We just connected a few dots, and decided to do a single post for this set of pieces. We reviewed the New Face Cranberry Teddy Holiday bear in a recent post. It turns out that it is a part of an original Holiday Teddy prototype set – with all pieces having original 1994 pax dates. Remember, symmetry and colors! The set of 6 bears consists of three complementary pairs.
Teddy set #1: We have the New Face Raspberry teddy, green hat, smooth coat, black nose, green and white ribbons. This piece was reviewed in a previous post. It’s stunning, made from the original 1st/2nd gen raspberry Patti fabric. The second bear in this set is a smooth green teddy, red hat, black nose, white and red ribbons.
Teddy set #2: This set is WILD! We have a shaggy light blue teddy with crystal hot pink nose, and lavender speckled scarf and hat (trivia – who knows which beanie this fabric later showed up on?;). The second bear is a hot pink fabric, light blue crystal nose, and light brown speckled scarf and hat (same fabric question). Crazy to see these sorts of fabrics and color combinations for a 1994 dated prototype – these protos are dates found on 2nd and 3rd generation issued pieces.
Teddy set #3: This set pulls in another original New Face Cranberry teddy, with a special tylon green fabric scarf and hat, and crystal green nose. This fabric was first seen on an inverse Billionaire 2 prototype, and then eventually on the Wallace teddy issued in 1999. The other teddy is a NEW FACE TEAL teddy with crystal purple nose, speckled purple hat and scarf. Another original new face teddy used for a prototype design.
Rarity Rank: 1.5-1.75. These are entirely unproduced prototype teddies with very old 1994 pax tags. They represent the precursors to what would eventually become the holiday teddy line that would carry on from 1997-2008! Seeing these beautiful early 1994 designs is such a treat.
Rarest Beans 