Some of the zest has gone out of the teddy bear market since the crazy days of two decades ago.
Leading the sale at Special Auction Services (20% buyer’s premium) in Newbury on June 8 was a very rare Steiff ‘hot-water’ bottle bear c.1907.
It retained the original tin canister with screw cap at each end that, filled with water, could be inserted into the bear and secured by a lace fastening and was sold with an old leather suitcase in which it had been stored for many years. A tag inside read: Mrs Marshall and EJ Marshall, 47 Croft Lane, Bromborough, Wirral, Cheshire. The vendor had inherited it and two other toys from his grandmother.