It's easier to solve a mystery when you have material evidence at hand. And such is the case with today's Steiff conundrum. Check out this sweet, albeit sly, little gal. She's clearly a fox made by Steiff. But she does not appear in any reference books Steiffgal can find, and something about her is quite unusual. Read on to learn more.
This foxy friend is 12 cm, sitting, and unjointed. She is made from dralon and mohair; tan dralon on most of her body and tail, white dralon on her chest, and mohair on her muzzle. Her ears are lined in peach colored trivera velvet. She has lost her button, but has a small hole in her ear where it once resided. The backs of her ears, her feet, and her back are highlighted with black airbrushing. Her pensive face comes to life with brown and black pupil eyes, a black hand embroidered nose and mouth, and a bit of black airbrushing to highlight her eyes.
So just what makes this fox a cunning little vixen? She certainly has a strong resemblance to Steiff's beloved Xorry Desert fox pattern. This sitting, unjointed fox was made in 12 and 17 cm from 1957 through 1970. Xorry Desert fox is different than the company's standing, unjointed Xorry fox, which was produced in 11, 18, and 28 cm from 1960 through 1969. Both Xorry patterns were made from mohair. However, the Xorry under discussion here is made from mostly dralon, and other 1970-era fabrics.
Let's try and outfox her material-mashup. In the 1960s and 1970s, Steiff produced a great number of toy items in dralon materials. At the time, it was a good solution for toy making as it was relatively easy to work with, very durable, washable, and less expensive than fine woolen fabrics. Starting in the early to mid 1970s, Steiff included a touch of mohair fabrics on items that were predominately made from synthetic fabrics - perhaps to give them a more "upscale" presentation. For example the company's 12 and 18 cm Snuffy rabbit from 1974-1982 has mohair on the back of his ears, top of his tail, and on his two front legs. And their mostly dralon 18 and 25 cm Tapsy Bear Cub from 1972-1978 features a mohair muzzle.
Given all of this, it is Steiffgal's best thinking that this little dralon fox with mohair detailing was made as a sample, or in a very low production run, in the mid-1970s. Its mix of materials and familiar pattern strongly suggest that it was designed as possible lower-cost, next version alternative to the company's 1957-1970 timeframe mohair Xorry Desert Fox - but never released on a commercial scale.
Steiffgal hopes this discussion on this unusual Desert Fox has given you the warm and fuzzies.
Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.
It's the most wonderful time of the year... Oktoberfest! And even though this fantastic two-plus week long celebration originated in Germany, it has become a global reason for observation around the world. This weekend, nearly 4,000 miles from Munich, Steiffgal and Steiffguy, (and of course the Steiffpugs!) are hosting 25 friends for an authentic German late afternoon of home brew, a traditional German supper, and good times all around. And to make the party even more fun, Steiffgal has invited a few Steiff friends to serve as good time ambassadors. Take a look at these "party animals" and see how they help make any table the best table in the house!
Hat's off, or on in this case, to this great looking Steiff couple! Here we have Steiff's Larifari and Alpa dolls. Larifari is 32 cm and is based on a German book and movie character created by Ferdinand Diehl, the same creative genius who designed the beloved Micki and Mecki hedgehog characters. Larifari is five ways jointed. His head and arms are made from rubber while his body and legs are made from felt. Larifari only appeared in the line from 1955 through 1957. Alpa is 10 cm and wears a green hat and skirt, white blouse, calico apron, and a black belt. Alpa (and her brother Alpo, who also makes an Oktoberfest appearance in the next photo,) are "cousins" of Steiff's famous Mecki and Micki hedgehog dolls. Alpo and Alpa were produced in this size and in 1964 only, and as a result, are exceptionally hard to find.
Are you in suspense to learn about this next pair of table ambassadors? Here we have an adorable 25 cm blond, early post war Teddy Baby with felt paws. He wears a pair of traditionally styled green felt trousers which have brown leather suspenders. These pants were purchased at the Steiff factory. This Teddy Baby pattern was produced post war overall in blonde or brown mohair
in 9, 22, 28, 30, and 40 cm from 1949 to 1957. His dinner companion is Alpo, the brother of Alpa mentioned above. He wears
a little felt hat, grey pants, a white shirt, green suspenders, and black
shoes and carries a little backpack on his back. Alpo was manufactured in 10 cm only in 1964.
Here are some sweets for you, my sweet readers! Here we have Steiff's golden yellow plush 25 cm unjointed Haribo Gummi Bear. She is unjointed and has a black plush nose and black and white plastic eyes. Haribo wears a red silk bow. This logo Ted made a short, but clearly sweet, appearance in the Steiff line in 2002 and 2003. She stands guard upon a vintage silver server filed with - what else - but Haribo Gummi Bears!
It's easy to make small talk with these table friends! Here we have a 30 cm five ways jointed light blond “Münchner Bär” from 1999. He was produced exclusively for Germany in 2001, but not specifically for Oktoberfest. He is wearing very detailed dark grey lederhosen and a grey felt Tyrolean hat. This Teddy also has a wind up music box and plays "In München steht ein Hofbrähaus", a traditional drinking song that roughly translates to "There's A Beer Hall In Munich." And to make sure he's ready for the next round at the Hofbrähaus, he carries his very own miniature glass beer stein featuring the coat of arms of Bavaria. Of course, his faithful companion is a little Steiff Hexie Dachshund, this one is 9 cm but he was produced overall in in 9, 13, 20, and 25 cm between 1954 and 1974.
Also gracing the main dining room table centerpiece area are two other very special Steiff Dachshunds. The first is Bazili the Dachshund Hunter, who appeared in the
line from 1950 through 1954. Bazili is standing and 25 cm tall. He is head jointed, standing, and wears a little green felt suit and hat. His jacket is decorated
with three leather buttons. His head and the tops of his hands and feet
are mohair, and his body and limbs are made from peach colored
felt-like material. The second, Bazili's date, is Musik-Bazi or Music Bazi. She is 25 cm tall, unjointed, and standing. Her body is a simple cylinder and her arms are floppy. Bazi wears a
blue cotton blouse, red cotton skirt, and had a sweet floral corsage
when she left the factory in Giengen more than 60 years ago. She has an
internal
Swiss music box which plays when her torso is pressed and released.
Bazi was
made in 1950 and 1951 only.
Take it to the bar! Nothing could be more appropriate in the case of Oktoberfest. And these sweet bier monks are here to welcome party goers to the beer taps, as well as make sure their steins are always full! These fun loving, trevira velvet “bier monks” are dressed in traditional
garb including cotton drawers, long red hooded tunics, and work aprons
which are cinched at the waist with a thin rope. The large monk, a
whopping 100 cm, has black felt feet, while the smaller 35 cm monk wears
tiny leather sandals. These two monks are characters from the Alpirsbacher Klosterbraeu, a 130+ year old brewery located in Germany’s Black Forest. Steiff
created these white tag, limited edition drinking buddies in 1999. Just
a handful of the 100cm monks were produced, primarily for display and
advertising purposes. The smaller version was produced in an edition
size of 1,500.
And finally, no need to hunt for a bier coaster at this party! Here we have a fun collection of every one's favorite beer accessories! This fun focal point is under the close watch of 20 cm Hubert the Hunter, who was produced in 1978 only as part of Steiff's collection of "dolls in business clothes." Hubert leans against an authentic 1 liter stein from the Hofbräuhaus - or is it the other way around? Hubert's sporting friends are Xorry the fox, who was manufactured in 11, 18, and 28 cm from 1960 through 1969, and a tiny 7 cm brown velvet wild boar, who was made only in this size from 1952 through 1973.
Steiffgal hopes this remote Oktoberfest celebration has brought a festive and seasonal spirit to your day!
Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures, found on an adventure or otherwise? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.
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This foxy friend is 12 cm, sitting, and unjointed. She is made from dralon and mohair; tan dralon on most of her body and tail, white dralon on her chest, and mohair on her muzzle. Her ears are lined in peach colored trivera velvet. She has lost her button, but has a small hole in her ear where it once resided. The backs of her ears, her feet, and her back are highlighted with black airbrushing. Her pensive face comes to life with brown and black pupil eyes, a black hand embroidered nose and mouth, and a bit of black airbrushing to highlight her eyes.
Let's try and outfox her material-mashup. In the 1960s and 1970s, Steiff produced a great number of toy items in dralon materials. At the time, it was a good solution for toy making as it was relatively easy to work with, very durable, washable, and less expensive than fine woolen fabrics. Starting in the early to mid 1970s, Steiff included a touch of mohair fabrics on items that were predominately made from synthetic fabrics - perhaps to give them a more "upscale" presentation. For example the company's 12 and 18 cm Snuffy rabbit from 1974-1982 has mohair on the back of his ears, top of his tail, and on his two front legs. And their mostly dralon 18 and 25 cm Tapsy Bear Cub from 1972-1978 features a mohair muzzle. 
