Soft Plush
Large Plush Toys and the Most Famous of all Teddy Bear’s
Very few of us can say that at one time or another, we didn’t have a favorite soft toy; whether it was a teddy bear or a frog, it was a treasured companion. Large plush toys (and even the smaller versions) really are staples of childhood – without them, growing up just wouldn’t be quite the same.
Besides the Steiff company, which was responsible for the creation of the first teddy bear, there were others that followed in their footsteps that also produced top quality soft toys. One such company, was London based manufacturer, J.K. Farnell. This was a family business founded in 1840 by John Kirby Farnell. While the company started out as a silk merchant producing small silk goods like pincushions, their fine needlework skills that were required to make such items, would serve them very well in the future.
When John Farnell died in 1897, Henry and Agnes Farnell, Farnell’s son and daughter, moved the company to a leased property in west London, called The Elms. It was at this new location where their first soft toys and Teddy Bears were made. After initially using unusual materials to create their bears – like rabbit fur – they eventually turned to much higher quality mohair plush and produced top notch teddy’s.
Following World War I, many British, and even those abroad, were not comfortable buying German goods. As a result, the British teddy bear industry took off. By 1921, J.K. Farnell had outgrown its location – The Elms – so they built a new factory next door. This addition was called the Alpha Works and was managed by Agnes Farnell. With the amount of orders that were flooding in, staff numbers were increased to meet the demand.
With the imaginative designs of Sybil Kemp, J.K. Farnell kept producing first rate soft toys; Alpha Bears were among these. This was a range of teddy bears that strongly resembled the classic teddy bear of 1905 which Richard Steiff had designed. In the early 1920s, when Alpha Bears were first launched, they had golden or silver/white mohair plush, long arms, well-built thighs, big oval feet, thick ankles, and vertically stitched oblong noses.
In 1921, the world’s most famous Alpha Bear was purchased from Harrods in London by A.A. Milne – the author and creator of Winnie the Pooh. Milne bought the bear as a present for his son Christopher Robin’s first birthday. When We Were Very Young, a book of children’s poems, published by Milne in 1924 and illustrated by E.H. Shepard, included the poem ‘Teddy Bear;’ it described a little bear with a weight problem and this was the first unofficial appearance of Pooh. He was launched properly in 1925, in a story written for the Christmas Eve issue of the Evening News. The story went on to launch the first chapter of Winnie the Pooh (1926) which was a collection of short stories about Christopher Robin and his nursery toys. The original Farnell teddy, which Christopher Robin always referred to as Edward Bear, can now be found in the New York Public Library along with all his soft toys companions, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga and Roo, and Tigger.
Even Winnie the Pooh has been produced as a large plush toy, as have many of his friends. However, in order to enjoy large plush toys, it doesn’t necessarily have to be with Pooh given there are so many others to choose from.
Copyright Shelley Vassall, 2010. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
About the Author
Shelley Vassall is a writer and collector of large plush toys
Pokemon Black and White Pocket Monsters Scraggy Zuruggu Soft Plush
|
|
Itzy Ritzy Reusable Snack Bag, Urban Jungle Blue $3.99 Snack Happened Reusable Snack Bag in Urban Jungle – Blue• FDA approved & BPA Free! Unlike the others!• Ideal for little hands, snacks, fruit, sandwiches, picnics, school lunches, mini first aid kits, cell phones, car & plane trips, crayons, toiletries, iPods, cameras, hiking, camping, travel, beach gear & more!• Lead free YKK zipper top keeps crumbs, drips & contents securely inside… |
|
|
Microfiber Pearl Weave Kitchen Towels (2-Pack) These towels feature a super-soft pearl weave, as well as a ribbed design to increase absorbency. They are a must-have for any kitchen! These super absorbent microfiber kitchen towels polish as they dry leaving a lint and streak-free finish every time. The magic of microfiber takes the work out of drying. Longer lasting than cotton. They can be washed and reused hundreds of times over. They are th… |
|
|
Eurow Microfiber Waffle Weave Kitchen Towels (10-pack) $29.97 This is a 10-pack of superior quality microfiber waffle weave kitchen towels. These towels are softer than cotton and more absorbent than a chamois. Microfiber swiftly dries large surfaces with minimal effort due to its absorbent properties, allowing it to retain up to ten times its weight in water. Another property of these amazing cloths is their ability to polish while drying for a lint and str… |
|
|
Fisher-Price Ocean Wonders Soothe and Glow Seahorse Pink $14.88 With a gentle squeeze, this cuddly friend glows and plays soft music, lullabies and soothing sounds of the ocean. After five minutes the music fades, lights dim, and baby can drift off to dreamland … Recommended Ages: 0 Months & up… |
|
|
After Hours at the Plush Room $1.99 … |
|
|
Ren & Stimpy Classics 2 Video & Plush Toy [VHS] $19.98 In Box, never played with . Stimpy is loose in the box windows are loose box has wear rear piece… |
|
|
Spirit: Stallion of Cimarron [VHS] $24.99 Horse lovers young and old will celebrate this utterly enjoyable and marvelous-looking animated film. The titular stallion runs free in the Cimarron (New Mexico) wilderness until a series of men try to master the proud horse, leading to adventures through a U.S. Cavalry fort, Native American settlements, and a railroad camp. Despite a heavy dose of political correctness and realism (the animals do… |
|
|
Whitmor 6256-413 Kids Toy Net $6.99 Whitmor 6256-413 Kids Toy NetWhitmor 6256-413 Kids Toy Net Features:; Toy net; Turn unused wall space into storage; Easily attaches to wall with included hardware; Great for toys and stuffed animals; Washable polyester net; Large size; 6′ mesh net… |
|
|
Lovely Soft Plush Car Automobile Hand Gear Knob Lever Cover $4.99 Package Included: 1 x Soft Cloth Car Automobile Hand Gear Knob Lever Cover… |
|
|
Warm-n-Comfy Cloth Toilet Seat Cover $9.95 Say NO to cold shocks in cold winter mornings. Let our Warm-n-Comfy terry cloth toilet seat cover keep you warm and comfy. What’s more, it adds a luxurious look to every bathroom. Perfect gift for everybody, especially for ladies, new/expecting mamas, and the elderly. * Soft, sanitary, and luxurious |
|
|
Spot Plush Football 4.5 in. $3.5 Plush Football Soft plush sport balls, great fun colors, realistic looking, squeakers too! |
|
|
Vancouver Canucks Plush Mascot $21.2 Vancouver Canucks Plush Mascot Take home one of your favorite mascots! Our Plush Mascot figure is dressed in your favorite NHL team colors and logo. Each plush player is soft to the touch, but ready for some rough and tumble hockey! Player measures 9". |
|
|
Philadelphia Flyers Plush Mascot $21.2 Philadelphia Flyers Plush Mascot Take home one of your favorite mascots! Our Plush Mascot figure is dressed in your favorite NHL team colors and logo. Each plush player is soft to the touch, but ready for some rough and tumble hockey! Player measures 9". |
|
|
Calgary Flames Plush Mascot $21.2 Calgary Flames Plush Mascot Take home one of your favorite mascots! Our Plush Mascot figure is dressed in your favorite NHL team colors and logo. Each plush player is soft to the touch, but ready for some rough and tumble hockey! Player measures 9". |
|
|
Carolina Hurricanes Plush Mascot $21.2 Carolina Hurricanes Plush Mascot Take home one of your favorite mascots! Our Plush Mascot figure is dressed in your favorite NHL team colors and logo. Each plush player is soft to the touch, but ready for some rough and tumble hockey! Player measures 9". |
|
|
Edmonton Oilers Plush Mascot $21.2 Edmonton Oilers Plush Mascot Take home one of your favorite mascots! Our Plush Mascot figure is dressed in your favorite NHL team colors and logo. Each plush player is soft to the touch, but ready for some rough and tumble hockey! Player measures 9". |
|
|
Montreal Canadians Plush Mascot $21.2 Montreal Canadians Plush Mascot Take home one of your favorite mascots! Our Plush Mascot figure is dressed in your favorite NHL team colors and logo. Each plush player is soft to the touch, but ready for some rough and tumble hockey! Player measures 9". |
|
|
Mets Plush Bear $14.95 Mets Plush Bear This Major League Baseball plush bear features your team’s logo on a gray hoodie and measures approx. 14" from head to toe. Made of soft plush material it’s the perfect gift for any baseball fan! |
|
|
Phillies Plush Bear $14.95 Phillies Plush Bear This Major League Baseball plush bear features your team’s logo on a gray hoodie and measures approx. 14" from head to toe. Made of soft plush material it’s the perfect gift for any baseball fan! |
|
|
Red Sox Plush Bear $14.95 Red Sox Plush Bear This Major League Baseball plush bear features your team’s logo on a gray hoodie and measures approx. 14" from head to toe. Made of soft plush material it’s the perfect gift for any baseball fan! |
|
|
White Sox Plush Bear $14.95 White Sox Plush Bear This Major League Baseball plush bear features your team’s logo on a gray hoodie and measures approx. 14" from head to toe. Made of soft plush material it’s the perfect gift for any baseball fan! |
|
|
Yankees Plush Bear $14.95 Yankees Plush Bear This Major League Baseball plush bear features your team’s logo on a gray hoodie and measures approx. 14" from head to toe. Made of soft plush material it’s the perfect gift for any baseball fan! |
|
|
Dodgers Plush Bear $7.95 Dodgers Plush Bear This Major League Baseball plush bear features your team’s logo on a gray hoodie and measures approx. 8" from head to toe. Made of soft plush material it’s the perfect gift for any baseball fan! |
|
|
Seattle Mariners Plush Bear $7.95 Seattle Mariners Plush Bear This Major League Baseball plush bear features your team’s logo on a gray hoodie and measures approx. 8" from head to toe. Made of soft plush material it’s the perfect gift for any baseball fan! |
|
|
Colorado Rockies Plush Bear $7.95 Colorado Rockies Plush Bear This Major League Baseball plush bear features your team’s logo on a gray hoodie and measures approx. 8" from head to toe. Made of soft plush material it’s the perfect gift for any baseball fan! |
|
|
Minnesota Twins Plush Bear $7.95 Minnesota Twins Plush Bear This Major League Baseball plush bear features your team’s logo on a gray hoodie and measures approx. 8" from head to toe. Made of soft plush material it’s the perfect gift for any baseball fan! |
|
|
Atlanta Braves Plush Bear $7.95 Atlanta Braves Plush Bear This Major League Baseball plush bear features your team’s logo on a gray hoodie and measures approx. 8" from head to toe. Made of soft plush material it’s the perfect gift for any baseball fan! |
|
|
Cleveland Indians Plush Bear $7.95 Cleveland Indians Plush Bear This Major League Baseball plush bear features your team’s logo on a gray hoodie and measures approx. 8" from head to toe. Made of soft plush material it’s the perfect gift for any baseball fan! |
|
|
Philadelphia Phillies Plush Bear $7.95 Philadelphia Phillies Plush Bear This Major League Baseball plush bear features your team’s logo on a gray hoodie and measures approx. 8" from head to toe. Made of soft plush material it’s the perfect gift for any baseball fan! |
|
|
Cincinnati Reds Plush Bear $7.95 Cincinnati Reds Plush Bear This Major League Baseball plush bear features your team’s logo on a gray hoodie and measures approx. 8" from head to toe. Made of soft plush material it’s the perfect gift for any baseball fan! |
