2000 Children's Health - Bears and Dolls

Single 40c + 5c 'White Mohair Bear' gummed stamp.

Rose Hill’s Geronimo spent much of his life in a suitcase. He has attended bear making classes and doll and bear shows all around New Zealand.

The white mohair of Geronimo’s coat is still in its ‘raw’ state. All woven mohair fur fabrics start at this ‘string’ stage, before they are dyed. Today’s bear makers have a wide variety of fur fabrics to choose from, including the traditional mohair. The colour range, and fur textures, available today from textile houses in both England and Germany, has meant that bear makers can create ‘characters’ never imagined by the first bear makers.

Single 80c + 5c 'French Porcelain and American Wood Dolls' gummed stamp.

This small unmarked French Girl, with her porcelain head and fully jointed body, has been attributed to Jumeau. In the 1880's and 1890's the name Jumeau would have been widely recognised in the doll world. Regarded as the epitome of Porcelain dolls, examples in good condition are prized by collectors throughout the world. French dolls are not common in New Zealand. Immigrants in the 19th century were seldom wealthy enough to provide such toys, and there are many stories of favourite dolls being left behind, because it was feared they would not survive the voyage.

The unusual boy doll, carved out of solid wood was made by the American manufacturer Schoenhut, who invented a unique jointing system of metal springs. Schoenhut patented this jointing method in 1911 and subsequent dolls were often labelled with this date. This example has been fortunate to retain his face paint. Wooden dolls often have their features repainted when the surface is chipped, but the original coating is more valued by collectors.

Single $1.10 'Chad Valley Bear' gummed stamp.

The name ‘Chad’ comes from the stream that ran beside the factory where this bear was made. Made in the 1920s, his plush pile mohair fur and large nose are typical of this family of bears.

After World War I England banned German imports and English factories, like Merrythought, Farnell and Chad Valley, grew quickly to fill much of the German export market. The Chad Valley company had started as a book bindery, but by the beginning of World War I they were making an increasing range of simple toys. Their first bears were produced in 1915 and by the mid 1920s they were known for their high quality bears and cloth dolls. They patented their own stuffing machine to fill toys with such diverse materials as Kapok and cork chips.

Single $1.20 'Porcelain Doll' gummed stamp.

Award winning doll artist Debbie Pointon’s Poppy is a blend of two era’s. Sculpted as a likeness to her present child-owner, Debbie also wanted to portray the image of a child of early European settlers. Debbie has worked in many different artistic fields. She started doll making in 1990, bringing her watercolour painting skills to the delicate reproduction of antique dolls.

Often inspired by the world of fairy and fantasy her ‘one of a kind’ creations are eagerly awaited by collectors of both Art and Dolls. International recognition for her work has seen Debbie fly to Australia as a special guest at an International Doll Symposium. Her work is regularly exhibited at shows and galleries around the country.

Single $1.50 'Large and Small Bear' gummed stamp.

These two bears have very different backgrounds. Dear John is the name of the small mohair bear made by Rose Hill in 1996. He is one of a range of pattern designs developed for people who make their own bears. His slightly curly mohair gives him a rather scruffy appeal. Plastic pellets weight his arms and legs so he will always sit in a relaxed pose.

Named Swannee, the larger bear belongs to Robin Rive, and is typical of bears manufactured in New Zealand in the 1980's. This example is made of a synthetic fur and quite softly stuffed.

New Zealand manufacturers of bears, and other soft toys, over the last 20 years, initially followed American design trends. However, as the bear collecting market grew, manufacturers brought out their own ranges using local talent. Limited editions of many designs, often made of mohair, became affordable gifts for children and collectors alike.

Single $1.80 'Cloth Doll and Small Mohair Bear' gummed stamp.

Gloria Young began her doll making in 1974, about the time her daughter, Lia, was born. This cloth doll, made in 1991 and dressed in a simple cotton print, is a portrait of Lia at about the age of three. She hugs a small, well-loved teddy bear. One of a pair, the bear was sent as a gift from a grandparent to identical twin girls in Christchurch, New Zealand. Originally purchased in Scotland, he was probably made in England in the 1930's.

Children raised during the depression and World War II learned to look after the few toys available. At that time there was little in the way of commercial toy production in New Zealand. Imported toys were expensive, and most came from English manufacturers. Once outgrown, they were handed on to younger siblings or the next generation.