Age: 104
Height: 23in
Belongs to: Melissa Nolan of The Dolls Hospital & Teddy Bear Clinic
A lady telephoned me at the Dolls Hospital and said she had a dilemma. She explained she possessed a very old teddy bear, which had belonged to her father in the early 1900s, that she loved dearly. But she was getting old herself and could see trouble ahead. It was of grave concern to her that her two sons might fall out over this teddy bear. Both had played with Edward as children and both wanted him. I told her to bring the bear in to me and we could have a chat. I identified the style and age of the bear. He was a Steiff bear from 1909 – and this fact was going to play a part in the brothers falling out, because of his perceived value. Photograph: Mark Nixon
Age:6
Height: 9in
Belongs to: Eve McLoughlin
Floppy has gone everywhere with Eve from the time she was able to hold him. She rubs his paw on her nose and lips as she sucks her thumb. He makes her feel safe and sleepy. One day Floppy fell out of the buggy in the park when Eve fell asleep. My husband Michael hardly slept that night, Eve was so upset. He got up at some unearthly hour and was standing at the gates of the park when it opened at 7am. He searched everywhere and in desperation tried all the bins. He says that apart from his wedding day and the birth of the kids, it was the happiest moment of his life when he found Floppy in that bin. Photograph: Mark Nixon
Age: 5
Height: 13in
Belongs to: Gerry Ryan/Babette Ryan
Gerry and his brother Mano both owned this bear as children. Gerry took to carrying him around as an adult, after watching Brideshead Revisited, and renamed him Aloysius. He often spoke of him on the radio show he hosted for 22 years. There is still a trace of lipstick visible that Gerry's mother Maureen applied at one point. Since Gerry's sudden passing in 2010, One Eyed Ted is being cared for by Gerry's daughter Babette. Photograph: Mark Nixon
Age: 50
Height: 16in
Belongs to: Mark Nixon
I think I only ever called him Panda. I remember clearly snuggling up with him in bed as a child, which is probably why watching my son, Calum, with his teddy, spurred me on to starting this project. As my interests were focused elsewhere (girls & music mostly) Panda spent many years on top of the wardrobe in the spare room of my mother's house, from there to a cardboard box in her attic and finally the box with the ultimatum,: take it with you or it's going in the bin. So he joined the scores of other soft toys belonging to my children, ending up in a trunk in the spare room. I have just taken him out of the trunk to photograph him for this; he smells a bit musty but I have decided to keep him beside my computer in my studio while I work. Photograph: Mark Nixon
Age: 10
Height: 16in
Belongs to: Calum Nixon
Peter Rabbit was the inspiration for this project. Calum's 99-year-old great-grandmother Eva bought Peter for Calum when he was born and he has slept with him every night ever since. Great Granny knew what she was doing; Peter stuck. Photograph: Mark Nixon
Age: 24
Height: 13in
Belongs to: Aisling Hurley
Pink Teddy was born on Christmas Day 1988, when I was six months old. Back then, he was bright pink with a red waistcoat, and we were instantly inseparable. We have been apart for only a few nights since. Photograph: Mark Nixon
Age: 63
Height: 16in
Belongs to: Margaret Clonan
Margaret's dad bought Teddy for her as a baby. He was her constant companion and she slept with him until she was 21 when she got married. She hid him in her suitcase on her honeymoon. Teddy now sits on a shelf with her hubby's teddy dog. She says Teddy has been everywhere with her and will also be buried with her. Photograph: Mark Nixon
Age: 15
Height: 7in
Belongs to: Dawn Lowe
This is a heroic teddy bear who comforted my late husband, Steve Goto. Steve had suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm and subsequent stroke. During his time in the hospital, Steve hugged this bear so fiercely that no one could take it away from him. Steve died on 20 April, 2002, but the bear remains with me. This bear spent long nights in the hospital with Steve when I couldn't be there. Photograph: Mark Nixon
Age: 43
Height: 14
Belongs to: Daragh O'Shea
Daragh's father was given a pound from his parents for his birthday and he bought Teddy Moore for Daragh. Under his hat and clothes, Teddy Moore is held together with tights. Although he looks like he was in a fire, in Daragh's own words, she kissed the fur off him. He lives in the locker beside her bed: she doesn't like him sleeping in the bed in case he gets smothered. Photograph: Mark Nixon
Age: 45
Height: 5in
Belongs to: Nicky Griffin
Teddy Tingley belonged to my oldest brother, who gave him to me the day I was born. I remember when I was three years old, we were heading off on holiday by train. As the train started moving, I glanced out the window to see, to my horror, Teddy sitting on a bundle of my comics left on the station platform. Thanks to my mum roaring out the window ("The teddy! The teddy! I just want the teddy!") some kind person picked up Teddy and ran with him as the train picked up speed, reaching up to the window just in time for Mum to grab him. Photograph: Mark Nixon
