z Evelyn Chambers Bears

I live in Kent with my husband and I have been collecting antique bears and soft toys for about 10 years. Like most people I went mad at the beginning and collected everything! But I have had to slim my collection down. My husband says one in and one out!

My favourite bears are quite unusual. I like American bears by the French Toy & novelty company of New York and my favourite of these is Mahoney. I also particularly like Caesar toy dogs by Farnell and William Terry, of which I am lucky enough to have several. Caesar was Edward Vii favourite dog and followed his funeral cortège in 1910.

My least favourite thing are clothes moths! And the battle against them.                                    I tend to find the bears online, at fairs or through dealers who know what I collect. There are still some nice bears out there, but some animals can be found cheaper, unless you are looking for a set of Pip, Squeak and Wilfred from the old comic strip!