The Teddy Bear Museum – Grandma’s Teddies

Hiya folks, recently I have been wanting to mix things up a bit. Seeing as there is so much going on out there in Bear Land I thought that perhaps we should take a trip out and about to see what’s new or up’n’comin’ (as the young kids say)

I came across something I thought you might like to hear about, something new and exciting that has got me full of beans.

Once in a while something really special crops up out of nowhere. An idea that hasn’t been showcased before, or if it has, perhaps it hasn’t reached out to people in quite the right way. These ideas can start out as something very small to begin with, and often they either fizzle out before they begin or they catch on and turn into a huge movement.

Someone who is making a huge movement happen right NOW is Hilary Pauley, owner of The Teddy Bear museum – Grandmas Teddies. Earlier this week I was lucky enough to have a chat with Hilary about her new museum and found out all about how the new Teddy Bear movement is upon us!

Hi Hilary, thank-you for sparing some of your time to have a chat with me about your fantastic new idea. Can you tell me a bit more about how the idea for an on-line teddy museum came to you?

The on-line Teddy Bear Museum idea developed from being given a teddy bear and a teddy bear book by my daughter-in-law for my birthday two years ago! From that day on a hobby became a passion and a steep learning curve, and a collection of teddy bears grew, which I have bought to leave as a keepsake for my granddaughters

When did you fall in love with bears – are they something you have always had an interest in?

I think a bear lover has early memories of cosy young child bear cuddle moments.

Yes I completely agree; many bear collectors I have spoken to have said their love of bears comes from either happy or sad childhood memories of a furry friend. As you know, I am rather partial to a broken old bear; do you have a favourite type of bear?

I love French bears, particularly ones I find at French Flea markets! They all seem to have a vaguely confused look! I also love Omega, Moritz Pappe and Terry’s bears. I think it’s the big eyes because I love Moon-eyed bears too.

Is there anything that would really put you off purchasing a bear?

I don’t like bears which have been restored to within an inch of their lives. A few holes which are stable are fine by me!

Absolutely, I think some of the most beautiful bears are the ones which have war wounds. Your bear gallery is a very special place and the website itself is beautiful; it holds many images of a wide variety of stunning bears – are there any you fancy for yourself?

My son built the website, it’s his job. I’m really lucky because most of the bears are mine! A lady called Sue Howard (from Canada) has showcased a number of bears in the museum, I covet all of them! There are Bings, Steiffs, and all sorts. She has an exceptional taste in the bear fraternity!

If anyone would like to add an image of their bear to your website how would they go about doing so?

We welcome everyone’s bears, particularly if they are not easy to find and therefore most of us are not familiar with them; and if they are old, pre 1959. I made an exception and put three 1960s bears on this morning which I bought in the lovely Witney shop. The actual bears all appear in Pauline Cockrill’s The Teddy Bear Encyclopedia Page 113 and 117. We are trying to stay with bears from the first half of the 20^th Century (1900 to 1950). The older the better! For anyone who would like to share their bears, just send me a photo (Jpeg) with some description and the bear’s stats and on it goes.

 Do you sell bears on your website?

We do! Do send us photos  if you have an interesting bear or if you have a bear to sell. Some of the bears have fascinating pasts! Perhaps we will become the ‘Right Move’ of the bear industry! A hosting site where everyone would be able to see your lovely teddy bears. We would love to hear from people.

Do you plan to work with any specialists in the future, perhaps to help identify and value the bears?

Yes we do, watch this space! Pam Pudvine of Bonham’s is already being very helpful indeed.

 What does the future hold for The Teddy Bear Museum?

I hope it will find its future itself, from following people’s wants, needs and suggestions – which it is starting to do. A selling forum is more wanted than I intended. However, if we keep the photos once bears are sold then why not?

For the inexperienced collector do you have any advice that you wish someone had given you?

I’m a control freak so I was happy to make my own mistakes, but if people want advice from a novice, then start off buying old bears you love the face of, buy cheaply, and learn what you particularly like as you go along. The older the bear the better. I’ve only being collecting for two years, so that makes me either much worse or much better at giving advice to new starters!

I think any advice is good advice when you are starting out and I would agree with what you say, it’s always the faces that get me! Are there any reference books you would recommend to novice bear collectors?

Someone gave me a pile of second hand bear books, so I have lots! If I can only have one, then my first was The Teddy Bear Encyclopedia by Pauline Cockrill. It’s all you need when you start.

Speaking of books, can we expect to see a Teddy Bear book from you in the future?

I have written over 70 books for teachers of young children, I am a prolific writer in my own subject. I love writing. Bears are my down time and are an on-line project! No designers, no deadlines, no printers; just photographs of bears and organising them into collections of pleasing images.

 Is there anything else that I haven’t asked you that you would like to mention?

I am quite passionate about the fact that there must be so many bears out there that people aren’t seeing. Bears are quite private possessions which most people haven’t thought about sharing. If everyone did share their old , interesting and unusual bears we would have the most complete museum archive which would be a wonderful social history of the twentieth century, and a great forum for seeing bears of all types, shapes, ages and characters. What a dream! It would need a real chain reaction to achieve.

Thank- you so much Hilary, it has been a real pleasure hearing all about your exciting new Teddy Bear Museum.

So there you have it, I hope you have enjoyed doing something a little different with me today? If you have been inspired by Hilary’s website, why not take some time to photograph your bears and send them over to Hilary who will proudly add them to her gorgeous gallery at The Teddy Bear Museum.

That’s it for now folks, see you all soon,

Edward x