If you go down to Mitchells auction house in Cockermouth on Tuesday, you’re sure of a big surprise.
Because that’s the day they’re selling more than 440 teddy bears in the company’s first teddy bear sale.
Steiff, Merrythought and Lakeland Bears are among the famous makes going under the hammer, mostly from a private collection from the South Lakes.
All the bears are in excellent condition, having barely been played with, and most are in their original boxes and packaging.
Among them are Steiff Fruities bears, modelled as individual fruits, with an estimate of £50-£80 each. Some Lakeland Bears are dressed as historical figures, including Henry VIII, Sir Francis Drake and Elizabeth I as well as ones from the Lake District, such as Wordsworth, Wainwright and Beatrix Potter.
There will also be dolls for sale, including a 1920s musical rabbit doll.
The sale takes place on Tuesday from 10am and a sale catalogue can be viewed at www.the-saleroom.com/Mitchells
The bears are on view in the saleroom tomorrow from 10am to 5pm and during the sale.
Meanwhile, Mitchells’ best country sporting sale for years produced sales totalling more than £65,000 on Thursday last week.
Auctioneer James Moore said: “we had international online bidders in America and Canada as well as nationally bidding live during the sale. The fishing section went wild, with nearly all the lots selling for well above estimate, probably due to the resurgence of interest in fishing during lockdown.”
The most expensive item sold was a pair of Forsyth & Co percussion duelling or target pistols from the Howard family of Greystoke Castle, which went for £5,500 to a UK bidder.
Entries are now open for Mitchells autumn country sporting sale from October 6 to October 8.
Mitchells hosts a tools and machinery auction on Wednesday May 26 and an interiors sale the following day. Entries for its next antiques and fine art sale in June close on May 11.
