18" Antique 1910 Lt Brown Teddy Bear shoe button eye mohair Steiff or American?

Description

This remarkable bear showed up at a recent flea market. It has had a full life since his creation in around 1910. He is short haired and could have been a muzzle bear but is more likely to be the 5332,1. The growler no longer functions. I made a collar out of leather and ribbon to help hold the head up. It has an unusual head shape and looks like a sad baby bear. He shares a lot of characteristics with our 1910 Steiffs but this lot is getting responses from people who think it is early 20th century Ideal American. We are selling him as photographed. It looks very similar one of the early bears illustrated in the Assortment book on page 21. Ears and head shape of the white bear on the far left of the photo is VERY similar. I have scanned the page and included it. We require overnight insured shipping for him.