{"product_id":"french-teddy-bear-history","title":"French Teddy Bear History","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eIt was not until 1919 that the first mohair Teddy Bear came from France.  This Teddy Bear was produced by a company called Pintel.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eMarcel Pintel first began producing stuffed toys (les jouets bourres) for his Father's firm in Paris in 1913.  The first ‘Pintel' Teddies, however, were infact rather delicate, firmly stuffed and had tapered limbs.  These Teddy Bears proved to be so popular that production had to be sent to other French soft toy companies including Thiennot.  Sadly, during the Second World War the company had to close down, but after the war, they started production once again using whatever materials were available to them.  M.  Pintel Fils, carried on production up until 1976, when the factory doors were closed for good.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ePintel Teddy Bears that were produced before the 1930's had a metal button attached to their chest.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eEarly French toy production centred around mechanical toys, hence thecountry's first Teddy Bears were mechanical.  Pintel produced a Teddy on a tricycle around 1915.  This was a very popular toy and continued in production up until 1940.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ePintel also produced Bears on Wheels between 1927 and 1930, just like so many other toy companies.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSome distinguishing features of a Pintel Teddy Bear are :\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"ul1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eEyes stitched into the back of bears head ;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eA long muzzle ;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eLarge feet ;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ePaw pads with three claws ;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eA voice box.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eAnother French Company, Fadap (Fabrication Artistique d'Animaux en Peluche) began Teddy Bear production in 1925 from their factory in Divonne-les-Bains.  Early Fadap Teddy Bears are rather tubby, they have long arms and thick paws.  They are indeed very close in their looks to the Pintel bears but one giveaway to identifying a Fadap Teddy Bear is they tend to have upturned noses and they also have a seam under their chin.  Old Fadap Teddy Bears also wore a metal button in their ear, with the words ‘'Fadap'' and ‘'France'' embossed on it.  Sadly, Fadap closed it's doors in 1978.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe initials FADAP hide the brand \"Fabrication Artistique d'Animaux en Peluche\" (Artistic Plush Animal Manufacturing).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough the company dates back to 1920, their bears first appeared in 1925 and were produced in the Divonne-les-Bains factory (near the Swiss border).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe headquarters of FAD'AP (with an apostrophe) were located at 37 rue des Archives and, in 1931, at 43 rue Beaubourg in Paris. The connection between the two is not indicated in the documents.\u003cbr\u003eQuite similar to Pintel's models, FADAP's bears are distinguished by a more upturned muzzle and a rather high nose, which gives them a haughty appearance. Their bodies are cylindrical (\"pear-shaped\" according to some sources), their arms are long, and their paws thick. The stuffing is less dense and less firm than Pintel's.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pads on the feet and arms are most often made of cotton. The branches of the inverted Y of the mouth hang very low, giving the bear a sad look. This is a common characteristic of French bears.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEarly models were generally made from short mohair, with cotton pads, and featured four embroidered claws on the paws. Natural silk plush was also available for some bears. The glass eyes were clear, even transparent, with black pupils. FADAP, unlike many French manufacturers, seems to have used discs for the joints, as the attachment of the limbs is not visible from the outside.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA paper label with a red border, attached to a metal button marked \"FADAP\" and placed in the ear, allows the models to be clearly identified. However, these elements have often disappeared. Their presence therefore increases the bear's value.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the 1920s, several colors were used (red, white, blue, for example). The number of claws was reduced to only three per limb, and many bears were articulated using joints visible from the outside. However, high-end models had glass eyes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the war, restrictions imposed the use of flannel and buttons for the eyes. A document tells us that FAD'AP (with an apostrophe) was acquired in 1947 by Ets Lang.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter the Second World War, the models retained much of their characteristics. At this time, mechanical bears and animals on wheels were also part of the production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the 1953 Lyon Fair, the FADAP collection was displayed on two stands, with animals stuffed with plush (mohair, rayon), others on wheels, and still others called \"jumping animals.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the 1950s, the company also produced a line of bears with molded vinyl heads, in collaboration with the American firm Ideal Toy Corporation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the trade magazine \"Le Jouet Français\" in 1961, an advertisement featured a nylon bear called \"Nylours.\" The bear's name was embroidered on its chest, with the O replaced by a bear's head.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFADAP closed its doors in 1978.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Y3BBE\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Y3BBE\"\u003eAntique French\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eFadap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(Fabrication d’Articles de Paris) teddy bears, produced primarily between 1925 and 1978, were manufactured in a wide variety of sizes ranging from small cabinet bears to large ride-on toys.\u003cspan class=\"uJ19be notranslate\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vKEkVd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbutton class=\"rBl3me IWyTpf pjvauc\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"KsbFXc U6u95\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eSmall:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eApproximately\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003e9 inches (24 cm)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003e14 inches (35 cm)\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eMedium:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eApproximately\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003e17 inches (43 cm)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003e19 inches (48 cm)\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eLarge:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eApproximately\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003e20 inches (50 cm)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003e23.2 inches (59 cm)\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eExtra Large\/Ride-on:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eModels mounted on metal frames with wheels were made as large as\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003e26 inches (66–68 cm)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein length.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"uJ19be notranslate\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vKEkVd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbutton class=\"rBl3me IWyTpf pjvauc\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Y3BBE\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eKey Identification Features\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBeyond size, Fadap bears from the 1920s and 1930s are often identified by their:\u003cspan class=\"txxDge notranslate\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vKEkVd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbutton class=\"rBl3me\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"wiMplc ofC0Ud\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Y3BBE\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eDistinctive Face:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eUpturned noses, a \"seam under the chin,\" and large expressive glass eyes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"KsbFXc U6u95\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eBuild:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eTubby bodies with long arms and thick paws.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eMaterials:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eTypically made with high-quality golden or cinnamon mohair and filled with wood wool (excelsior).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"uJ19be notranslate\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vKEkVd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbutton class=\"rBl3me IWyTpf pjvauc\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"KsbFXc U6u95\"\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eEmile Thiennot worked for Marcel Pintel earlier in his life, but in 1919, he set up on his own selling bears and other soft toys under the trade name of Jouet Champenois. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThiennot trading as Le Jouet Champenois was one of the first French bear makers in about 1919 although Pintel Fils who produced a tumbling clown 1913 was about the same time. This was followed quickly after the war by Fadap and a number of other makers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eIn 1920, Thiennot won a prize for one of his Teddy Bears.  In 1957, the firm, however, changed it's name to Creation Tieno.  The firm closed it's doors in 1993.  Many early Teddy Bears made by this company are quite difficult to identify and could and often do,  get mistaken for Pintel Teddy Bears.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eJan Jac -  This company is one of the many French soft toy companies to have produced Teddy Bears in the 1950's.  Teddy Bears produced by this company can be identified by :\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"ul1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eShort arms ;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eRed felt tongue ;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eShaggy mohair.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eToday, French Teddy Bears are very collectible and are easily identifiable, just like their British or German counterparts.  A modern French Teddy Bear maker is the firm Blanchet and, as far as we know, they are still making bears to this day.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrench bears are identified by:-\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e•  Short bristle mohair or cotton plush.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e•  They are often coloured.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e•  Simple jointing which often shows.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e•  They are seldom labelled.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e•  Pintel and some early bears have a button.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e•  They can have colourful ear linings.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"width: 100.089%; 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