Antique dancing bears are highly sought after and are very entertaining. Many early dancing bears take the form of the bears used in circuses which, thankfully, is a practice which is rarely carried out nowadays. Later vintage models have a more gentle and appealing facade although the Victorian ones are often even more valuable due to their rarity.
Below are some examples of antique and vintage dancing bears including a mechanical bank and a Victor Bonnet dancing bear.
BING dancing bear, dark-brown, with turning ball, intact, ball was at small places a bit soldered, bear here and there with places with slight mohair loss, 20 cm standing height, shoe button eyes, exceptional, rare with DRPA DRGM badge, CH-No. 249
Sold for €3,700 at Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion GmbH in 2023
ORGAN GRINDER DANCING BEAR MECHANICAL BANK | Kyser & Rex Co., one of only a few clockwork activated banks.
Sold for US$1,800 at Bertoia Auctions in 2022
Old (Late 1800s – Early 1900s) pull-type bell toy with 2 dancing bears, 10″L -Very Good, some paint loss, works!
Sold for US$500 at Chupp Auctions & Real Estate, LLC in 2022
Antique Scarce Clockwork Mohair Dancing Bears
These cute little bears are believed to be of German origin. Clockwork mechanism with built in keys. Cast metal feet, mohair body with glass eyes. Both stand approx. 7″ tall. Semi working condition.
Sold for US$100 at GOLDEN SUN AUCTIONS, Inc. (formerly Appraisal & Estate Sale Specialists, Inc.) in 2022
Victor Bonnet, L’ Ours Martin, dancing bear, France, around 1903, paint d., function stiff
Sold for €300 at Antico Mondo Auktionen in 2022