark brown pupil
eyes which gives him an especially nice expression. Limited to 1,000
pieces. He has a growler and a gold-plated “button-in-ear”.
$880. At Morpeth Bears Now.
Look forward to your visit to the ‘Cabinets of Curiosities’.
Regards,
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