Hump Back Teddy Bears. The hump is often associated with Steiff bears although occasionally other bear makers have used this technique as well. Below are some examples of hump back teddy bears.
GERMAN RUSSET MOHAIR TEDDY BEAR BY GEBRUDER BING
20" (51 cm.) Of russet-brown mohair, the teddy has pronounced long clipped muzzle, black embroidered nose, amber glass eyes, swivel head, jointed limbs, hump back, felt paw pads. Good condition, some mohair sparseness on muzzle, repair on paw. Germany, Gebruder Bing, circa 1920.
Sold for $1,300 at Theriault’s
This is a pull along toy set on four wheels. The bear is a traditional shape with a long snout, round ears and a prominent hump. The fabric is a golden mohair Yorkshire cloth, well worn over much of the body, the metal frame inside the body is also slightly rusty and has affected the legs and rear areas of the fabric by staining it. Both eyes are missing and the left ear appears to been resewn. The base frame is a rectangle made from length of metal with 4 metal wheels. All the metal has been slightly affected by rust. The wheels are solid with a pattern of small circles moulded on the outer side.
Many soft toy manufacturers made toys in the form of real bears as well as teddy bears. These toy bears are much more realistic than teddy bears. They often had wheels added to make them pull-along toys rather than huggable cuddly toys.
Reference: © Victoria and Albert Museum
Steiff centre seam Teddy bear, circa 1909
The brown straw filled mohair bear with black boot button eyes, pointed muzzle, stitched nose, mouth, claws and centre seam, swivel head and jointed at shoulders and hips, hump to back, velvet paw pads and large feet, button in his left ear, (mohair worn in places, pads recovered), 43cm (17in) tall, together with a mohair panda. (2)
Sold for £ 2,750 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2014
Grandfather Bear A large Steiff display teddy bear with short golden mohair, clear and black glass eyes with brown backs, pronounced muzzle, black stitched nose, mouth and claws, swivel head, jointed elongated limbs with felt pads, hump, FF button in ear and growler, 1920s –46in. (117cm.) high (tops of ankles split, some damage to feet pads, stuffing shifted around neck, slight general wear, dusty and fading)
Sold for GBP 10,000 at Christie’s in 2007
STEIFF wool plush bear, c. 1940, with button, long stretched F, 18 cm, distinct hump, press voice is faulty, very nice original condition, very expressive
Sold for €1,700 at Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion GmbH in 2019
Steiff "Record" mohair teddy bear on Irish mail pull toy, ca. 1915, with long trailing"’" button in ear, hump, elongated limbs, and squeaker, with wood wheels also stamped Steiff, 10” h., 9” l.
Sold for $1,500 at Pook & Pook, Inc. with Noel Barrett in 2019
