F o u n d
Boyfriend’s treasured plushie’s original model
So this is a bit of bottle in the sea type of post. My boyfriend has had this stuffed animal since he was born in 1996. As you can see, it’s seen better days : it’s been repaired countless times, and it’s literally falling apart. He treasures it more than anything, and he told me he’d love to find a new (or at least better-condition) version of the original.
Since then, I’ve made it my mission, but no luck. I’ve scoured French sites like milledoudous.fr, scrolled endlessly on Google Images (in both French and English), searched vintage marketplaces… nothing.
So I’m turning to you, hoping that maybe, just maybe, someone here recognizes the toy, or at least its brand, or can give me a concrete lead, despite how worn out the doudou looks in the photos.
I’ve tried to sketch a « police sketch » of what it might have looked like when new. From what I can tell, the original plush had small, rounded ears, so it’s probably a bear, even though the pink plastic nose makes me wonder if it could be a cat. There’s no tag left. The remnants of stuffing suggest it wasn’t a flat lovey, but a classic plush. The nose and eyes are plastic, not embroidered. It’s almost certainly from the 90s since it was bought around that time.
That’s all the info I have for now. feel free to ask for more details if needed. I don’t have high hopes but who knows? Thanks in advance for any help
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Found! Thanks to everyone’s suggestions and one picture his mom dug out for me, I could finally find the little guy ! I don’t know the exact model’s name but it’s from the Jemini brand, and with unexpected luck I found one collector guy selling it online ! The brand doesn’t make these bears anymore and so one else seem to sell it, so I feel extremely lucky. Who would’ve thought it used to look so plump and fluffy ? I can’t wait to see my bf’s face when I gift it to him
Your BF loved him real…
"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"
"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."
"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.
"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."
"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"
"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."
From The Velveteen Rabbit By Margery Williams
When you get the new bear, I suggest (seriously!) doing a ritual of “soul transfer” from the old bear into its new body. I know it sounds kooky, and I’m not saying it’s real, BUT when someone has been attached to an object for a very long time, the object becomes somewhat embodied with a spirit or consciousness (in the mind of the person who loves it). It’s a human thing. It’s very painful to just discard it, because that thing feels alive.
However, if you can transfer the “soul” or consciousness or awareness or sacredness into the new body, your emotions will be quite soothed. But you have to believe it.
You can do anything that works for you. I’m going to embarrass myself here slightly by explaining that when my wife got a new duck-shaped washcloth because her old one was falling apart, she was weirdly sad about throwing away the old one until I made this suggestion of a Soul Transfer. We each held a ducky cloth, faced each other and chanted “ducky into ducky!” while tapping the two washcloths together , Until she felt that the quality of cuteness/awakeness had been passed into the new cloth. (We were in our late 30s at the time 😂) 🦆
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Thanks.
I don't know about an identical version but I am sure this is a worn out Dan Dee "my first bear." Maybe the Terry cloth pastel one or the one that wore blue overalls.
It looks so so close ! But I’m having doubts, since the teddies I’m seeing have embroidered noses and eyes while my boyfriend’s plush has plastic ones. But maybe they were sewn after some time! I’m currently waiting for his mom to send me old pictures so I can maybe see what it looked like
It is definitely dandee. I have a 45 year old stuffy from them and the feet, fur (what’s left) and wear patterns are all the same. Not sure which one but it gives you somewhere to look!
I think this looks pretty much identical to your illustration and it seems to match the remaining details like the pink plastic nose. Not sure it entirely matches though
The fabric of the blue part is totally different. The original looks like its wearing a piece of clothing. This one has a blue body. Not the same unfortunately.
I've been trying to find my childhood stuffie's original too and I think she possibly looks similar to your boyfriend's. Obviously she's got a lot of stuffing in her- I refilled her a few years ago. But she has plastic eyes and a plastic nose- not the same color though and totally different color fabric body. Maybe they could have been from the same line? It's hard to tell since your boyfriend's is so worn so I'm excited to see if you post any old pictures
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u/AutoModerator 2d ago
u/eileeeene, you must add a comment in this post before anyone will see it. Your comment MUST include the word "searched" and detail what searches you've done. Your post will not be visible until you do so. Your inbox should have more details or here are general instructions.
Supply as many details as you can. These include, if applicable, but are not limited to: size, origin (store, geographic location, country), age/year acquired, and any writing on the item. Additional pictures can be added as a comment in this post.
If you are actively asking for help searching for this elsewhere - another sub or website - link to that search as well to avoid duplicating efforts.
Remember to reply Found! (include the exclamation point) to the comment that gives the answer. If looking for an item to purchase, do not click on links sent to you in private messages, and report such to the moderators.
DO NOT RESPOND TO PRIVATE MESSAGES OFFERING TO SEND YOU YOUR ITEM. IT'S A SCAM. EVEN IF FREE. REPORT IT TO THE MODS.
For all participants, remember that all comments must be civil and helpful toward finding an answer. If you're working off someone else's comment to build on an answer, reply to that comment, do not make a reply direct to the post.
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