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Back Road BearsI know this seems like a really dumb and obvious question but I'm asking anyway!!!
Most antique bears are a little 'bare' here and there in the fur department, could be stained, nose coming undone, a limb dangling, a seam obviously mended....
But what about SHAPE of BODY? Should it be skinny? Fat? Little ears? Big ears? Short snout? Long one? Eyes far apart or close together? Head round or more triangular shaped? Short legs, long legs? Skinny arms, chubby ones? You get the idea.
Is it all personal preference or have you found some design characteristics that really make a difference in achieving that 'old' bear look?
I am the wrong person to ask because I'm in the middle of this same dilemma! However in my "research" on the topic (reading lots of books about old bears, looking at photos, etc.) I think that there needs to be a certain little bit of lopsidedness or asymmetry or imperfection in the pattern itself -- or maybe, more accurately, in the way the bear is stuffed -- to get that authentic old look. I think I'll have a really hard time not stuffing rock-hard and evenly because that's a focus in my current work but the really old bears look all wonky, to use Dilu's favorite word!
If you're aiming to look truly authentically antique I think you need to look back at the old Steiff and Steiff type bears which have longish arms, upturned kinda pointy snouts (mine tend to be round and I think yours do too, Daphne), and big feet on mid-length legs.
For my own old bears I'm not trying to replicate traditional antiques but instead, want to apply an old look to a newer style bear, more like a stick kind of bear with skinny limbs. Like you I'm planning to avoid my usual neat, close, vertical satin stitch and do a sloppy horizontal stitch at the nose, too, in a shield shape instead of my usual oval. Seems more vintage styled, that way, I think.
I'm sure there are a million ways to answer this question. I think the Forget Me Not bears are great models of how to create authentic old-style bears. Google them for a look see!
We'll have to share our results when we get somewhere with this project, Daphne, that we feel comfortable posting publicly!
I'll be curious to read what others have to suggest...
I think it depends which area you want your 'antique' bear to appear from: for example, the German Bing and Steiff style humped back, pointed snout bear is a WORLD away from the french stick style bears! Looking at a few of the older bears around, stuffing tends to settle in the body, making the neck floppier, and there is usually a collapsed wrist where a child has held the bear and carried it around. Also, the muzzle and paws are dirtied and frayed: those are the bits most likely to drag along the ground.
A fun thing (for me at least!) is to look at the antique section on Ebay: that'll show you lots of old, duffed up bears from every where and every time 
I'm working on my first 'old style' bear at the moment.... it's a bit nerve-wracking! Have fun!
q.D.paToOtieSMy two favorite old bears in my personal collection happen to be stick bears from the early 1900's. They have so much character now and I proudly display one all year round. The other one only comes out at Christmas. I'll post a picture of my favorite one a little later on.
I justed posted this pic on Shelli's thread about distressing. I'm in the mood to make old style bears too. I personally like the thinner bears with the longer, slimmer, floppy limbs . Hence that is what I tried to create on this bear that I just finished. It is hard to purposely distress a bear once it is together, but once you start it is hard to stop... almost like some form of voodoo . :twisted: 
:crackup: 
Back Road BearsTwo books that have given me lots of idea:
The Teddy Bear Encyclopedia by Pauline Cockrill
Teddy's World by Mirja de Vries (Loads of pictures!!)
ooooeww. Tough question. There are so many variables in the shapes of old bears. Traditional old bears have a leaner nose/muzzle and proportionate limbs. Stick bears have a wee bit larger looking head due to their football like body and straight limbs. I look to those two bear types as truly old bears.
I have several old bears.....and few that are hanging together only by the clothes they're wearing! One thing they all have in common is that all of them look like they've been dragged around for years so their little selves are all out of sorts. 
Dee, 
Because you've been creating bears in a certain style for a few years, it makes it harder to look at a completely new style and be pleased with the result. Let the bears sit for a few days and then take another look at them........away from your current style. You may just fall in love with them!! 
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Back Road BearsThanks, Queen.... I was actually thinking of tying the two bears I've just made to the back of my SUV and driving them up and down our dirt road! Or letting the dogs play with them out in the back yard! Then it wouldn't matter what the bear started out looking like!
:crackup:
I think I'm going to go dig out one of the first patterns I ever did..... with a bit of tweeking it will look very much like an 'old' bear. Not originally the look I was going for.... but a more refined and dignified old bear. I was wanting almost a more primative look but that was a disaster so I'll meet in the middle. Perhaps just traditional is the word. With a bit of distressing and a change to the snout shape I think I could be on to something here....
This 'chat' has helped immensly! Thank you!
BlondheartOld german bears tended to have long snouts, cupped ears that are proportional with the head, curved arms and larger feet with a pronounced hump. These were from very early last century and changed a bit as time went on.
Old english bears tended to be a bit more portly, they had larger ears, a defined snout but not as long as a german bear, and shorter limbs. Again from early last century.
Old American bears had very straight limbs, short feet, sometimes shorter snouts, and were generally thinner. Early last century.
Old Asian bears tended to be larger in the head, shorter rounded snout, larger eyes, smaller body and stumpy limbs. These guys didn't show up til a little later.
Now keep in mind there are exceptions to every rule. And a lot of things play a part in recreating a bear that looks like something from above, eye placement, ear size, muzzle shape. There are so many things to consider. If you have something in mind you like, then I would reccomend researching the company it came from and looking at a lot of examples of their past products. For instance a little known company called Character made wonderful bears in the 40's that had HUGE head joints, big ears, small bodies, small limbs.......these bears were almost a conglomerate of every style. And they had such a charm. I have one that belonged to my father when he was a child.
I am really glad you asked this question, because there is more to recreating a vintage bear than just taking away fur and "yucking it up." Do your research, see what appeals to you and follow that style.
Great bear Tammy. 
What about the type of mohair and the color.....does that make a big difference as well? I have not made an old style bear either, but wouldlike to give it a try some day.
