Big Plush Bear by Angeline Hope
Have you ever wondered what your life might have been like had you not grown up with a big plush bear or two? Or, perhaps you only came to appreciate big plush bears when you were a little older. Whatever the case, you can be sure that without that big plush bear, things would have been very different for you and not necessarily in a good way.
Plush animals, no matter their size, color, or species have proven themselves to be much more than just soft toys. They are companions that can share our triumphs and disasters, will comfort us in times of woe, and join in adventures both great and small. Big plush bears, like any other type of stuffed animal, embody all of the qualities in which both children and adults alike demand in their soft toys; they are well-made and set up; some can have their heads turned around and legs adjusted; they have that precious gift of true adaptability – they can be made to crawl, climb, stand or sit. And, most importantly, big plush bears are delightfully themselves but also leave some suggestion for their imaginative owners, to be whatever special being they would like their plush to personify.
None of the special plush toys we are familiar with today, would have ever been possible if it had not been for a young girl who, despite having contracted polio, refused to let her illness dissuade her from living life. That young girl was named Maragrete Steiff and she was responsible for creating the first teddy bear of which all others today, have ‘descended’ from. At first, Margarete created a simple small elephant that she produced in felt as a pincushion for herself. Given she had her own business in 1877, producing felt petticoats and children’s clothes, pincushion’s were a necessity. She was so pleased with the result, she decided to make other gifts for her friends and family. Since many people in Geingen, Germany (where Margarete lived) were dressmakers, paying for such a knick-knack would have been absurd.
At that time, the most popular toys for children had been manufactured out of hard materials, such as wood or tin. Dolls were popular, but their papier-mâché or porcelain heads and bodies stuffed with horsehair, were not at all comforting to cuddle. When children saw their mothers’ felt elephant pincushions, the children of Giengen claimed them for themselves, loving their size and tactile qualities. After receiving an increasing number of requests for the felt elephants, on December 29, 1880, Margarete decided to start selling them. Not surprisingly, they were immediately snapped up and soon, soft toys, which included dogs, camels, lions, monkeys, and donkeys, formed the majority of her business. Following that, it was not very far off to 1902, when eventually the first teddy bear was created.
For the less fortunate, who did not grow up with a big plush bear, or any other kind of plush toy, there is no time like the present to go and find out what all the ‘fuss’ is about – you will not not be sorry that you did.
About the Author
Angeline Hope is a collector of big plush bear toys. You can view a big plush bear selection at MyBigPlush.
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