Small standing figurine of Misha, the smiling brown bear cub mascot of the Moscow 1980 Games. Molded in reddish-brown plastic with all-over molded "fur" texture. The head has rounded ears, an incised smiling muzzle with a raised snout, and painted eyes (whites with dark pupils). At the waist is the mascot's signature belt: five interlocking Olympic rings as a buckle, retaining traces of gold/yellow paint, with the belt's molded stripes running to the sides. The rear view shows the belt's knot at the back and the plain molded body. The figure stands on its feet; the bottom edge is trimmed (mold seam).
Acquisition
Accession
2025.11
Acquisition Method
Purchase
Made/Created
Time Period
1970s
Place
Country
U.S.S.R.
Region
Eastern Europe
Continent
Europe
Notes
Maker: Not identified. No maker's mark is legible on the figure in these views (the base is trimmed and unmarked here). Misha souvenirs were mass-produced by numerous Soviet plants; the specific manufacturer can't be determined from these images.
Date: Circa 1978–1980 (Moscow 1980 Olympics era). The mascot was made official in December 1977 and souvenirs were produced chiefly in the run-up to and during the 1980 Games — within the 1959–1990 range.
Parts
1
Materials
Material
Plastic
Material Notes
Materials: Molded plastic; hand-painted details (eyes; Olympic rings).
Technique: Molded plastic (hollow) with integrally molded fur texture; hand-applied paint on the eyes and rings.
Condition
Overall Condition
Good
Relationships
Related Places
Place
City
Havana
Country
Cuba
Region
Caribbean, Central America
Notes
circulation
Place
Country
U.S.S.R.
Region
Eastern Europe
Continent
Europe
Notes
production
Related Events
Event
Moscow 1980
Research Notes
Notes
Misha (also "Mishka"/"Olympic Mishka") was designed by Victor Chizhikov for the XXII Summer Olympics in Moscow. He was reproduced in merchandise from badges to figurines that have become highly collectable, and is often cited as the first Olympic mascot to be widely commercialized.
