All About Old Toys

 

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Polar Bears

by Judith Lile and Jim Sneed

The Schoenhut Polar Bears
The polar bear was made with two eye designs - glass eyes and painted eyes. 
No decal eyes or reduced size polar bears have been found. Well preserved early examples will have a pleasing golden tone from either a factory lacquer coating on the GE versions or a nice golden top coat on the PE ones. The polar bear was introduced in 1907.


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer

Glass eyes

The polar bear's body design is the same as that of the brown bear's. All polar bears have open mouths, leather ears and a short tail. Keller style I - Very scarce


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Sneed

 


Photo by Judith Lile


Photo by Jim Sneed

 


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner

Painted eyes

The shapes of the noses of these bears varies a lot, probably due to the shaping done by the individual craftsmen at the factory. No decal eyes version of the polar bear has been seen. The example shown above exhibits a golden overcoat. Keller style II - Very scarce


Photos by Judith Lile


Hand painting can produce comical looks.