WW1 Soldier Bear Replica Private Frank Ainge

During WW1 many Soldiers took with them a little bear given by their loved ones which had eyes highup on it's head so that he peeped out of their top pockets of their uniforms. 

I started making my version of these bears many years ago and often name them after Soldiers that died during the war.

Private Frank Ainge was a Soldier during WW1.I have named this bear after him.

Frank Ainge is just under 3 & 1/2 inches tall and is made from a scruffy mohair which I have plucked, shaded , waxed and added faux stitches to him. He has brown glass eyes, one smaller than the other to give the appearance of an old bear who had lost  his original eye and had to have a smaller replacement.

He is fully cotterpin jointed and stuffed with Kapok, with  steel shot inside is body for added weight. He comes wearing a red, white and blue sash with a bronze effect "Hope" charm attached to a rusty old safety pin.