Ten teddies from historic hotels around the world

By Hotel Photographer Michelle Chaplow

When you think of historic hotels, what comes to mind? Afternoon tea, tales about legendary past guests, tempting swimming pools, stunning locations? For those who travel with children, or who need to bring back a placatory gift for children or the romantics, the hotel´s signature teddy bear can form a useful extra take-away from your stay.

History of the teddy

The world’s first teddy bears were developed in the early 1900s by Morris Mitchtom in the United States and in Germany by Richard Steiff, around the same time - although unbeknownst to each other. The American versions were so-named after US President Theodore Roosevelt, known as “Teddy”. In 1902 Roosevelt went on a bear-hunting trip, where he didn’t manage to shoot an animal. His aides tracked a bear and tied it to a tree, but compassionate Roosevelt refused to kill the animal in such a cold-hearted, unsportsmanlike fashion.

A cartoon of the incident appeared in the Washington Post and inspired Morris and Rose Mitchtom to create a small stuffed bear - Morris sent a copy to Roosevelt, requesting and receiving the President’s permission to call it “Teddy´s bear”. At the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, you can see a teddy dating from 1903, which was presented to Theodore Roosevelt’s grandson Kermit in 1963 by Michtom’s son Benjamin.

Meanwhile in Germany, Richard Steiff developed the Bear 55PB, which he exhibited at Leipzig Toy Fair in March 1903, where 3,000 were ordered for a New York toy company. By 1907 Steiff was manufacturing nearly one million bears a year, and the company is still producing high quality teddy bears today.

These days, the term teddy bear can refer to all cuddly toys (plush toys) including stuffed animals as well as bears.

Teddy bears have always held a wide appeal for all ages, not just children, as they’re not gender-specific and can be appreciated whether sitting decoratively on a shelf or accompanying their devoted young owner at bedtime.

Love teddy bears? Here are 10 luxury historic hotels teddies and plush animals to add to your collection.

1. The Eastern and Oriental Hotel, Penang, Malaysia – Colonial teddy bear

Hotel founded in 1885

The Eastern and Oriental is one of South East Asia´s most magnificent hotels, reminiscent of the Belle Époque. This was one of the first hotels to offer hot and cold running water and telephones when it opened in 1885, also boasting the world´s longest promenade, overlooking the Strait of Malacca. With over 125 years of history, the E&O forms part of the golden age of travel. This hotel’s adorable teddy bear spotted in the gift shop, wearing a safari outfit and colonial pith helmet bearing the hotel logo, inspired me to write this article.

2. Raffles Singapore Hotel - Tiger teddy

Hotel founded in 1887

The Sarkies brothers, Armenian proprietors of the Eastern and Oriental in Penang , opened a ten-room hotel named after Singapore’s founder Sir Stamford Raffles in 1887. The grande dame hotel of the Far East, Raffles Singapore remains one of the world’s most elegant establishments.

For many years tigers roamed wild in Singapore, with the last sighting in 1930. Less savage, the cuddly Raffles tiger teddy bear sports a colonial-style khaki outfit.

3. The Peninsula Hong Kong Hotel – Pagebear teddy bear

Hotel founded in 1928

The flagship Peninsula in Hong Kong was the first hotel in Asia to have pageboys, based on the young 'grooms' of Europe. The Peninsula pageboy teddy bear, called the Pagebear, is inspired by the iconic Peninsula doormen, with their white uniforms, shining gold buttons and pillbox hats bearing the hotel’s name.

4. The Sherbourne Hotel, Dublin, Ireland – Earl teddy bear

Hotel founded in 1824

Martin Burke founded the Shelbourne Hotel in 1824, named after the distinguished 18th-century Irishman William Petty (Earl of Shelburne). Today their teddy, affectionately known as Earl, wears a beige knitted jersey emblazoned with the hotel crest, a patch above his eye and a stylish check bow.

5. The Sacher Hotel Vienna, Austria – Chef, doorman and waitress teddy bears

Hotel founded in 1876

Of all the teddies featured here, the Sacher’s has to be the finest quality. He comes impeccably dressed as a chef, wearing the traditional uniform of white jacket, check trousers, apron with the hotel’s name and hat, in a beautiful wooden presentation box. Remember, this hotel is world-renowned for its Sachertorte, the scrumptious chocolate cake invented by Franz Sacher in 1832 for a historic dinner held in Vienna by Prince Klemens Wenzel von Metternich.

The trademark for the "Original Sachertorte" was registered by the Hotel Sacher, which was built in 1876 by Franz Sacher’s son, Eduard. Even today, the recipe is secretly guarded in the Sacher Hotel safe, and rightly so. As well as the chef teddy, you can also buy doorman and waitress teddies.

6. The Hotel Hershey, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA – Teddy bear

Hotel founded in 1933

The Hotel Hershey is one of America's landmark hotels. Located on a hilltop overlooking the Hershey chocolate factory, this candy-pink-colored hotel was built by confectionery entrepreneur Milton S Hershey in the 1930s, inspired by his travels in the Mediterranean. Complete with towers and palm tree-filled courtyard with fountain, the project was aimed to provide employment for the town residents in the Depression Era.

Hershey is known the world over as The Sweetest Place On Earth, and this cute furry friend has a gold bow and “Hershey´s”, on his paw.

7. The Titanic Teddy Bear, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK

Maiden voyage 1932

What was designed as the most luxurious floating hotel of its time, the Titanic, also has its own teddy bear which can be purchased from the Titanic Belfast store. In true maritime style, the bear sports a navy blue suit with gold embroidered buttons and a pillbox hat bearing the hotel’s name. Granted this may not qualify as a present-day hotel, but I´m sure you will agree the teddy is irresistible.

8. The Savoy Hotel London, UK - Kaspar the Cat

Hotel founded in 1889

Kaspar's tale started in 1898, when South African diamond magnate Woolf Joel hosted a dinner party for 14 guests at the Savoy, one of whom was unable to attend, leaving an unlucky 13. One guest predicted that the first guest to leave the dinner would die. Unimpressed by such superstition, Joel was shot dead soon after back home in South Africa.

In order to ward off bad luck, in 1937 a three-foot-high Art Deco sculpture of a black cat was created by Basil Lonides, designer of the Savoy Theatre. Kaspar occupies the 14th place setting in parties of 13, thereby avoiding the unlucky number, a white table napkin elegantly tied around his neck.

The Savoy’s seafood bar Kaspar´s, which replaced the River Restaurant in 2013, was named in honor of the famous feline, and he even has his own children’s book by acclaimed author Michael Morpurgo, Kaspar: Prince of Cats.

In the hotel gift shop you can find Kaspar the black cat plush toy.

9. Dromoland Castle, County Clare, Ireland - Teddy bear

Hotel founded in 1963

Dromoland in Ireland was the ancestral home of the Dromoland O’Briens, who are direct descendants of Brian Boroimhe (also known as Brian Boru), the only High King of Ireland in the tenth century. This historic hotel has a breathtaking location, legendary stories, a ghost, the afternoon tea, the famous table nine (if only that table could talk), the falcons and the archery, a golf course, the most spectacular walled gardens, and a teddy bear in their gift shop.

In true Irish fashion, the Teddy of Dromoland Castle looks similar to his cousin from the Sherbourne in Dublin, except his outfit has a different color scheme: red knitted jumper, checked bow and patches.

10. The Waldorf Astoria, New York, US – Chef teddy bear

Hotel founded in 1931

Initially built in the 1890s, this started out as two separate yet adjacent hotels on Fifth Avenue, the Waldorf Hotel and the Astor Hotel, built by the phenomenally wealthy feuding cousins, William Waldorf Astor and John Jacob Astor IV. The hotel opened in 1893, and in 1929 was demolished to make way for the Empire State Building. What we now know as the Waldorf Astoria, that beautiful iconic Art Deco building on Park Avenue, opened in 1931 as the tallest and largest hotel in the world with 2,200 rooms. Within weeks it gained the reputation as a lavish and luxurious place to stay, dine and be seen, not to mention the birthplace of the eponymous salad.

Appropriately, the Waldorf teddy is the biggest of the bears featured here, with a white chef’s jacket and hat.

Your very own collection of 10 adorable historic hotel teddies

Some people collect historic hotel keys, fridge magnets, chinaware, or gift clothing, but after reading this feature, you may be interested in collecting historic hotel teddies.

If you find anymore adorable historic hotel teddies on your travels, I would love to see them.