Special Auction Services
Lot 364
‘Joan’s Teddy Bear’ an early British teddy bear 1916, with golden mohair, replaced button eyes, pronounced clipped muzzle, black stitched nose, mouth and claws, swivel head, jointed elongated limbs with cloth pads, the feet pads card lined and narrow, hump and inoperative growler —20in. (51cm.) high (some general wear) - Sue bought this bear directly from Joan Haggard, who had owned him all her life. It comes with a lovely copy of a photograph of Joan seated with her bear and dolls, his history and various correspondence from Joan to Sue - “A Teddy Bear from World War One - Teddy arrived quite unexpectedly, not for Christmas nor my birthday, but on an ordinary September day in 1916. Opening the enormous parcel, and seeing his friendly face gazing up at me, I was completely entranced and think of nothing else. My mother, who had other things on her mind, was glad of this for it was the day my father was due to leave for active service abroad, and the splendid bear had been sent to me, in a timely and kindly gesture by the Colonel of his Regiment. Teddy and I bonded immediately and we did everything together. My mother and I stayed for awhile in East Anglia, and when we were woken up at might by Zeppelin air raids, which were fairly frequent near the East Coast, he always took cover with using the cellar so that I could spend my time reassuring him there was nothing to be afraid of. Two years later, when the war over and my father had come home, I decided it was time for Teddy to marry and settle down. I chose my favourite doll for his bride. Then I press-ganged the two little boys next door to help with the ceremony. One of them officiated as the vicar, wearing his shirt back to front as a surplice and a black tie across his shoulders. His brother gave the bride away. Teddy proudly wore medal ribbons on his chest and carried a minute ring specially made of gold wire to fit his bride’s tiny porcelain finger. The vicar valiantly stammered and stumbled through the whole of the marriage service with great fortitude. Then the bride and groom were showered with home-made confetti and driven away from their honeymoon in the dolls’ pram solemnly pushed by the ‘bride’s father’. After which the guests enjoyed a superb wedding breakfast. As I grew older I was encouraged to give away my toys to children less fortunate than myself. One by one I bade farewell to my dolls, but nothing would have induced me to part with my bear. He lived through the Second World War with me, still wearing his First World War medal ribbons. We were bombed again, more frequently and severely this time, but fortunately neither of us came to any harm. Now that Teddy has retired to civilian life he no longer wears his ribbons, but sports a blue satin cravat which also serves to support his slightly dropping head. It is 82 years since we first met. We are both slightly worse for wear but still together, and happy to be so. Joan Haggard, 24th January ’98" - from the private collection of Sue Pearson
