TOY: 'TONSIE' TEDDY BEAR

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1925

Subcollections

Overview

a) Teddy bear (TONSIE), brown, fur well worn (to varying degrees), misshapen left ear, brown eyes, black stitched nose and mouth, feet and paws re-covered

b) Hat, knitted, red, pom-pom, one small darn

c) Scarf, knitted, fringed, pink with beige stripe

d) Cardigan, knitted, beige, five coral-pink buttons sewn on with red thread, L and R front edged with coral fabric, darns on back, both sleeves and L front

e) Trousers, knitted, red, elastic threaded waist, darns on seat

f) Shoe (left), maroon and beige felt upper, shaped into face and ears, black loose-button eyes, small blue tongue. Soft leather sole

g) Shoe (right) as f) above

Historical information

Donor (Barbara Van Onselen) was born in Subiaco and lived in Gloster St for all her childhood. On the day of her birth, 26-10-1925, she was given this bear by Mr Les Hancock, manager of Foy and Gibsons Store. It became her favourite toy. While at Subiaco Primary School, she won a competition for writing about the bear in an essay entitled 'My favourite toy'. The bear was named 'Tonsillitis' on the suggestion of the donor's father during a visit by the family doctor when the donor was suffering from tonsillitis as a small child. The doctor laughed but Barbara said 'Tonsie' and the name stuck. The bear's clothes were knitted by Barbara's grandmother using Paton's wool.
Barbara married twice but had no children.
Three photographs showing the donor, as a child, with the bear have also been donated.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-43-2002.32a-g

Item type

Objects

Themes

Leisure > Toys

Material

Plastic

Threads

Wool

Width