M. Pintel Fils was the earliest manufacturer of plush teddy bears in France. Marcel Pintel started making stuffed toys for his father’s firm in Paris in 1913. The first Pintel teddy Bear was a mechanical tumbling clown that appeared in their 1911 catalog and in 1913 their trademark featuring two embracing bears was registered. During World War I production slowed but by 1919 they developed a new line of stuffed animals and dolls. A year later, they produced their first mohair bears with firm filling and tapering limbs. The bears became so popular that they received help from other bear makers like Thiennot. The company closed down during World War II but started up again after the war using whatever materials they could find. They continued to produce Pintel bears until 1976 when the business closed.

Typical Features Of Early Pintel Bears
Tapered arms
Eyes stitched into the back of the head
Long, large feet
Vertical nose stitching with a longer stitch at either end
Cotton paw pads with three claws
Long limbs
Voice box
Metal identification button attached to the chest until the 1930’s

Typical Features Of Later Pintel Bears
Fully jointed
Glass eyes
Paw pads
Claws
Button attached to the chest
Stitched noses
Large feet

Between 1927 and 1930 Pintel produced a number of bears that were mounted on wheels and tricycles.