Dressed Fox

Description

Dressed Fox.  90 years old.  Circa 1930’s.  Size 35cm standing.

Excellent vintage condition for age. JK Farnell were possibly the manufacturer of this fox which was retailed by a store in London called Distas in 1930’s or perhaps they just made the tail?  The tail may not be original to the fox, as it has been hand stitched onto the body.  The label is on the underside of the fox tail.

Lovely big bright glass eyes.  Very good condition except for a little loss of mohair to the inside of one ear, back side of one ear and tip of tail.  Red jacket has a few vintage repairs to felt, as do brown tops of his boots.  Barely noticeable.  All original – velvet jodhpurs have darkened with age.  All original apart from the tail possibly having been added, with card lined feet inside velvet boots. Acquired from Lincolnshire, England. Stunning – the type rarely seen in Australia.

Fox has been stuffed with a combination of wood wool and kapok, with a swivel head only. The rest of the body is not jointed.  Some modern repairs have been made where the plush brown meets black boots at weak points on the seam joints.  Fabrics used are mohair, artificial silk plush and wool felt jacket.

J.K Farnell was a London company which manufactured the first British teddy bear in 1906.  Started in 1840 by silk merchant John Kerby Farnell, they made items such as pin cushions and teacosies.  After his death, his children continued the business, moving from rabbit skin to mohair and making plush toys.  One of their most famous teddy bears was the soldier bear, made during WWI as a pocket companion for soldiers.

 The company premises were destroyed by fire in 1934 and by bombing in 1940.  It finally ceased trading in the 1960’s and the Farnell name was taken over by another English toy making company Merrythought. Farnell webbing on teddy bear paws is a signature of the company, still used today by Merrythought of some of its bear creations.