Item SH 649 Teddy Bear - JakasToys, Light Blue, 'Honeycomb' Bear, Melbourne, 1970s

Summary

Plush, light blue coloured 'Honeycomb' teddy bear with a pale blue ribbon tied around its neck. Part of an archive of unsold stock samples donated by the manufacturer.

Jakas Soft Toys was a Melbourne-based company which designed and manufactured genuine high quality soft toys from 1956. Their range included teddy bears, golliwogs, animals and birds. They ceased production in the late 1990s outlasting many local toy manufacturers competing with cheaper overseas imports.

With children's health and safety in mind, the toys were made from wool and synthetic plush, quality fabrics, non-allergic filling and 'safety eyes'. The Jakas range of soft toys came with care and washing instructions and could be handed down for generations.

Physical Description

A plush light blue coloured teddy bear with two-toned black and blue coloured plastic eyes, black embroidered nose and mouth and one black 'claw' stitched onto its upper paws. It is made in the seated position with arms outstretched. There is a light blue ribbon tied into a bow around its neck and a white fabric label stitched underneath one of its lower limbs with 'Jakas Toys' embroidered in red. There is a small 48-page booklet attached to the body of the teddy bear with a plastic joiner which has colour images of the range of toy designs available, text describing the features of the toy and instructions for care and washing.