ABOUT THE ARTIST
Diana Seifert of Bel-Ami Bears, Germany, first started making bears in 2002 after visiting a Teddy Bear show for the first time. She simply loved the work and creations that were on show there.
Initially she made bears from commercial patterns of other bear artists, but soon started developing her own style. In the early days most of her bears were in the antique and traditional style , similar to early Steiff from the beginning of the 20th century. And she still claims to love them the most!
In 2003 Diana gave up her job as a nurse and she and her partner, Andreas, started their Teddybear business "Bel Ami Bears“ ( Bel-Ami means 'Beautiful Friend' in the French language). Now Diana designs and sews whilst Andreas is the business manager.
Bel-Ami characters have found homes all over the world. In 2009 Diana turned her hand to creating cats because "they are my absolute favourite animals.....!" She and Andreas have two "wonderful tomcats".
"After all the years of bearmaking I wanted to create something totally new, not only teddybears all the time. And because I´m very interested in history and period clothing I dress most of my bears and cats in historic or antique costumes ...... so I´m always on hunt for very special and exclusive things for the clothing ... things like stunning laces, trims, fabrics… I get my ideas for the dresses from books about historic clothing, pictures of antique dolls dresses, old children´s books and fairytales".
I first heard about Diana and her cats from a collector who believes them to be, quite simply, one of the finest examples of hand-crafted work - bar none! I am immensly proud to have Diana's work available at Peggotty
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MEET THE KITTIES.
Florence
At 22.4 " (57 cm) Florence has been crafted from cream/white Alpaca. She has turquoise inset glass eyes and slight airbrushing to highlight her facial features. Florence wears a hand-made Victorian outfit with a long skirt, jacket and bonnet made from velvet, silk and antique lace.
Hermine
Hermine is a 17.7 inch (45 cm) kitty crafted from 'iced toffee' (brown pile with cream white tips) Alpaca. She has blue glass eyes (not inset) and wears an Edwardian outfit - a romantic blue silk dress that matches the colour of her eyes! - together with a straw hat adorned with pink flowers
Mary
Mary is just a smidgeon under 20" (50 cm). She too is made from a creamy/white alpaca with understated airbrushing to her face. Mary has amber coloured glass eyes (not inset) and wears an balck velvet Elizabethan dress and bonnet with trimmings and pearls
Each cat is 5-way-jointed, has wire inlays in arms,legs and tail and is stuffed with Polyfill.
They are COLLECTORS ITEMS ONLY and are not intended as playthings, toys or for children under the age of 16.
Diana Seifert of Bel-Ami Bears, Germany, first started making bears in 2002 after visiting a Teddy Bear show for the first time. She simply loved the work and creations that were on show there.
Initially she made bears from commercial patterns of other bear artists, but soon started developing her own style. In the early days most of her bears were in the antique and traditional style , similar to early Steiff from the beginning of the 20th century. And she still claims to love them the most!
In 2003 Diana gave up her job as a nurse and she and her partner, Andreas, started their Teddybear business "Bel Ami Bears“ ( Bel-Ami means 'Beautiful Friend' in the French language). Now Diana designs and sews whilst Andreas is the business manager.
Bel-Ami characters have found homes all over the world. In 2009 Diana turned her hand to creating cats because "they are my absolute favourite animals.....!" She and Andreas have two "wonderful tomcats".
"After all the years of bearmaking I wanted to create something totally new, not only teddybears all the time. And because I´m very interested in history and period clothing I dress most of my bears and cats in historic or antique costumes ...... so I´m always on hunt for very special and exclusive things for the clothing ... things like stunning laces, trims, fabrics… I get my ideas for the dresses from books about historic clothing, pictures of antique dolls dresses, old children´s books and fairytales".
I first heard about Diana and her cats from a collector who believes them to be, quite simply, one of the finest examples of hand-crafted work - bar none! I am immensly proud to have Diana's work available at Peggotty
**************************************************************************************
MEET THE KITTIES.
Florence
At 22.4 " (57 cm) Florence has been crafted from cream/white Alpaca. She has turquoise inset glass eyes and slight airbrushing to highlight her facial features. Florence wears a hand-made Victorian outfit with a long skirt, jacket and bonnet made from velvet, silk and antique lace.
Hermine
Hermine is a 17.7 inch (45 cm) kitty crafted from 'iced toffee' (brown pile with cream white tips) Alpaca. She has blue glass eyes (not inset) and wears an Edwardian outfit - a romantic blue silk dress that matches the colour of her eyes! - together with a straw hat adorned with pink flowers
Mary
Mary is just a smidgeon under 20" (50 cm). She too is made from a creamy/white alpaca with understated airbrushing to her face. Mary has amber coloured glass eyes (not inset) and wears an balck velvet Elizabethan dress and bonnet with trimmings and pearls
Each cat is 5-way-jointed, has wire inlays in arms,legs and tail and is stuffed with Polyfill.
They are COLLECTORS ITEMS ONLY and are not intended as playthings, toys or for children under the age of 16.
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