This is a harder to find Beswick figurine - which takes the form of a large striding polar bear. It is on an oblong plinth base.
The bear was issued between 1936 - and discontinued in 1954.
It is impressed with the Beswick model number 417 on the base - you can just about see this through the thick glaze.
It was modelled by Mr Owen, a freelance sculptor who occasionally worked for Beswick. He must have obviously been looking at similar Art Deco animal works by John Skeaping.
Mr Bear was produced in two colours - this white colour with a cream eggshell type glaze - and an aqua-blue shade. I like the white one best - as I think that it looks more realistic and fits in perfectly with modern monochromatic interiors.
Dimensions: width is 10 1/2 inches. The height is 6 3/4 inches, and the depth is 4 inches.
My price is a fair one for this model - and reflects the relative rarity of this fine piece of early 20th Century Beswick.
Weight unpacked is 1.2 kg
My model is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks - the glaze is without any crackling to the surface-