Teddy Bears - the most popular stuffed animals
In nurseries, teddy bears and stuffed animals are very popular. Teddybears are children’s trustworthy companions for cuddling or when falling asleep and as contact persons when having trouble. Teddy bears are stuffed animals and toys, sometimes also manufactured with plush. Classic teddy bears have brown fur and are inside stuffed with wool, cotton or other soft textile materials. Characteristics of plush teddy bears are their sweet-tempered beady eyes. However, stuffed teddy bears are no longer only found in nurseries, but have also become a popular item for teddy bear collectors and bear lovers. The collectible plush stuffed animal is manufactured by dedicated manufacturers in manual work; antique teddy bears are offered by specialised wholesalers or small retailers in antiques stores. Teddy bears for collectors can also be unique or very old pieces. At dedicated trade shows, teddy bear gifts for birthdays and Christmas, collectible teddy bears and hand-made teddy bears are presented to the interested, international audience by manufacturers and wholesale teddy bear companies.
Historic overview
When tracing back the history of the stuffed toy bear, there are many stories on the origin of the plush bears: There is an American legend in which he is the icon for the former president Theodore “Teddy“ Roosevelt. In Germany, bear stuffed animals were emerging around 1902. The company Steiff exported them to the US, but the bears were sent back as they did not satisfy the importers. One year later, on a toy trade fair in Leipzig, the teddy bear had its breakthrough when an American ordered 3000 stuffed bears. And still today, the teddy bears are very popular toddler and baby toys. Besides Steiff, Gund is an internationally recognised manufacturer of plush stuffed toys. The manufacture of Gund bears started at the beginning of the 20th century.
In the course of the years, the appearance and design of teddy bears have changed slightly. Producers and teddy bear wholesalers have adapted to today’s consumer demands. Modern examples have a rounder head and body. Also the bears’ arms and legs are shorter. Modern materials are used for production. Most bears are washable as children take their small companions everywhere. This criterion is in many cases decisive when parents buy teddy bears for their kids.
Besides the classic teddy bear, stuffed animals are presented by producers in special surroundings and themes. There is a teddy bears picnic theme, the Christmas bear, the marine bear resembling a sailor or the sportive bear riding a bicycle.
