One of Steiffgal's favorite things about this time of year is what her nephews call the "big socks," or Christmas stockings. After all, what's more fun that an oversized piece of faux hosiery filled to the brim with sweets and gifts? So this got Steiffgal thinking - what would be perfect Steiff stocking stuffers? Maybe the company's early woolen miniatures or "woolies?" After all, they don't take up too much room, wrap easily, have a fantastic legacy, and truly capture the precious nature of the season! So let's check out these three very vintage "tiny treasures" to really get into the spirit of the holidays!
Bird's the word with this first pre-war Steiff woolie stocking stuffer. This mellow yellow fellow is Steiff's Golden Bunting bird. He is 8 cm, head jointed, and made from yellow, tan, brown, and olive green woolen yarns. He stands upon metal legs that have been painted brown. His tail feathers are made from brown felt, and his beak is made from orange felt. He has tiny black button eyes. Yellow Bunting wears his Steiff button and tag like a bracelet around his leg. He never had a chest tag.
This golden oldie was produced in 4 and 8 cm from 1934 through 1943. Around the same time period, Steiff also made woolie Robins, Green Woodpeckers, Finches, Blue Tits, and Sparrows. Like the Golden Bunting, all were made in 4 and 8 cm and had very similar construction. Only their yarn colors differentiated from species to species. You can see several of the 4 cm versions of these other birds - and also the 8 cm Golden Bunting - in the picture on the left. It is interesting to note that Steiff reintroduced all their 4 and 8 cm Robin, Green Woodpecker, Finch, Blue Tit, and Sparrow models right after the factory reopened for toy-making business in the late 1940's. However, the Golden Bunting version, for some mystery reason, never appeared in the line after 1943.
Steiffgal's just quackers over this second woolie Steiff stocking stuffer. Here we have a little 4 cm Steiff duck. His body, head, and backside pom-pom are made from yellow woolen yarn. His decorative head pom-pom is made from white woolen yarn. His large, friendly beak and oversized feet and legs are made from orange felt. His face is detailed with black bead eyes and a touch of orange airbrushing. His button and tag, which have been lost to time, would have been on one of his feet.
This darling woolie duck was made in only this size and color combination from 1931 through 1941. For the most part, pre-war Steiff woolie birds were designed to stand on metal legs, so this lying duck is somewhat unusual in terms of form and presentation.
Not a creature was stirring - except for this mouse! This final Steiff woolie stocking stuffer is not only insanely adorable, but also extremely seasonally appropriate! This is Steiff's
woolie mouse in felt slippers. He is 9 cm, standing, head jointed, and
made from white and orange woolen yarn. His head and lower body are
white, while his midsection is orange. His hands and ears are made from
single thick felt. His legs are made from grey metal which has been
painted light pink. His little slippers are made from single thick
orange felt and literally "slip on" his feet. His tiny face comes to
life with red bead eyes, a touch of pink to indicate his nose and mouth,
and a few clear monofilament whiskers. When he was a younger man - eh, mouse - he had a long matching tail. He retains his tiny short trailing f Steiff button in his ear.
This petite treat was made in from 1936 through 1942 in this size only. He also came in several other color combinations, including grey and red and brown and yellow. Steiff also made several other standing woolie models with tiny felt slippers around this same time period; these included birds, rabbits, ladybugs, beetles, and bumblebees.
Steiffgal hopes this discussion on Steiff's tiny pre-war woolies has gotten you excited for the holidays in a mighty big way.
Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.
Some wonderful Steiff finds can't help but give collectors the "warm fuzzies," and today's main attraction does that seven times over! Check out this remarkable vintage Steiff diorama that not only features amazing woolen miniature treasures, but also has a very special history. This great piece is one of the auction highlights at the upcoming Teddy Dorado Steiff Auction, which will be held on October 26th in Bonn, Germany.
It's time to set the stage for this amazing Steiff scenery. Overall, seven Nomotta woolen miniatures grace the item's green oval felt mat, which measures 23 cm long by 13 cm wide. The mat is wrapped with a lilac colored, ruffled silk ribbon. The stars of this show include:
- A 4 cm red and green robin with metal legs and a grey felt beak and tail; this design appeared in the Steiff line from 1934 through 1943 in 4 and 8 cm.
- A 4 cm brown squirrel with a bushy tail and prominent felt ears; this item did not appear in any Steiff catalog and was most likely a sample or experimental product that was never produced commercially.
- A 4 cm pink pig with brown airbrushing, a brown felt tail, and a good luck green felt clover; like the squirrel there was no mention of this item in any of the standard Steiff reference materials.
- A 6 cm drake drake with webbed style orange metal feet, an orange felt beak, and a delightful white head pompom; this pattern was produced in this size only from 1934 through 1943 and came with and without orange felt slippers.
- A 3 cm ladybug with a red body and white and black head; this design appeared in the Steiff line from 1934 through 1943 in 3 and 4 cm.
- A 4 cm blue, yellow, and white blue tit bird with metal legs and a felt beak and tail; this design appeared in the Steiff line from 1934 through 1943 in 4 and 8 cm.
- A 4 cm sitting grey and white Schnauzer - perhaps a Rattler in miniature? - with black bead eyes and tiny felt ears; like the squirrel and pig, this woolen miniature did not appear in any Steiff literature.
So what's the storyline behind this exceptional and unique vignette? The piece itself was produced in 1935 as a farewell gift to a Steiff Manager named Mr. Rathgeber when he left the organization to start his own company in a a village right next to Giengen. This company is still in business today and now manufactures woven strapping for industrial and manufacturing purposes.
As luck would have it, when Mr. Rathgeber's daughter grew up, she married a Protestant priest and moved to Bonn, the same town where Teddy Dorado is located. The daughter learned about Teddy Dorado by reading an article in the local newspaper about the auction house. The daughter went to Teddy Dorado to share her family story about growing up in Giengen. She also felt it was time to move this treasure along into the hands of a Steiff collector, where it could be loved and appreciated. As a result, she consigned this diorama to Teddy Dorado, to be auctioned off and shared with the world.
Collectors can't help but want a front row seat to this exceptional display. Although none of the elements of the piece have any Steiff ID, it is undeniably made by Steiff and comes with full family provenance. It is interesting to ponder why the workers at Steiff chose these exact seven items in these sizes to decorate this "going away" gift. Some items clearly reflect good luck and fortune - like the pig and the ladybug - while others suggest new beginnings and resourcefulness, like the birds and the squirrel. But the Schnauzer? Perhaps Mr. Rathgeber had a dog, or liked this particular breed. These mysteries only adds to the delight and charm of this truly one of a kind treasure. For more information and photos on this piece, check out the official catalog listing by clicking here.
Steiffgal hopes this discussion concerning Mr. Rathgeber's diorama coming up for auction soon has added a "lot" of interest to the piece for you!
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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