Teddy Bear in a Rowboat Limoges Box

A teddy bear has taken to the water in a little rowboat, set for a lazy afternoon on the lake. This scene is hand-painted porcelain, made as a Limoges box in Limoges, France.

Row, Row, Row Your Bear

Teddy bears have been beloved companions for more than a century, and here one sets off on its own small adventure. The rowboat recalls summer camp, family cabins and slow mornings on a quiet pond. It is a gentle, storybook subject that brings a smile to collectors of bears and boats alike.

Lakeside Cabin Shelf

• Hand-painted porcelain from Limoges, France
• Fits a teddy bear, boating or lake house collection
• Pairs with canoe, fishing and picnic basket pieces

Smooth Sailing Wishes

Set it on a lake cabin mantel, a bookshelf beside nautical prints, or a nursery shelf for a sweet seafaring touch. It suits a baby shower with a nautical theme, a retirement present for someone moving to the water, or a birthday pick for a teddy bear collector. Grandparents who share boating trips with family often appreciate it too.

A Small Box With Old Roots

Tiny porcelain boxes grew fashionable in 18th-century France, where they carried snuff, pills and beauty patches in a pocket or purse.