3rd Dec, 2024 12:00

Teddy Bears of Witney Auction

 
Lot 54
 

54

‘Theodore’ Peter Bull’s favourite Teddy Bear, circa 1948

Sold for £2,800
Estimated at £2,000 - £3,000


 
‘Theodore’ Peter Bull’s favourite Teddy Bear, circa 1948, a Steiff miniature Teddy Bear with black eyes, remains black stitched nose, swivel head and jointed limbs —3 ½in. (9cm.) high (restitched mouth and general wear and thinning); a Teddy Bear shop ‘Mr. Theodore’ with miniature bears —8in. (20cm.) high, a framed horoscope chart with label ‘This horoscope chart belongs to: T. Bull Esq., 149, Kings Road, Chelsea, London’; a cast-metal telephone given to him by Gerald Durrells, a Lilliput Modern Greek/English dictionary, a cast-metal sword, a Lincoln Penny inscribed To Theodore from Theodore, various other furniture and accessories, a letter from Theodore dated 1969, to another Teddy on Peter Bull headed paper, a quantity of Christie’s postcards featuring Theodore; an article about ‘Peter’s Favourite!’, photographs and negatives of Ian Pout with Edith Love and the shop and a copy of the Christie’s catalogue where he was sold - Peter Bull’s 1st Teddy Book, Bear With Me was published in 1969. In this as in his subsequent books, as well as on radio and television, Peter Bulls charm, wit and enthusiasm encouraged thousands of others to appreciate and collect Teddy Bears’ - (1912-1984), the English character actor and wit, has been described as the catalyst for propelling the Teddy Bears renaissance in the 1970s and beyond. His well-researched books and entertaining promotional television performances drew huge audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.  His constant companion was his tiny bear, Theodore, he was given him by his friend Maurice Kaufmann to celebrate a first night. Peter wrote of Theodore ‘To me he is as factual and as real as anything I possess…I would no more dream of going away without him, even for a night, than flying to the moon… I suppose he’s a symbol of unloneliness’