Meet the Bears

That FTD/Boss Berrie tag and get-well styling date him to a turn-of-the-2000s florist-shop keepsake, with plenty of bedside shifts behind him.

reassuring · big-hearted · steady-sitting

A large, weighted honey-brown FTD/Boss Berrie plush bear with a felt bandage on his brow and an embroidered "Get Well Soon" badge stitched to one foot, restored by hand.

That Aéropostale seam tag and plush ivory shag peg him a mall-brand keepsake of the 2010s, with a good few winters clocked.

platform-patient · letter-fond · unhurried

A soft ivory shag Aéropostale plush bear with amber eyes and a suede nose, wearing a red-and-white striped A87 knit scarf.

That FAO Schwarz foot stitch and 2016 MerchSource label mark him a department-store keepsake from the mid-2010s, with a good many holidays clocked.

tidy-minded · festive at heart · gently ceremonious

A curly champagne-blond FAO Schwarz teddy bear with a foot-embroidered logo, one glass eye, a suede stitched nose, and a knit red-and-white striped scarf, gently worn and hand-cleaned.

That Bukowski Design tag and plush chocolate coat mark him a Scandinavian-styled keepsake of the 2000s, with a fair few quiet hours behind him.

deliberate · fond of a good long ponder

A medium chocolate-brown Bukowski plush bear with a suede muzzle and matching foot-soles, small black bead eyes, and an intact maker's tag.

That Toys "R" Us tab and curly caramel shag point to a store-shelf sweetheart of the 2000s, with a fair few armfuls behind him.

easy-slouching · softly sentimental · fond of a chorus

A large, vintage, shaggy caramel-brown Toys "R" Us teddy bear with ivory suede-plush muzzle and paw pads, floppy limbs, bead eyes, and an intact side-seam label; cleaned and combed by hand.

Born 1989 and he's aged like a favorite track.

sentimental · sings in the shower · loyal to a fault

A large honey-blond North American Bear Co. teddy with frosted-tip fur, big flat paw pads, and an intact green-and-navy tartan bow, freshly cleaned with all tags present.

That navy 'Guaranteed for Life' Vermont Teddy Bear tab and shaggy plush read as a keepsake bear from the 2000s, with a good many laps logged since.

slow-simmering · long-limbed and loose · kindly patient

A long-limbed Vermont Teddy Bear in shaggy pale-honey plush with ivory velvet muzzle and soles, a stitched black nose, and an intact side-seam brand tab, hand-cleaned with sound seams throughout.

That Build-A-Bear side-seam label and curly shag plush read as an early 2000's bear, clearly settled into a few good years of sitting.

methodical · comfortably grounded · quietly amused

A weighted roasted-brown, vintage, shag, Build-A-Bear bear with a curly coat, open muzzle, amber-flecked eyes, and an intact side-seam tag, freshly cleaned and combed.

His Heartline tag and shaggy frosted plush read as a keepsake bear from the '90s, carried plenty since.

mist-quiet · softly observant · easygoing

A vintage, Heartline teddy bear with copper frosted tipped and cream fur, a two-tone muzzle, glossy black stitched nose, dark eyes, and an intact side-seam tag, gently machine washed and hand combed.

That signature Build-A-Bear seam label and mottled shag plush place him in the 2000s, with plenty of hugs already logged.

watchful · companionable · gently theatrical

A vintage, shaggy Build-A-Bear panda in black-and-white plush with tan paw pads, an intact back-seam label, and gentle even wear.

The Build-A-Bear stitching and this heart-print plush place her in the last decade or so, well-cuddled but holding her color.

sweet-spoken · demonstrative · cheerfully bold

A Build-A-Bear teddy in mottled pink-and-cream plush with scattered white hearts and a pink embroidered heart on one foot pad.

The block red GUND tab at his back suggests a birth somewhere in the 2010s, though his plush shows almost none of the wear you'd expect from a decade of duty.

cheerfully bossy · fond of countdowns · fireside cheerleader

A GUND teddy bear in soft tan plush with cream paw pads, wearing a red-and-white knit, stocking cap, in clean restored condition.

That Russ Berrie Korea tag and her shaggy weighted build set her in the late 1980s, cuddle-mileage included.

billowy · matter-of-fact · fond of high ledges

A late-1980s, vintage Russ Berrie cream shaggy-plush "Teddy," roughly medium-sized, with brown stitched nose, dark bead eyes, and taupe-worn foot pads, hand-washed with all seams sound. Made in Korea, No. 7630

Vintage 1979 with plenty of lap-time logged since.

poised · obliging · fond of a rehearsal

A vintage, 1979, honey-brown GUND teddy bear with chocolate suede contrast pads on paws, ears, and feet, and an intact red side-seam tag.

No tag survives to pin down a year, but his long shaggy plush and tartan trim suggest a fireside companion from somewhere in the 1990s.

weather-wise · blustery-hearted · gale-proud

A vintage style, classic, large, long-haired honey-brown teddy bear with a tousled, windswept coat, a tartan ribbon bow at the neck, and gently worn paw pads, in sturdy, well-loved condition.

That Kellytoy tag dated 2022 makes her a recent arrival, still fresh in her plush.

quietly luminous · sure-footed · good in the dark

A blush-cream Kellytoy teddy bear, roughly 12 inches, with metallic silver ear tips and foot pads, a two-tone muzzle, black bead eyes, and an intact tag.

The 2001 Bear Factory tag at his seam puts him just past twenty, though his stuffing hasn't sagged a bit since the millennium turned.

even-keeled · gently nosy · quick with a compliment

A 2001-dated Bear Factory teddy bear in taupe-brown plush, amber eyes, blush-pink paw pads, and dark brown foot pads, wearing a white cotton tee printed 'DON'T STUFF YOUR FEELINGS!' in teal.

His current Build-A-Bear labels and boucle curl mark him as a bear of the 2010s or later, though he's clearly logged plenty of hours in someone's arms.

squeezable · home-loving · good at keeping secrets

A caramel curly-plush Build-A-Bear Workshop teddy with dark glass eyes, embroidered nose, intact B-A-B pawpad patch and seam label, gently washed and combed.

That Taiwan-registered polyester-fiber tag hums of the late '80s, and he's carried the decades with his stuffing firm and his shine intact.

deliberate · dry-witted · steady-handed

A large dark cocoa plush bear with a distinctive boucle-knit muzzle, quilted champagne satin paw and foot pads, and a tan satin neck bow.

His trim size and tidy tag put him somewhere in the small-bear boom of the early 2000s, though he's clearly been handled with care the whole way.

dapper · companionable · unruffled

A vintage, seven-inch tan teddy bear with a burgundy velvet bow tie, embroidered paw pads, and an intact "Playful Pals" fabric tag, gently machine washed and in bright, well-kept condition. Made especially for Mervyn's Department Store, circa 1980's/1990's.

Stitched sometime in the mid-1990s, when the Mayberry workshop got adventurous with color

collector of last light · quietly sparkly · tilts her head when listening

A small 1990s Russ Berrie 'Mayberry' teddy bear with multi-colored mauve, rose, and grey fur shot through with gold tinsel threads, rust corduroy paw pads, and a burgundy ribbon bow, in excellent condition after a light steam cleaning.

From the golden years of the Boyds workshop — call it 25 winters, all of them well-dressed

dresses for the weather · turns to greet you · keeper of small details

Branson is a fully jointed Boyds bear with frosted brown fur, original hang tags, a plum cable-knit turtleneck sweater, and gray houndstooth tweed trousers with an embroidered snowflake pocket.

Modern vintage — a bear of this century with an old soul's patience

excellent bedside manner · calm in any weather · takes his badge seriously

A shaggy raspberry-brown GUND Philbin bear in excellent washed condition, dressed in a handmade floral hospital gown with a yellow back tie and a red 'Fezzy's Rescue Squad' badge on one arm.

A cub of recent winters — young enough to still smell of snow

fully committed to the bit · howls in whispers only · braver than his size suggests

A small modern white plush bear wearing an attached grey furry wolf-hood costume with an embroidered wolf face on top, freshly machine washed and in excellent condition.

Barely a season old — still wearing his tags

team spirit · eternally optimistic · first one ready by the door

A plush caramel-brown FAO Schwarz teddy bear in a red, white, and black snap-front varsity jacket, in like-new condition with original hang tags attached.

About 20 years young, and hardly a day of it shows

patient shelf-sitter · quietly optimistic · excellent listener

A soft frosted-brown GUND teddy bear from the early 2000s, in excellent condition with his original 'Gotta Getta GUND' hang tag and a rainbow organza bow.

Somewhere around 25 years young, and wearing it beautifully

Early riser · fond of flannel · enjoys his daily word puzzle

Oatley is a plush tan Gund teddy bear in good condition, with full soft fur, a dark brown nose, embroidered paw details, and his original plaid fleece scarf.

A youthful ten-or-so years

Laughs at dad jokes · fond of sunny spots for napping · needs plentiful snacks

Marshmallow is a soft-furred GUND panda in very good condition, roughly 12 inches seated, with black and cream plush and his original tag intact.

About 25 years young

proud of his sweater · steadfast lap companion · prefers to eat organic

A plush light-tan teddy bear in excellent condition, wearing a navy knit sweater with an appliqué bear face and red bow, approximately 14 inches seated.

About 10 years young, from the era of the films

polite to a fault · keeper of sandwiches · quietly adventurous

A modern Paddington-style plush bear in very good condition, with curly brown fur, a red felt hat, a blue fleece duffle coat with toggle fastenings, and an attached marmalade sandwich.

A distinguished twenty-something, and proud of it

reads the last page first · unapologetically opinionated about tea · knows which wardrobe leads to Narnia

A curly caramel plush bear from the early 2000s with suede paw pads, round black spectacles, a red tartan bow tie, and an embroidered year on his left foot pad, in gently loved condition.

About 10 years young, give or take a nap

professional hugger · takes up the whole chair · can't resist a good pun

A large cream plush bear with long shaggy fur, black eyes, a taupe stitched nose, and oversized feet with embroidered cocoa-brown paw pads, in gently loved condition.