stuffed animal: Winnie the Pooh

The Gund Manufacturing Company began in New York City in 1898 as founded by Adolph Gund, an immigrant from Germany. The company first specialized in artificial flowers, beads, and gifts, but it soon concentrated on supplying a growing market of soft fabric toys. In 1907 Gund hired 12-year-old Jacob Swedlin, a Russian immigrant, to work in the mailroom. Less than 20 years later, Swedlin purchased the company at Gund’s retirement. The company remained a Swedlin family business for several decades until it was purchased in 2008 by Enesco, an international corporation specializes in gifts and home decorations.

The making of toy animal figures from plush fabric was not far removed from the cloth dolls that gained such popularity in the late 19th century. But surely children found much more to like about their soft, furry playthings. Youngsters found comfort in the texture of these toys and in their simple faces of shoe-button eyes and embroidered noses and mouths. Cuddled and cherished, these figures inspired children's fantasies of make-believe adventures and often became their constant companions in reality, too.