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Posts: 35Are there many Steiff or Hermann Collectors on this Forum?
Feather Heart CreationsI collect Steiff, Gund and boyds bears. But I love Hermann bears Ive just never been lucky enough to own one 
oh and I also collect artist bears when I can afford them.
I love Steiffs, and antiques, and artist bears... 
Here's an example of the mix.
Becky
I collect bears that "speak" to me. This might be a manufactured or an artist bear. I don't have a preference but most of my bears ended up to be Steiff bears, some old and some newer. It is mostly a face in a bear that attracts me, although I also have to like the feel of the mohair. I do have other critters like dogs in my collection, however mostly bears. 
Hugs,
Marion
desertmountainbearI have a Steiff, a Hermann, a Deans and a Merrythought, as well as some artists bears and some unmarked oldies. I love old English teddies, so I would love adding more. One at a time when I can squirrel away the cash.
Joanne
Posts: 2,203If it is calling my name and I can afford it at the time it's coming home with me!
Boechout, AntwerpThough most of the bears in my hug are artist bears, I also have several Steiff, Hermann, Merrythought, Gund, Russ and ...
Charlie Bears! I still love these bears and even though they are made in Taiwan, I think they are great value for money and every year the designers come up with some adorable new characters. 
Like this one, that I couldn't resist myself: WILLIAM IV (I think you would like him too Gully: very floppy, but quite heavy and lovely tipped plush (white tips on a brown backing)
Hugs, :hug:
Peter & the bears
near Cologneoh my gosh, peter - whhat a lovely bear
Posts: 35William 1V is very lovely Peter, quite similar to Kenny actually. How many bears do you have in your collection?
Also, please could you tell me what an artist bear is? (Excuse my ignorance!)
near CologneGully: Artist bears are bears created by artists (and thus not massproduced) - like the bears you can see on here in the marketplace, for example^^
Hugs, Ariane
Posts: 35Thanks for explaining that Ariane. I was getting a little bit confused as I have a 27cms Steiff known as 'The Artist's Bear' I bought off QVC a few years ago. He is very sweet, like a mini PB55. 
The Littlest ThistleI have a few Merrythoughts (we used to live near the factory) and a few Hermans, but most of my collection is made up of artist bears
Posts: 49Hodge podge here, couple artist bears picked up in a bear co-op both OOAKs
my pride and joy of my hug are my Kaycee bears (Charlie bear fans have to check them out) and they
are made in the UK and have just launched some stunning mohairs that are going to kill my wallet lol
Woodbury Park BearsI have Steiff, Herman, Deans, Merrythought, Cottage Collectibles, Yakka, Charlie Bears , World of Minatures , and a couple of hundred Artist bears and love them all! I have William too Peter he's lovely Mark was the last to arrive last year but my favourite so far has been Malcolm. The big Charlies are so huggable! It doesn't matter to me if they are big small old or new if they say take me home whats a girl to do!
Boechout, AntwerpWilliam 1V is very lovely Peter, quite similar to Kenny actually. How many bears do you have in your collection?
Although I keep detailed records of all the bears I have ever adopted, I stopped counting some time ago (when I reached about 200 
).
Hugs, :hug:
Peter & the bears
YorkshireRory is my largest Charlie Bear (he was a QVC special) and I highly recommend him! William IV is gorgeous, better than the published photo. I have Scribbles, the shop signing event exclusive (although I couldn't get to a shop, I brought one of the leftovers after the event and had Charlie sign both my girls names on it). I have a Kaycee bear (Tootsie) and he is beautifully made too.
Emo BearsI have a couple of Charlie bears, a ton of Disney Store Stitch bears (not sure if they count!), a Boyds Bear bunny and the rest of mine are all Artist bears. I do love Charlie bears but haven't got a local store that I can just pop into so that saves my wallet!
I love hearing what kinds of bears you all collect. I have some oldies in my collection (a couple of British bears from the '40s, a few American-made teds, and a little white unjointed bear I suspect is a Steiff), some modern-day Steiffs and Hermanns (some of which I am thinking about parting with ), and some artist-made bears. I wish I could have them all displayed. I may adopt out a few of them this year as my tastes have changed a bit. But I do love most of them for their own special qualities.
Here's one of my sweet oldie bears (a Chiltern):
~Debora
Boechout, AntwerpI forgot to mention that I also have four "vintage" teddies (teddies dating from 1900 - 1960).
Until now I haven't been especially interested in old teddies, but as I am getting older myself , I am beginning to see the attraction of these old bears and I would like to have more of them in my hug.
The Chiltern Hugmee bear is entirely Paula Carter's fault, because I am jealous of her lovely collection Hugmee's ! 
Three teddies from the 1940-50's : the one in the foreground is a Chiltern Hugmee, the two at the back are Hermann Teddies
An English bear dating from the 1940's (possibly 30's), maker as yet unknown and the Chiltern Hugmee.
Hugs, :hug:
Peter & the bears
Ahh, I love those pics, Peter. Your Hugmee is sweet--I just love my Hugmee!
Braille TeddiesI have a few artist bears that were not made by me, a few that I made, and the rest are bears that people have given me or that I've found at yard sales or thrift stores or that someone wanted to get rid of. I love rescuing these type of bears. Oh yes, I have one Boyd's bear Retro. He's probably the most collectible bear I have other than my artist bears. Most of my bears and plushies are the kind y'all would probably make fun of. They have no monitary value, but they bring me so much joy. Oh yeah, I even have a puppy dog that I think is actually a dog toy, but he spoke to me when I saw him at the store. I've been laughed at by a couple of kids over him, lol.
I would love to own a Hermann bear...I have bid on a few Charlie bears but have not won one yet. Jessie, you would love the Charlie bears! Yep, if a bear speaks to me and I can afford him...he is mine! Doesn't matter his "credentials"...
Braille TeddiesWhere do they sell Charlie Bears in the USA? I don't like shopping online because I can't feel them. Do they sell them at any stores? I wish they carried artist bears at stores or something so I could feel them. I know I'm weird.
What a lovely forum! Peter, I am grinning from ear to ear ... how wonderful to see you have given an elderly Chiltern a home, I couldn't be more pleased! :dance:
As Peter has mentioned, I have a real fondness for the English Chiltern Hugmee and am happy to say, have a lovely hug ranging from the 1930's to 1950's. I am also the lucky recipient of one of Pam Howells' (Chief Designer for the Chiltern Hygenic Toy Company through the 1950's and into the 1960's) super modern day (well, actually 1990's!) 'Chiltern Memories'.
Some of my Hugmees
Spot my tribute design among his vintage friends!
Two gorgeous 1930's Chiltern Hugmees
Aside from the Chilts, I also seem to have collected a good few artist bears over the years! Here are a few:
This lovely trio was created by Rita Diesing of Ridibears
Little Acorn was made by Elena Barry of My Primitive Sistas
The beautiful big bear was created especially for one of my birthdays by Sandra Wickenden of Wickenden Bears. His friend is a lovely Mac Pohlen bear.
These are my very special childhood toys, including my first bear, the lovely Chiltern Hugmee teddy.
Angus was made by my sister Fiona Smith, back in the mid 90's. I found him on an auction site and simply had to buy him! After living on the other side of the world, he's now safely back home.
There are many more super bears I'd love to share with you, but I'm in danger of hogging the thread if I don't stop here! Maybe I'll pop back with a few other pics when more Teddy Talkers have had a chance to show off their own special bears ...
Posts: 52I don't have many "in my home" pics of my bears, but the only Steiff i currently and proudly own is Strauss the Rattle Bear: 
. I also have a ted I "made" at the Vermont Teddybear Factory when we visited (they let you stuff a skin and accessorize it) with a checkered tie so I named him Charlie. I also have an unnamed jointed bear I got from a yard sale, and one VERY loved Gund bear from my childhood.
