Antieke Knickerbocker " Luckey Bear Winston ''Teddybeer - Teddy bear - 1920-1930 - U.S.

“In good, well-played condition. One eye is good and the other eye is only half good. The growl voice no longer works. 'Winston, a Knickerbocker bear with dark brown mohair, large amber and black glass eyes, pronounced snout, black stitched nose, mouth. Rotatable head, jointed limbs and fabric cushions -34 cm long, circa 1925 and the first from the Winston Luckey Knickerbocker Teddy Bear. Filling: wood wool. I have conducted extensive research into this bear and looked in encyclopedias where I found him.” This bear is a true collector’s item.

The Knickerbocker Toy Company, with roots dating back to the late 19th century, is an important chapter in the history of American toy production. The company was founded in 1869 by a family of Dutch immigrants originally named Van Why(e), and it began as a small business in Albany, New York. The Van Why(es) changed their surname to Knickerbocker, inspired by the term used to describe early Dutch colonists in New York State, a nod to their heritage and a brand name that would become synonymous with quality toys.

Initially, the Knickerbocker Toy Company focused on producing lithographed paper-on-wood blocks, wooden puzzles and educational toys. However, in the early 1920s the company moved to New York City and began diversifying its range, introducing stuffed dolls, puppets and plush animals. The most notable of these were the jointed mohair teddy bears, which gained a distinct identity through their unique use of felt, embroidery or metal noses. These bears from the 1920s and 1930s have earned recognition among collectors for their craftsmanship, which has led to a rise in their value in recent years.”} } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } }