Teddy Bear - QUALITATIVE

-       Medium:

o   What is it made of?

§  First teddy bear made in Germany by Margaret Steiff: She cut a pattern out of brown mohair pile fabric and created a bear whose head, arms, and legs were articulated so they could move independently and so the bear could sit or stand. The toy was stuffed with excelsior (wood shavings used as packing material), and he had shoe-button eyes and an embroidered nose and other features

§  In the 1920s, this changed and glass eyes were used because button eyes could be pulled off too easily, this is why in a lot of movies you see a teddy bear with only one button eye, because it became a national symbol.

§  Turns out both glass and button eyes could be easily pulled off so in 1948, a woman named Wendy Bolton came up with a screw-in eye which was made of nylon. However, these were also replaced in the 1950s by the final model, a plastic eye that was mounted on a stem and attached within the bear so they would be safer. Since the 1960s, these are the standard issue eyes.

§  There have been many changes to how a teddy bear is made since the 1900s: before the disks used were made of wood, and pins were used to hold the bear together which made it less flexible. Today, companies have replaced these by plastic disks.

 §  Fabrics have changes as well, the most popular ones today are the fabrics that are fur-like. The first bears were made of mohair, sheep’s wool, rayon or silk. Today nylon, corduroy, denim, calico, terry cloth, and velour are more frequently used as they are more durable.

 o   How can it be reproduced using its raw materials?

 §  First blueprints must be made into paper patterns.

 §  The shapes are then cut out and pinned to the fabric chosen.

 §  Then you stack layers of plush with the pattern pinned on top.

§  Add the small pieces first, then the eyes and then stitch the parts together.

§  Then stuff the bears with tightly packed dual polyester fiber (this means that it is a mixture of fine fiber and a thicker, wavier fiber, because this lasts the longest)

§  Put more in the arms, legs, and head so that they are firm, but the body should be softer.

§  Then, the “hug test” (which is actually recognized, and some children are paid for it). You hug the bear to evaluate how cuddly it is.

§  Sow the bear back together, and use an electrically powered wire brush to fluff the seams.

        

   Style 

      

      The teddy bear is a stuffed toy bear.

Usually stuffed with soft cotton and have a smooth and soft fur.

In recent times, some teddy bears have become collector's items. Now, teddy bears come in various styles and people can dress them up in many different styles and articles of clothing.

The design varies from one bear to another. This goes much link with the importance of the expression. However, Teddy Bears are very different one from the other. They are first design by an artist and secondly there are analysed to find possible flaws. Many trials may be required to create the perfect teddy bear with the perfect design. It has to be remembered that for most of the cases they are going to be destined to large-scale manufacture and things such as popularity, where will it be sold need to be considered.
• i.e. A bear producer in California sells a stuffed bear resembling the bruin on the California state flag, but this item would not necessarily sell well elsewhere.

Teddy bears are different form the other objects of their families because of their history and their originality. They can be given many uses and they are associated with many things that the other types of stuffed animals are not.
• Their name comes from President Theodore Roosevelt whose nickname was Teddy. The name originated from an incident on a bear-hunting trip in Mississippi in November 1902
• Teddy bears had become very relevant mascots for Olympic games and the favourite toys of many people. They shape are particular and al kind of look the same. 

Expression
Most of the teddy bears are simply and unanimated. But recently more and more companies have created robotized teddy bears (i.e. Japan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwWeN1ARy74 )
Teddy bears have many uses and they have become more and more important in peoples, and specially children life. Some of the most important uses of Teddy Bears are:
• Museums: The first one set up in Petersfield, Enfland (1984). In 1990 a similar one appeared in Florida (US). Now a day there are many teddy bear museums around the world.
• Teddy bear cops: Giving teddy bears to children in a crisis situation stabilized them. For this reason police, fire and emergency oficials created the Teddy Bear Cops program, which distributes teddy bears to police, fire and emergency officials in the US so that they can be given to the children in specific situations.
• Teddy Bear festivals: They became more and more popular around the world. Most of them take place in America, Canada, Japan and Germany.
• The most common use for a teddy bear is as a toy. They are usually offer to kids and in many cases they become the “best friend”
• Love object: Teddy bears are used in san Valentines day more and more frequently
• Advertising campaigns with other objects of the same family: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1hFMHIAjr4&feature=fvst