Antique bear (Farnell) - logo
Antique teddy bear (Farnell)
 
Home button Contact Us button Help button View Basket button
OnlineStore button Encyclopaedia button Links button YourAccount button
 
 

 

Robin Rive / Countrylife

Skip down to Robin Rive Toys or Robin Rive Toy Identification

Company History

Date Event
1973
Robin began her business career as a dress designer. With much material "wastage" available for use and four young children her mind turned to soft toys and she started her own cottage industry called Robbity Bob.
late 1980's Following a trip to Europe Robin was inspired to produce her first teddy bears
1997

Brigitte, Robin's youngest daugher, in charge of European sales and marketing
2002 Robin Rive Collectors' Club launched
2008 Robin Rive ceases manufacturing bears. Daughter, Brigette, continues with the gollies under the brand "Brigette Rive"
Robin Rive
Robin Rive (on the left)

 

Robin Rive Toys

Ziggolino
 Robin Rive's Ziggolino

New Zealand is not renowned for teddy bear manufacturers - we specialise in antique bears but cannot offer any old bears from New Zealand. However, we must mention Robin Rive in our encyclopaedia. Robin's quality, handmade bears could prove her motto "a friend today, an heirloom tomorrow" correct. Her bears, gollies, pandas and other toys are now exported to 19 countries, nearly all are limited editions designed for collectors.

During the last four or five years Robin has won numerous Toby and Golden Teddy Awards for President "Teddy" Roosevelt, Big Butter, Chanel in her elegant black Chanel jacket, Churchill, Humpty McMahon, Hiking Charlie, Ping Pong the panda, Yorkshire Lad, Mitchom and Dax.

Nelson Elsie & Elias William Shakepeare
Robin Rive's Horation Nelson Robin Rive's Elsie & Elias gollies Robin Rive's William Shakespeare

You will see just a small selection of Robin Rive toys on this page - visit our New Bears where you will find a few more, including Baby Princess Elizabeth also nominated for an award in 2006.

top

Robin Rive Toy Identification

Robin Rive bears can be recognised by Robin's distinctive signature featured on the right foot pad. Some early bears, which were not part of a limited edition, may be signed on the left foot pad.

Bears have a black label sewn into the back seam. The label reads "Robin Rive" on one side and "Countrylife / NEW ZEALAND / ALL NEW / MATERIALS / MADE IN / NEW ZEALAND".

Swing tags are attached to bears, inviting collectors to register their bear. Limited edition bears also have another leather tag indicating the bears name and number.

  
 

 

Home | Bookshop | New Bears | Vintage Bears | Teddies Friends | Accessories | Contact Us | Encyclopaedia | Links | Help | View Basket | Your Account

© Lucky Bears Limited 2002-2008. All rights reserved.