Bird's the word with this next great Steiff find! Literally! This perky little parrot is really the best of all words, and was produced during the heyday period for Steiff woolen miniature pets. Let's take a bird's eye view of what makes him so interesting from the design and historical perspectives.
Look who arrived on a wing and a prayer! This woolen miniature Steiff parrot measures 8 cm long and 12 cm long including his tail feathers. He is sitting, head jointed, and made from red, blue, green, yellow, and grey Nomotta wool threads. His tail is made from delicately cut, single-thick red, blue, and orange felt fabric. His tiny, irresistible face comes to life with brown and black glass pupil eyes and a double thick grey felt beak. He truly has the most appealing presentation and personality!
Now let's take a seat and check out his great accessories. Parrot is perched on a 23 cm tall wooden and metal stand. The base and his perch are wood and the rest is formed and shaped rods. The base is 8 cm in diameter. Everything is painted the same shade of light green. The little silver chain connecting him to the perch is all original. A few stitches connect the parrot to his perch, which can swing gently from side to side. Parrot's button and tag have been lost to time. They could have been located his felt tail feathers, around a metal rod, or embedded in his circular base - only he knows for sure, and he's not talking! Parrot on a stand was produced in this size only from 1936-1941. The company also made the almost identical parrot standing on metal feet from 1936-1940; his tag and button would have been located like a little bracelet around one of his legs.
Steiff began creating their line of woolen miniatures in the early 1930s. In response to geo-political, economic, and social pressures of the time, Steiff was looking to produce smaller items at accessible price points that a broad German audience would find desirable. The woolen miniature concept fit that strategy perfectly, as they were ideal as collectibles for adults as well as playthings for children. Birds and rabbits translated especially well to this new product format, given their natural shapes, body positions, and textures. Because they proved so popular, Steiff would go on to introduce animals from practically every category as woolen miniatures through the late 1930s.
This parrot novelty perfectly marries the company's strengths in woolen miniature production, authentic design, decorative use of felt, and it's lesser known core competencies of woodworking and turning. Other Steiff factory original woolen miniatures in "vignettes" with accessories such as this one included a bird tree decorated with flowers and birds, a bird's nest with babies and a proud mama, and a series of congratulators - charming dressed miniature animals mounted on round wooden bases that could be "personalized" with a greeting or inscription for the lucky recipient.
Steiffgal hopes you've enjoyed hanging out with this great antique Steiff parrot today!
Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.
Steiffgal's not sure what the weather's like where you are, but around these parts it's nothing but grey, grey, and grey... mixed with alot of cold! So imagine her delight when she opened her inbox to find this SUPER COLORFUL... and tropical... Steiff inquiry awaiting! Check out this note from a reader who asks about a longstanding and life sized family treasure. Merrill writes:
"Hello Steiffgal,
I have a large Steiff Parrot which we bought at FAO Schwarz in New York for one of my sons, some forty plus years ago. I'm intending to sell it because he no longer has any interest in keeping it. I am enclosing some photos I've taken so you can see what it looks like.
I have been unable to find any information on a large Steiff parrot, 34" in length, and wonder if you have ever seen it before. It does have a Steiff button on one wing tip and you can tell from the photo that it's beak has deteriorated over the years.
I've been in contact with a person who seems to know how to go about repairing it but that is all I've been able to accomplish so far. Were many made? Was it done specially for FAO Schwarz?
Thank you!
Merrill"
Well, bird's the word when it comes to this great parrot! What we have here is Steiff's Papagei Ara or Ara Parrot. He is a studio, or life sized, treasure and measures 50 cm (without the tail) and about 85 cm with the tail. He is standing made from mohair and felt. His facial mask and beak area are made from a rubbery material which tends to disintegrate over time. Ara came in two main colors - red or blue. Merrill's appears to be the red version. Ara was produced for one year only, in 1967. You can see what Ara looked like when he was new in the photo on the left, which is taken from Gunther Pfeiffer's 1947-2003 Sortiment Book.
In terms of rarity, yes, this big bird is quite elusive! Steiffgal has never actually seen one in person. Because he was made for one year only, compounded by his complicated and detailed assembly, Steiffgal would think that very few were actually produced and sold in the mid 1960's. He was in the general line and not an exclusive to any particular retailer. However, it does not surprise Steiffgal that he was purchased at FAO Schwarz. This US retailer has always had a special relationship with Steiff and has a long tradition of getting "first dibs" at the best and most outstanding Steiff inventory - like this life sized parrot!
Sadly, over time, Ara has lost his beak and part of his facial mask. Steiffgal has seen this happen in another rare and life sized bird from 1967 - an owl. Both beaks were made from a material which tends to dry out, crack, and disfigure over time. Steiffgal understands and respects that some collectors are comfortable with restoration and some are not. However, in the case of the owl, because the beak is such an integral part of the presentation, Steiffgal did recommend restoration. You can see the before and after pictures above; the talented Martha Anderson of www.Teddybearrepair.com replaced the owl's beak with a carefully modeled and painted piece of leather. Steiffgal would recommend the same course of action for Merrill's parrot, given how rare and majestic it is.
Steiffgal hopes this discussion on Merrill's parrot has added a spot of color to your day!
Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.
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