Here’s a loving couple of Steiff sweethearts – Ivy & John – no buttons but dating to the 1950s.  They’re woodwool-stuffed and all original, with back-painted amber glass eyes and embroidered features. The bears have agreed to split up, if nobody has house space for them both (sob), which would be a shame as they’re used to living together and really don’t want to be separated. Price for both is £145. 

Ivy is made of caramel mohair and is 17cm (6.75″) high. Her nose and mouth are stitched in brown thread, with matching claws, and felt pads.  Her joints work fine and, apart from her squeaker having worn out, and a tiny hole to the side of a footpad, Ivy is in lovely condition. She wears the cute knitted dress she arrived in, with a very old silver locket, faintly ‘engraved’  on the back ‘To Ivy, Love From John’. He’s a obviously a big romantic! Ivy is £65 

John has gold mohair, with a black-stitched nose, mouth, and claws. He’s 26cm (10″) tall, and fully-agile:  he must have walked around more than Ivy, because he’s worn both his footpads into a small hole. There’s also a silent squeaker in his tummy like Ivy. His mohair coverage is equally good too, with just a little loss around his feet. John is dressed in his knitted dungarees, with a check silk neck-ribbon, and looks rather worried in case Ivy leaves him! John is £95