Clown Bears. Below are some examples of teddy bears dressed in clown costumes including an extremely rare Strunz polar bear and a large Steiff brown tipped mohair bear.
LARGE STEIFF CLOWN TEDDY BEAR
Brown tipped mohair, original nose stitching, glass eyes, trailing F with caps button, original hat and ruff, extremely rare. Includes baby book showing teddy bear was given on April 1911. Provenance: Bower’s Estate, Mannington, WV, Founders of Standard Plumbing Fixtures. 19″ t.
Sold for $32,500 at Bertoia Auctions in 2017
DELIGHTFUL PETITE GERMAN MOHAIR “TEDDY CLOWN” BY STEIFF Lot Number: 39 10″ (25 cm.) Of lush curly creamy mohair the bear has swivel head, stitched black nose and mouth, amber glass eyes, stitched ears, torso with pronounced back hump, non-working bellows growler, disc-jointed arms and legs, felt paw pads, and is wearing ruffled collar and matching felt clown hat with brown pom-poms. He has original Steiff underscore button in ear. Generally excellent. Germany, Steiff, circa 1930, the endearing costumed bear was designed for the American market where it was patented in 1929, this example with particularly beguiling expression and and well-preserved mohair.
Sold for $7,500 at Theriaut’s
Small white mohair Bing Teddy bear, circa 1909 The straw filled Teddy bear with black boot button eyes, brown stitched nose, mouth and claws, swivel head and jointed at shoulders and hips, tan felt paw pads, small hump to back and long arms, having scarce metal arrow in the right ear with initials G.B.N in diamond, wearing later clown costume, (some wear to mohair, upper pads repaired), 26cm (10in) tall.
Sold for £ 720 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2010
An extremely rare Strunz Polar Bear Clown with white mohair head, hands and feet, pronounced muzzle, brown stitched nose, mouth and claws, black boot button eyes, integral green and pink wool jesters outfit with pointed hat, pom-poms and felt collar and cuffs –18in. (45cm.) high, circa 1909 (some overall wear, outfit trim and pads professionally restored)
Sold for GBP 3,055 at Christie’s in 2000