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Fiona and Duncan are R. John Wright Dolls' newest original bear designs. They are 20 inches tall, fully jointed, and constructed of alpaca plush with artistic airbrushed coloration. Their finely crafted details include delicately colored felt paw pads with inserted resin claws; a sculptural character face with a molded, handpainted leather nose; and glass eyes. They are stuffed with a combination of kapok and cotton and have internal growlers. Limited editions of 300 each, and available only during 2005. |
Beyond Teddy Bears
R. John Wright has combined elements of real bears and toy teds to create a bear hybrid that goes beyond basic teddy bears.
By Billie J. Shelton
The recently relocated studio and workshop of R. John Wright Dolls, Inc.,
in Bennington, Vt., is a busy place these days. A talented crew of
approximately 50 production workers constructs the company's limited editions
while John and his wife, Susan, oversee upcoming projects in the adjacent
design studio. "It's an exciting time!" says John. The company, which has
been known for its exquisite licensed pieces for nearly 30 years, completed
Classic Mickey for the U.S. market last spring and has Circus
Mickey, an exclusive for Disney Japan, underway. They are continuing the
popular Beatrix Potter Collection with Squirrel Nutkin, currently in
production, and Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, coming later this year. John is
also looking forward to starting production on The White Rabbit from
his Alice in Wonderland Collection.
"It's exciting to envision other original designs from our
studio. The possibilities are endless!"
- R. John Wright
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John and Susan made Hugs Around the World, one-of-a-kind, to benefit the August 2005 Tsunami Relief Auction. The bears are 23 inches tall, made of mohair, and fully jointed. The earth is made entirely of felt with hand-painted details. |
But what John really wants to talk about are his new bear designs. His
first bears — Winnie the Pooh, Paddington, and
Clifford Berryman Bear — were all licensed properties. Six
years ago, he branched out into original designs with the Baby Bear
Collection, a group of five realistic, 12-inch cubs. Additional original
designs have included the Tag Bears (2003), the Bitty Bears (2003), and
Pinkie and Baby Blue (2004).
More recently, John and Susan have finished a one-of-a-kind teddy bear set
that will be auctioned to benefit the victims of the December 2004 tsunami
disaster. They are putting Duncan and Fiona, two original
bears, into production, and finishing the designs for the upcoming
Bears-At-Sea series.
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Squirrel Nutkin, 12 inches, is made of mohair, and has glass eyes and felt ninepins. The edition of 1,500 is part of the Beatrix Potter Collection and was introduced in April. |
John describes the inspiration for the new designs as a wish to combine
elements of real bears and toy bears to create a bear hybrid. "We wanted to
go beyond the teddy bear and include realistic details while, at the same
time, avoiding the 'taxidermy' effect of too realistic a design," he says,
adding, "We wanted the bears to be large and huggable."
At 20 inches tall, Duncan and Fiona are among the largest
bears made to date at R. John Wright Dolls. Made from alpaca and accented
with airbrushing, the bears have leather noses and resin claws, which help
create a perfect blend of realism and playfulness.
"They're popular with our customers because they're large and new," say Jim
and Salli DeFrank, owners of The Village Bears in Sarasota, Fla. The DeFranks
note that collectors generally like John's work because of the attention to
detail. "Anything he does is very popular," says Salli. "Anyone who
appreciates good work is a collector."
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Susan Wright drafts patterns at the light table in the RJW design room. |
Susan Wiley of Raleigh, N.C., has been collecting John's work since he made
his first Winnie the Pooh 29 years ago. What especially appeals to
her is the quality. "And the pieces are so realistic," she adds. "They're
the best made of any company today."
The popularity of R. John Wright bears is increasing in the United Kingdom,
as well as in the U.S. Sue Pearson and her son Jasper run Sue Pearson Dolls
& Teddy Bears in Brighton, England. Since the focus of their business is
primarily bears, Sue notes, "We find that RJW character pieces and his bears
[are] more popular than his dolls. I think English people just love teddies,
along with characters like Winnie the Pooh and friends, and his stunning
Beatrix Potter collection."
Sue agrees with Salli DeFrank — the detail is what makes John's work
so appealing. "No other maker comes even close to his level of quality, both
in the choice of materials and in the way the pieces are designed to look
exactly like Mr. Wright imagines them to be," Sue says. Collectors, she adds,
have an eye for quality.
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The five Baby Bears were John's first original bear designs. The cubs are made of mohair and alpaca, are fully jointed, and are each 12 inches tall. Limited editions of 500 each and released from 1999-2003. |
That's a common theme among collectors and dealers of R. John Wright bears.
"What appeals to us is the craftsmanship, first of all," says Joe Kaczorowski,
of Arlington, Va., a collector of RJW bears for 17 years. "Then there is the
ability to project the character of a particular figure (whether bear or
gollie or other doll). Each face is so unique and different from any other
face in a series."
That's the kind of support that helps fuel the Wrights' enthusiasm for
their work even as the company approaches its 30th anniversary. "It's
exciting to envision other original designs from our studio. The
possibilities are endless!" John says. "We're just beginning to find our way
in the world of original bears."
Contact R. John Wright on the Web at rjohnwright.com or call
802-447-7072.
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