subject: How To Find Beautifully Hand Made Teddy Bears From Specialist Companies [print this page] It is a wonder that such a fierce and giant animal could become so huggable and lovable. That is what teddy bears have done to transform an otherwise menacing mammal to a gentle companion especially to children during sleep. We are referring of course to the teddy bear stuffed toy that has been with us for more than a century, and possibly every child or household must have owned or at least heard about the cuddly toy.
Hand made teddy bears have been with us since the early parts of the 20th century although it is said that the human fascination for bears goes as far as the Neanderthal times when hunters enshrined the skulls of the now extinct brown bears. A very popular bear named Bruin was also characterised during the medieval times. Today, bears are considered not only as a symbol of strength and endurance, but they have similar human abilities like being able to stand upright, sit on their posterior, dance and hug as well, that is why the teddy bear symbolises the image of a trusted ally or confidant, especially among the children.
The creation of the teddy bear was a coincidence that evolved from two continents, one in America and the other in Europe particularly in Germany involving different toy owners, Morris and Rose Michtom in New York and the Steiff family in Germany. According to the story, the Michtoms got their inspiration from a famous caricature in the Washington Post depicting Pres. Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt sitting beside a gentle looking cub that made headlines about the president's humane treatment of wild animals while hunting in Mississippi. The Steiff relatives, Margarete and her nephew, Richard were already making stuffed toys since the late 19th century including bears, but it was Richards design based on a performing bear at the Stuttgart Zoo that caught the eye of toy buyer Hermann Berg also from New York during the annual Leipzig Toy Fair in 1903 where Mr. Berg placed 3000 orders for the Steiff bears that sparked the "teddy" bear craze in America. The stuffed bears also became popular in England and the first English bear is said to have been manufactured in 1908 in Acton, London.
The first teddy bears were made from mohair fabric with black shoe-button eyes and excelsior stuffing. Modern mohair plush made from wool and cotton is still used today, but teddy bears now come in varying fabrics made from silk, synthetic fur, even corduroys, denims, and terry cloth which are ideal for babies. You can even have your customised or personalised teddy bear using your old fur and other fabric heirlooms. There are a number of bear designs to choose from and all of them never fail to elicit feelings of comfort and security when you see those cuddly toys. You can choose your favourite grizzlies, pandas, or polar bears. Even the funny and lovable Mr. Bean has his own little cute teddy that is often featured in his television segments. Check out the website for those beautifully hand made teddy bears that you would like to add to your collection or as a gift to a special someone.
