Does This Steiff Story Have A Familiar Ring To It?

Now for something really different, and really fantastic. Steiff animals have always been a part of key family and life cycle events, and here's perfect proof of that. Check out this note from a reader who asks about her Grandmother's special Steiff treasure. She writes, 

"My Aunt, who is in her seventies, recently sent me this lamb that belonged to my Grandmother who was born in 1915. She claims that my Granny’s engagement ring was presented tied to its neck; this would have been in the 1930s. 

My Mom thinks it was a tradition at the time to present a ring attached to a toy or object. She also believes that Grandma's engagement followed her "pinning" at Christmas, which involved a 1930s-era Steiff miniature woolen fawn. My family sent you photos of this little fawn in 2012 and you helped us figure out that mystery a few years ago. It it possible that this this lamb carried the "next step" in Grandma's engagement engagement process? My Granny always loved little stuffed animals and dolls - she collected them later in life. Thank you!"

How fun, and where to start? If you are not familiar with the Steiff woolen miniature fawn "pinning" story mentioned above, please check out that heartwarming post here! The little guy pictured here on the left steals THAT show, and a few hearts along the way! Make sure to scroll to the very end of the story where you can see a remarkable, almost century old photo of the reader's Grandmother at Christmas time with this fantastic Steiff woollie fawn.

So now let's fast forward to the item under discussion today. What we have here is indeed a barnyard buddy, but it is a goat, not a lamb! This goat's name is Zicky. Steiff made these from 1952 through 1972 in 10, 14, 22, 28, and 35 cm. All were unjointed, standing, and made from off white mohair with felt detailing. They came to life with beautiful airbrushed highlighting, including coloration on their backs and legs, and a touch of red on their lips. Zicky goats had black and green slit pupil eyes and black, simple noses and mouths. And given their production era, all had raised script style Steiff buttons, as shown here on the left. Medium and larger sized versions sported wooden or felt horns. All examples left the factory decorated with a silken ribbon and a brass bell. 

This beloved goat pattern was also produced in 14 cm on red wooden eccentric wheels from 1953-1957 and in a somewhat rarer "lying" pattern in 10 and 14 cm from 1954 through 1956.

So, do things align here? Given that the Zicky pattern was introduced in the early 1950s, and the great exchange happened in the 1930s - it is not possible that this goat delivered Granny's ORIGINAL engagement ring, at least in the time and space continuum that Steiffgal knows of. However, it is entirely possible that this goat DID participate in another special ring exchange - perhaps for a 25th wedding anniversary or other milestone event - and the family story just got a little out of order over time.

Steiffgal hopes this great Steiff family story had a familiar ring to it!

Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! Click here to learn more!

It's Hard Not To Gloat Over This Marvelous Steiff Goat!

This next Steiff find is one barn burner indeed! Check out this sweet farmyard friend that Steiffgal recently added to her Steiff herd. His adorable presentation and personality can't help but get your goat!

Here we have Steiff's late 1920s-era Ziege or goat. He is standing, unjointed, and made from tan mohair. He has brown airbrushed spots all over his body and back. His back legs are particularly shapely, with well defined bends in his "knees." He has a pert tail and large, almost triangular shaped ears. His face comes to life with green-teal and black glass slit pupil eyes (the same ones used on Steiff's felines of the same production era), black hand embroidered nostrils and mouth, and a touch of red highlighting on his snout. He has a non-working side squeaker in his belly.  This great goat was made in 17, 22, and 28 cm from 1928-1932; this is the smallest, or 17 cm version. 

Now let's bleat about Steiff's wonderful legacy of producing goats. They have appeared in the Steiff catalog in one form or another almost continuously since the very late 1800's. Like most of Steiff's output, the earliest were made from felt or early plush materials. The first mohair goat debuted in 1906, just three years after mohair became available on a commercial scale in 1903. These were fully jointed and produced in either white or white and black in four sizes ranging from 22 to 43 cm (measured vertically from head to toe.) Other models - including those on regular or eccentric wheels, pram and pull toys, tail moves head versions, and riding goats - appeared through the early 1940s. The company's most famous postwar model, Zicky, was introduced in 1952. He was made freestanding in 5 sizes ranging from 10 to 35 cm through 1972, as well as on eccentric wheels in 14 cm from 1953-1957 and lying down in 10 and 14 cm from 1954-1956.

Two prewar models that are certain to have collectors act the giddy goat are a handsome wool plush 28 cm model with prominent felt horns from 1938-1942 and a palm-sized woolen miniature goat which was made in 10 or 17 cm from 1935-1939. The woolen miniature version is pictured here on the left and the photo is from Gunther Pfeiffer's 1892-1943 Sortiment book. There's no mistaking his goat-like qualities, given his great eyes and perfectly proportioned ears. Isn't it amazing how many "goaty" details Steiff was able to squeeze into such a petite treat?

Taking a page from history, here on the left you can see how goats were presented in the 1929 Steiff catalog - including the one under discussion here today. It is interesting to note that they share real estate with the company's handsome tigers. This is because the catalog presents the range by series number, with tigers being 70 and goats being 74. Series numbers appear to have been assigned to the "type" or grouping an animal falls into, as well as where it may fall in alphabetical order. This playful picture is from Carsten Esser's Steiff Katalog 1920-1929. You can click on the photo to enlarge it for better viewing.

Steiffgal hopes this discussion on this beautiful pre-war Billy has helped you separate the sheep from the goats.

Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.

This Steiff Goat Is The Wheel-Deal Indeed!

Do Steiff goats float your boat? Well, they certainly do for Steiffgal! It is easy to fall for these charming farm friends who just seem to have a great sense of fun, energy, and humor. Check out this great goat on wheels and see what truly makes him the life of the barnyard!
 

There's no 'kid'ding around when it comes to this beautiful billy! Here we have Steiff's Nachzieh Ziege or pull toy goat. Goat is 12 cm high (head to toe) and 16 cm long, unjointed, and made from off white mohair. His back, tail, legs, and face are lightly airbrushed with brown detailing, making him truly an authentic farm friend. The lining of his ears and the underside of his pert tail are made from peach colored felt. He has black and green slit pupil eyes and a black hand embroidered nose and mouth. His tiny horns are made from wooden beads, and his snout is highlighted with a tiny bit of red accent. He rides upon a black metal framed carriage which is mounted on four red wooden eccentric wheels. He was produced in this size only (officially documented at 14 cm) from 1953 through 1957.
 

Collector's may recognize this baaaa-d boy as Steiff's "Zicky" the goat pattern. And, he does indeed have a small, colorful, named bear faced chest tag with the name "Zicky" imprinted in blue. Overall, standing Zicky was made from 1952 through 1972 in 10, 14, 22, 28, and 35 cm. A family of standing Zicky goats is pictured here on the left. Zicky was also produced in a somewhat rarer "lying" pattern in 10 and 14 cm from 1954 through 1956. The smaller lying version of Zicky is pictured below on the left.

It probably won't get your goat to learn that goats are a legacy design for Steiff. The first ones appeared as early as the late 1800's in felt. In addition to just regular standing models, early and prewar goats were produced as hanging toys, as woolen miniatures, as wooden pull toys, on wheels, as nodding animals, with tail moves head mechanisms, and with special voice boxes that were designed to sound like a real goat. 

And yes, he is the wheel deal! Steiff has traditionally produced pull toy versions of many of its most popular items.  In the 1950's and 1960's, these were usually made from the smallest or next to smallest versions of the standard line items and on red, blue, or green wooden eccentric or regular style wheels. These petite treats included cats, farm animals like donkeys and ponies, rabbits, and ducks, and dogs. Steiff's tiny 10 cm Cockie Cocker Spaniel on eccentric wheels is pictured here on the left. Larger wooden wheeled treasures from this period included Fox Terriers and elephants.
 
Steiffgal hopes this discussion on Steiff's rolling Zicky helps to move along your day in a most positive way!

Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.