The 10 most valuable toy bears ever made

The most valuable toy bears on the secondary market span a wide spectrum, ranging from traditional nursery playthings that evolved into antique treasures to contemporary vinyl figures designed purely as fine art collectables. Across this market, historic creations by the German manufacturer Steiff and modern Bearbrick figures by Medicom Toy dominate the highest auction results.

Below is the revised ranking of the ten most valuable toy bears sold at auction, ordered by their nominal US dollar value at the time of sale.

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The 10 most valuable toy bears ever made

1. Steiff Titanic mourning bear (c. 1912, $250,505 / £196,000)

At a July 2023 auction in Giengen, Germany, a rare 1912 Steiff Titanic mourning bear set a secondary market record by selling for $250,505 (€180,000 hammer price). The 50 cm jointed black mohair bear was heavily marketed in England following the Titanic disaster in April 1912, though Steiff had prototyped black mohair bears as early as 1907. While the red felt behind the eyes is commonly said to symbolise weeping, it was also a standard manufacturing technique used to make dark glass eyes visible against black fur. Highly valued for retaining its original button and centre-seam face construction, this example was previously owned by the late collector Susan Kilgore Wiley, who purchased it in 1990.

2. Steiff and Louis Vuitton teddy bear (2000, $182,550 / £125,831)

A prominent example of luxury branding in the collecting market is the Steiff Louis Vuitton edition. Manufactured in 2000 and measuring 45 cm, this piece attracted significant interest from global bidders. It sold at Christie’s Monaco in October 2000 for €213,720 (equivalent to $182,550 or £125,831 at the time), entering the Guinness World Records. Outfitted in signature monogram travel attire with custom miniature luggage, this collaboration remains the most expensive modern plush bear ever auctioned.

3. Steiff ‘Teddy Girl’ (1904/1905, $171,600 / £110,000)

Crafted around 1904, shortly after Richard Steiff introduced the first jointed plush toy, this cinnamon mohair bear originally belonged to Colonel Bob Henderson. The bear accompanied Henderson throughout his military career, including his service as a small arms adviser during the D-Day landings. It achieved its peak commercial valuation at Christie’s London in December 1994, selling for £110,000 ($171,600) to Japanese businessman Yoshihiro Sekiguchi, who subsequently established the Izu Teddy Bear Museum. Adjusted for inflation, this remains the highest valuation ever achieved for an antique plush bear.

4. Yue Minjun ‘Qiu Tu’ 1000% Bearbrick (2008, $157,000 / £122,000)

Demonstrating that high-value toy bears extend beyond traditional textiles, Medicom Toy’s vinyl Bearbrick figures have established a substantial presence in the contemporary art market. In 2008, Chinese artist Yue Minjun designed a unique 1000% scale Bearbrick featuring his signature laughing self-portrait. Produced as a singular art piece, it sold at auction for $157,000, making it the most expensive designer vinyl figure sold to date.

5. Steiff ‘Happy’ anniversary bear (1926, $86,350 / £55,000)

This tipped-mohair bear gained international attention in 1989 when it sold for £55,000 ($86,350) at Sotheby’s London, briefly holding the world record for an auctioned teddy bear. It was acquired by American collector Paul Volpp as a 42nd wedding anniversary gift for his wife, Rosemary, and was subsequently named “Happy.” The piece is noted for its two-tone coat and structural preservation.

6. Steiff 125th anniversary diamond eyes bear (2005, $84,000 / £65,000)

To mark its 125th anniversary in 2005, Steiff produced a limited edition of 125 bears utilising high-value raw materials. The bear features fur woven from golden silk threads and a mouth stitched with 24-karat gold thread. Its primary valuation stems from its eyes, which are crafted from sapphires and 0.5-carat diamonds set in platinum. Original retail and auction figures for these pieces reached approximately $84,000.

7. Steiff harlequin teddy bear (1925, £60,000)

The Harlequin is one of Steiff’s most unconventional designs. Produced as an experimental sample in 1925, the original prototype was given as a gift to a Steiff employee. Departing from standard brown and blonde fabrics, it features alternating red and grey striped mohair panels paired with yellow felt paw pads. Because it never entered commercial production, surviving examples are exceptionally rare, with a notable secondary market record of £60,000 achieved at the 1999 Steiff Festival auction in Germany.

8. Chanel (Coco Chanel) 1000% Bearbrick (2006, $62,003 / £48,000)

Another significant valuation from the vinyl Bearbrick series is a fashion collaboration designed by Karl Lagerfeld. Modelled after founder Coco Chanel, the figure features a tweed jacket, sunglasses, and pearls. Production was limited to 1,000 units, which were primarily distributed as window displays for official Chanel boutiques rather than sold to the public. In 2023, secondary market valuations for preserved examples reached $62,003.

9. KAWS dissected 1000% Bearbrick (2010, $50,000+ / £39,000)

Created by American artist Brian Donnelly (known as KAWS) in collaboration with Medicom Toy, the “Dissected Companion” Bearbrick is a notable release in designer toy culture. Standing 27.6 inches tall, the vinyl figure is visually split down the centre, displaying a traditional figure on one side and an anatomical skeleton on the other. Pristine 1000% scale models in primary colourways consistently realise between $30,000 and $50,000 at auction.

10. Ty Beanie Baby ‘Chef Robuchon’ bear (2006, $12,000 / £9,500)

While the broader Beanie Baby market experienced significant speculative inflation in the late 1990s, a limited number of authentic rarities retain substantial secondary market value. The rarest official Ty bear is the Chef Robuchon edition, created in 2006 to mark the opening of chef Joël Robuchon’s restaurant in New York. Production was limited to 200 units, which were distributed exclusively to culinary journalists and VIP guests. Due to its limited circulation outside traditional collecting channels, verified examples command up to $12,000.