A world-famous teddy bear collection that includes the star that played Aloysius in the 80s TV dramatisation of Brideshead Revisited is to be auctioned in Newbury. The Teddy Bears of Witney collection is going under the hammer at Special Auction Services off Hambridge Lane on Tuesday, December 3 and is expected to make in excess of £150,000. The collection is owned by Ian Pout, who in 1985 opened Teddy Bears of Witney, the first shop in the UK dedicated to selling old and new teddy bears.
Since then, he has bought some of the most famous bears in the world including Aloysius c1910, who became the unexpected star of ITV’s Brideshead Revisited . His appearance was a major catalyst in the growth of the antique teddy bear market and he carries an estimate of £20,000-£30,000. Another top lot is Happy, a rare large-eyed brown tipped Steiff teddy bear c1926 which is also expected to fetch £20,000-30,000.
Happy was bought by her original owner as an anniversary present for a record price and following that travelled the world making public appearances and raising more than $100,000 for charity. Mr Pout is now scaling back his collection, but his love of bears started at a young age with Winnie-the-Pooh and his enjoyment at being read the stories by his father. Pooh is very well represented in the auction and the highlight is a handwritten letter signed Ernest H Shepard and dated 1971 which explains that the model for Pooh bear in the books was actually his son’s Steiff bear ‘Growler’.
With the letter comes a watercolour sketch of Growler (aka Winnie-the-Pooh) signed and dated by Shepard (estimate £8,000-12,000). Other lots include a second Kanga and Roo which belonged to Christopher Robin’s best friend Anne Darlington which are being sold alongside photographs of them playing together for £2,000-3,000. A very rare thank you letter written by Christopher Robin (aged six) to Anne’s mother also carries the same estimate.
Items belonging to Christopher Robin’s nanny Olive Rand (later Brockwell) are also going under the hammer and include a hand illustrated ‘hunny’ pot, decorated and given to her by Christopher Robin which could make £800-1,000, an Ashtead Pottery tea for two set featuring Pooh characters carries an estimate of £1,000-1,500 and a copy of ‘The Pocket Milne’, personally inscribed to ‘For Dear Nan, with best wishes from A.A. Milne, Sep 10th / 45’ is likely to make £400-600.
One of the smallest bears in the collection is Theodore estimated at £2,000-3,000, who was previously owned by English character actor Peter Bull, with whom he appeared on various TV shows on both sides of the Atlantic including the Michael Parkinson and Johnny Carson Shows. Theodore is being sold with his original accessories including a telephone given to him by Gerald Durrell and a shop created by his fans so he could earn his living during his retirement. To Peter Bull Theodore was ‘The One’ and ‘a symbol of unloneliness’.
Mr Pout took a great deal of care when choosing the bears. He said: “I wanted them to make me smile” and “If I was really lucky, they would have interesting provenance to make them a little more special.” He often researched the bears thoroughly and one such example is Captain Hay (estimate £2,000-£3,000), a British teddy bear dressed in the uniform of a captain in the Gordon Highlanders, wearing the Hay tartan.
He discovered that there were two Hays in this regiment around 1916 which intrigued him. Another highly desirable bear from this period is the Master Teddy, by Chiltern Toys, c1915, with his googly eyes and wonky smile, he carries an estimate of £1,000-1,500. An interesting and rare bear from around 1918 is Percy (estimate £800-1,000), a rare Steevans Manufacturing Co bear that belonged to William Perry Goodbody (1905-1942).
Goodbody was educated at Shrewsbury and Cambridge and rowed for both. Percy is adorned with visitor badges from various rowing events. The auction also comprises a significant piece in the history of the Teddy Bears of Witney - a beautiful white Steiff teddy bear called Xenia (estimate £2,000-3,000) which was named after the Russian Princess who owned Ian’s first superstar bear Alfonzo.
Xenia is important in the bear world as a replica of her was made by Steiff in 2001-2002. Other highlights include; a Schuco teddy bear bellhop with a tail mechanism him makes him nod yes and shake no is estimated at £2,000-3,000; Fuchsia, a bright pink mohair teddy bear made by the British company Dean’s Rag Book is estimated at £1,500-£2,000; a Schuco pink mohair bear in a green tinplate three-wheeled cart is expected to make £1,000-1,500; while a bear whose head can be removed to reveal a lipstick and whose body comprises a mirror and powder could make £800-1,200. The collection also includes a late 19th-century Steiff Kingpin bear skittle – that pre-dates teddy bears which carries an estimate of £800-£1,200.
Mr Pout said that it would be an understatement to say it will be sad to part with the collection. “However, for better or for worse, the decision is taken and, if worse and we are to part company, I have decided there would be no cherry picking. “So, with the exceptions of my own childhood bear and one specially made for our 35th anniversary, every single item in our museum collection will be sold.
As well as these, bears and pictures from upstairs, including my office, will be included. “If any of them bring tears of joy to their new owners I will be happy.” SAS Teddy Bear and Doll Specialist Daniel Agnew said: “This is by far the finest and most exciting collection of teddy bears ever to come to auction.
“It’s a small but perfectly curated collection and it will be very interesting to see what some of these unique characters and artefacts realise.”.
