A small golden mohair Teddy Bear, British, c1910

A small golden mohair Teddy Bear, British, c1910, black button eyes, nose stitching and muzzle worn away, fully jointed, hump, felt pads, black claw stitching, mohair thinning and balding in some places, stuffing shifted from hump, felt pads are split, dressed in black velvet jacket, Stewart tartan kilt, with tiny sporran, head slightly faded - has worn clothes all his life, 10"/25cm.

History: This Teddy Bear has a substantial history. His life-long owner was a survivor of the earthquake in 1908 which devastated both Messina in Sicily and Reggio Di Calaria on the Italian Mainland when 200,000 people lost their lives. A little seven month old baby was found in Reggio. Nothing was known of the parentage, nor indeed, date of birth. She was brought up by a Scottish doctor and his wife, having been chosen from amongst the many rescued orphans taken to a convent in Naples.
Dolls were not favoured by the little girl. She preferred Teddies and this surviving "Scottish" Teddy, originally dressed as a soldier in khaki, may well have been chosen in deference to her adoptive father. The accompanying photograph, taken under duress, was the result of a clever ploy by the grown-ups who told the child that it was Teddy's picture not hers. This made her happy to comply.
During the war, the family's belongings went into store. When Teddy emerged his clothes were moth-eaten, so these were made almost sixty years ago when the next generation played with him.

NB: The vendor is the original owner's daughter. The proceeds from the commission will be given to the current Asian Tsunami Appeal.