Aloysius the teddy bear, an unlikely star of TV period drama Brideshead Revisited, is to be auctioned later this year with a £30,000 estimate.
Brideshead Revisited was a TV adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s novel of the same name. Screened in 1981 on ITV in the UK, and then globally, it was an enormous hit.
Jeremy Irons as Charles Ryder became a star. A vogue for 1920s and ’30s aristocratic fashion and floppy fringed haircuts took off. And a slew of similar adaptations followed it onto the big and small screen.
Aloysius was the teddy bear owned by Lord Sebastian Flyte (played by Anthony Andrews). He is credited with sparking a “teddy bear revival” in the UK.
Anthony Andrews, left, as Sebastian Flyte with Jeremy Irons, right, and Aloysius, centre.
The bear in the novel was said to be based on one owned by poet John Betjeman.
On TV Aloysius caught the eyes and hearts of the nation. The bear was owned by English character actor Peter Bull, a renowned collector of and writer about teddy bears who is best known for playing the Soviet Ambassador in Doctor Strangelove.
For many years Aloysius has lived in the Teddy Bears of Witney shop in Oxfordshire.
Later this year he will be sold by Special Auction Services, who have put a £30,000 estimate on the bear.
Store owner Ian Pout told the BBC: “[Aloysius is] much loved and much known all over the English-speaking world.
“You might have thought that his legend might die but it seems to be as strong as ever. The images of him are some of the most famous in television history.”
Teddy bears have a lively collectors market and can be very valuable antiques.
Steiff, a German company which all-but invented the teddy bear, are usually the most valuable.
In 1994 a Steiff “Teddy Girl” from 1904 made a then record $165,000.
A 1925 Harlequin model Steiff bear realised £46,850 in a London sale.
Mr Pout is selling much of his bear collection at the sale, including a rare 1926 Steiff bear, and a letter by Winnie-the-Pooh creator Ernest Shepard linking his creation to a Steiff bear owned by his son.
Aloysius can be seen on display in Witney until October.
