Aloysius – Merrythought – Ltd. ed. of 5000 exclusively for Teddy Bears of Witney, UK – #514 – Early -00s

Description

Aloysius Replica by Merrythought, Ironbridge, Shropshire, England, made in a limited edition of 5000 pieces, exclusively for Teddy Bears of Witney, Wiltshire, UK. This is No. 514. The replica is sensitively made using distressed mohair with lots of patches and stitches. He is wearing a lovely lambswool scarf by Daks Simpson, just as the original bear. On the scarf is a pin of the original Aloysius, The Delicatessen Bully Bear, which belonged to actor Peter Bull, and also a brooch of Alfonzo, the little red Steiff bear. This particular bear was purchased from Teddy Bears of Witney in the early -00s.

This is an actual size (63,5cm / 25″) replica of the original bear who played Aloysius in the original 1981 BBC television series of Brideshead Revisited, based on the book by Evelyn Waugh. The image of Aloysius with Sebastian Flyte, played by Anthony Andrews, is one of the most memorable in television history. During filming and the subsequent promotional tour in the USA, Aloysius was treated with rather less respect than he reserved – as his many patches show. These are partially covered by the Daks Simpson lambswool scarf given to the original bear by Anthony Andrews’ wife, Georgina, a member of the Simpson family.

The real Aloysius, Delicatessen bear, belonged to Peter Bull whose book, Bear With Me (re-published as The Teddy Bear Book in the USA), caused a great revival of interest in teddy bears in the 1970s and -80s.

Aloysius comes with his Certificate of Authenticity, which is authorized by Ian Pout, Teddy Bears of Witney.