Ken Yenke is an author, teddy bear appraiser and museum curator who will answer questions about your vintage bears and toys.

See the "How to submit information for an appraisal" below.

Hello Ken,

I bought this bear a couple of years ago on ebay.

It was my lucky find, I adored him, he is the reason I wanted to make teddy bears myself.

I do not know what brand he is or period he is from.

He has a small hole in his left ear and he has a squeeze growler in his
tummy that still works, you can see that moths had a feast on his foot
pads.

He is filled with excelsior and is about 12.5" high.

I would love to hear from you

Thank you,
Danielle in Belgium

Thank you for sending along the photos of your special  teddy bear, Danielle.

He is special for a couple of reasons; not the least of which is the inspiration he provided for you to create teddy bears. Your original 13" tall has shrunk  to 12.5" with age. Teddy is in fact a prime example of the late 1920-1930 Steiff teddy bear. The long arms and stately body were pronouncements of of a slimmer but artful product of that day. The mohair was generally short pile, like yours, but there is significant thinning and loss which does effect the value. Pads can be replaced with comparable felt and has little effect on the value. As seen in the photos you sent, I would give an insurance appraisal of $800.00 This Steiff bear is becoming nearly impossible to find - so treasure yours.

Ken

Hi Ken,
My parents passed away this year and in clearing the Estate, we found
this little guy who belonged to my Grandfather (Guy).  Guy was born in 1905.  I'm not sure when he received the bear or how but we think there is a photo of him with his bear (of course we are going through many photos to find it).  Considering the possible age
of this little guy, he's got a few bald spots, his eyes are missing and the button is gone but it's pretty obvious indentation on the left ear where it
may have been.  It looks like there may have been a tag on his left side of his tummy just up from the leg joint. He is cinnamon colored, velvet pads and no claws. You can see he is a bit worn on his backside, and there is a bit of pulling on his back where he is stitched up.  His right arm and both legs move
but he may have been stitched on the left arm and there is little movement
there.  I can see the stitches on his leg joints and have included a close up photo of that area too. He looks loved but is sure in good condition for being such an old guy. From the tip of his head to the bottom of his toes, he is 11 inches. Anything you could tell us about this little guy will be appreciated.
Thank you. Christina from WA

Christina. This bear is one of America's favorites, the Knickerbocker from 1930's. Great cinnamon mohair and looks to be in pretty nice shape. As it sits, with no eyes, value is about $150 to $200. With eyes (blown glass tinted on wire to be inserted original) the value would go up to $250- $275.00 

If you have a good photo of the original owner, with the teddy bear, we would value it in the range of

$350-$375.00
Ken  

Hello Ken, I have what I think is a clockwork bear. The owner said she thinks the bear turned its head when she had the key, it is lost now. Her family member thinks it may have been purchased new in the 50's, but not sure. It has no label anywhere that I can find. The eyes look plastic, the nose has cloth behind it instead of plastic. Thanks for helping identify this bear. Randal

Very interesting bear Randal! This teddy is a post WWII bear that has a turning lever in the head/neck which slightly rotates the head while the music box would play its tune and unwind. Originated in 1908 by the Gerbruder Bing Company, several later versions were made. Well known makers such as Hermann and Mutzli (Felpa), made this style, and I have seen models from England and France too. I cannot determine the exact maker, but the style leans more to a French or English maker. In non working condition it would be in the $100 range, and if you could have the mechanism fixed, you would triple the value.

Ken

Is your beloved old bear worth

Thousands?

Ask Ken!

Hi Ken; As you can see, the eyes are missing. There are a few holes in the hands and feet, but they have not been repaired. I cannot tell if there was a button in the ear and cannot find where a tag would have been attached. The bear does have a square box in the back of the torso, which I'm guessing is a speaker box, but it doesn't work. The bear has always been in our family; it was my father's bear (Dad was born in 1929), but after doing a little looking around on the internet, I am wondering if it may have previously belonged to my Grandmother who was born in 1908.

I have seen a picture of my dad holding the bear when he was a little boy, guessing 4 or 5 years old, but I am unable to locate the photo right now. Patricia

Patricia it is great news that you have family photos with the bear.  Although there is a lot of mohair missing, the story and provenance will help with its value. The bear appears to be from the 1930 year. Long mohair like this was used by the Gebruder (brothers) Sussenguth, and also the Atlanta Toy Company. My first guess would be Gerbruder Sussenguth, and the value would be in the $200. range, with the family photos. Adding the correct glass eyes for the bear which would increase the value to $250-$275. Ken

Hi Ken,

I found these three at an estate sale.  I am most curious about the one on the right. He cost me the most, and I think is the oldest. Standing 19" tall, very pale almost white mohair, excelsior stuffed, large head, right ear has been re-stitched, canvas or linen paw-pads, vertically stitched nose,

(I do think the nose has been re-stitched), eyes are amber colored glass. Any help in identifying would be so appreciated.

Joanne

Hello Joanne,

First one appears to be English, the second American, and the third is the one I am evaluating. The bear is definitely a German bear from the Sonnenberg area, probably 1920-1930.   The sliced in ears are one of the main production traits from this area.  The reddish tint glass eyes are also from this region and time. I usually describe this as a Petz teddy, if not from that particular company, from another close by. Value in the $300.00 range. Looks like the nose has been re-stitched (new thread) as the originally would have been horizontally stitched not vertical.

Nice bear.
Ken

My name is Elizabeth and I will be 50 in May, my mother gave me a teddy bear when I was born and I still have him. I know he's not a Steiff. He's lost his growl and has had his left ear repaired by my grannie, but apart from that he's still my wee love that I call Bert. He has a special tail, when you move it he nods yes and no and it still

works. So here he is and I hope you can make him out his wee face and eyes and he's still vas cuddly as ever.

Thanks Liz from Kilkeel, Northern Ireland.

Liz, you have a great little Schuco yes-no teddy (1st talker bear; although non verbal!) Made from 1948 to 1960. The value as shown, and if the mechanism worked, $750.00 and up (retail).
Ken

Ken Yenke

Appraiser & Features Writer

Member since March 2007

How to submit information for an appraisal

Fee is $10.00 each bear

Send your photo and bear information to editor@bearsandbuds.com and when PayPal funds are received, Ken will appraise your bear, tell you it's history and value via your eMail.

Be sure to include your name and location.

Bears&Buds would like to publish your bear's photo and a the appraisal in coming issues. Please grant us your permission in the same eMail.

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