Taking a Closer Peek At Steiff's Peky Dogs

Dogs are perhaps Steiffgal's "best of show" favorites among all the wonderful creatures Steiff has produced over the years. There's something in the way that the Steiff designers capture the personalities and characteristics of the toy breeds - including pugs, Pomeranians, and Pekingese - that make their renditions completely irresistible. Check out this question concerning a precious Steiff pup to see if you agree. Anna from Warsaw, Poland writes:

"Hello,

A few months ago I bought a very nice Steiff dog.

Unfortunately I have no information regarding this dog.

It would be great if you could tell me anything about it.

Please find a picture of the dog as an attachment.

Best Regards, Anna"

This is a walk in the dog park to answer! Anna, what you have here is Steiff's Cosy Peky, the Pekingese. She was manufactured from 1968 through 1978. Peky is 20 cm, sitting, unjointed, and has adorable black and white pupil eyes and a hand stitched nose. She is made from tan and white Dralon (a synthetic plush), and is stuffed with soft fibers and foam, making her fully washable. Cosy Peky, like most Steiff items with the word "Cosy" in their names, was designed more as a fun, play item for children rather than a collectible.

Steiffgal guesses that her button is small and dome shaped, with the word "Steiff" written in tiny script letters, or rather flat like a plate with the word "Steiff" in larger script letters. Anna's Cosy Peky was made at a time when the company was transitioning from one button type to another.

Pekingese dogs have been in the Steiff product line for 497 (dog) years, having made their first appearance in the 1938 catalog. The original Peky, shown here on the left in a photo from Gunther Pfeiffer's 1892 - 1943 Sortiment Book, is standing, head jointed, and made from very long off white mohair. She was produced in 10, 14, 17, 22, and 25 cm up until 1943.

After the war, a newer Pekingese design was introduced, debuting in 1953. This updated Peky was produced in 8, 10, 14, and 22 cm though 1977. The post-war Peky is standing, made from light brown mohair, has a detailed black muzzle (mostly velvet in the smaller sizes; mohair in the larger ones), and a darling, pouty mouth. This pattern was also produced as an 18 cm hand puppet from 1963 through 1964. Because this design is so expressive, it remains a collector's favorite to this day - as each Peky truly has her own look and personality. The photo on the left shows an assortment of these "newer" Pekys, including the puppet.

Steiff also introduced other Pekys into the line through the 1980's. These included a larger, 30 cm light blond mohair sitting Peky from 1965 through 1976 (pictured to the left), Anna's adorable Cosy Peky, a crylor (a coarse synthetic material) standing Peky, and a few other soft plush play versions for children. Interestingly, Steiff has yet to produce a Studio, or life sized, Peky for collectors! Hint, hint!

Anna, Steiffgal hopes this "peek" into the history of Steiff Pekingese dogs has given you a good feeling for the legacy of your precious Peky!

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

Giving Thanks For Steiff

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to reflect on what is important, and give heartfelt appreciation for those things and people that mean the most to us. Steiffgal thought it would be just the right time of year to send a big hug and "thank you" to all the friends from across the world who come to this column to share in the love of all things button-in-ear.

Of course, Steiffgal is thankful for having Steiff in her life, and the joy and excitement that collecting brings along with it. However, there are a few "unsung everyday heroes" in her collection for which she would like to extend a special "thank you" for the daily service they provide.

First, a "jumbo" thank you to Trotty, the giant elephant. Trotty is 90 cm and made from grey and white woven fur. He has a tuft of black fur on the tip of his tail and airbrushed details on his face and paws. He was produced from 2001 through 2003, and also came in a "smaller" 60 cm size.

Why thanks? Better than a backrest and the best naptime buddy ever, most Steifflife columns (including this one) were written while snuggling up with this prehistorically sized pachyderm.

Next, thanks goes out to a Steiff buddy who always seems to be hanging around. This red mohair rabbit is 8 cm, head jointed, and is fully posable because of his internal wire armature. He has brown and black pupil eyes and darling pert black whiskers. He was produced in 2005 as part of a series of hanging bunnies, which included blue, yellow, and apricot colored versions.

Why thanks? This constant companion travels with Steiffgal everyday to and from work as her briefcase dangling “lucky charm”… and is a great Steiff conversation starter with other subway commuters.

As many readers are aware, Steiffgal lost a job to the recession earlier this year, but found another very exciting opportunity within a few months. On her first day on the new job, she brought along two tiny, but very special Steiff items for her new desk. These included a little 10 cm orange and white mohair Bully puppy from the 2005 Steiff yellow tag collection, and a 7 cm, five ways jointed super-fuzzy brown mohair Teddy from the early 2000’s.

Why thanks? This darling couple reminds Steiffgal how fortunate she is to have a great job despite these tough economic times - without taking up too much space on her desk!

Finally, it’s certainly ok to give thanks to things beyond work, so here’s two Steiff friends that make “playtime” even more fun. Here we have two unlikely roommates, a monk and the devil! The monk is actually a beer monk; he is 35 cm tall, made from trevira velvet, and sports a red cowl, tan logo’ed apron, and tiny leather sandals. He was produced in 1999 as a 1,500 piece limited edition for the Alpirsbacher monastery brewery in Germany. The devil is a 27 cm red trevira hand puppet, produced from 1980 through 1983. He has great black woven fur as hair, a ruff, and on the tip of his tail.

Why thanks? These two friends live in Steiffgal’s kitchen – guarding the in-house beer tap and keg refrigerator. They are a constant reminder of the importance of daily fun in moderation… something that Steiffgal is very happy to exercise!

Friends, Steiffgal hopes you all have a peaceful Thanksgiving. She also asks that you take the opportunity to use the holiday as a time to express gratitude for those things that make life so sweet and interesting. As Aaron Copeland wrote in his 1945 Pulitzer Prize winning Shaker-themed Appalachian Spring symphony:

‘Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain'd,

To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,

To turn, turn will be out delight,

'Till by turning, turning we come round right.

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

Born In The 50's, Steiff Style

The 1950s were a time of great creativity and energy at Steiff. As a matter of fact, many of Steiffgal's favorite Steiff collectibles are from this highly innovative decade. Take a look at this note from a reader who asks about a wonderful collection of period items from this time frame - and perhaps you'll feel the same way, too! Kevin from Chicago writes...

"I have inherited several Steiff animals from my father. He grew up in southern California in the 1940s and 1950s and was given these animals by his German aunt who fancied Steiffs. I believe the animals are no newer than the early 1950s, but I’m guessing that most are older, perhaps from the 1940s or earlier. I’m sure you can confirm and/or advise.

I remember my father mentioning that his aunt would often travel to Germany before the war and bring items back home. I am not sure if that info applies to any of these Steiffs, but figure it worth mentioning.

The only animals that have the metal Steiff button in ear are the cat and the tiger.

Thanks so much for your time and knowledge.

Kind regards, Kevin"

Like Super Glue, the hula-hoop, Saran Wrap, and White Out, all of these Steiff items were "born in the '50s". Let's take a look at each one.

This scruffy Teddy, as his chest tag suggests, is named Zotty. Zotty was one of the first new bear designs introduced post war, in 1951. Upon his debut, Zotty was produced in nine sizes, ranging from 17 through 100 cm, in brown tipped mohair. Kevin's Teddy is 17 cm. As Zotty's popularity grew, so did his range in the line; he has appeared as a sleeping animal, a play bear, as a lulac style Teddy, and a pajama bag among other items. In 1960 a white mohair version was introduced; Zotty has also been produced in several different forms of plush over the years. The word "Zotty" is from the German word "Zottel", which means shaggy.

To "qualify" as a Zotty, a Teddy must have these three things: an open felt lined mouth, a front insert bib made of a complementary colored mohair to his body, and of course, be made from very shaggy material!

One of the things that makes this Zotty so interesting is his chest tag. Note that the name "Zotty" is in red. Steiff used this particular chest tag - which was a slightly updated version of the one used pre-war - for only a few years in the early 1950s. This helps to date Kevin's Teddy to the very beginning of the "Zotty years"! It is very likely that this Teddy has (or had when he left the factory almost 60 years ago) a small white fabric US Zone tag sewn into the seam of his right arm or leg.

It probably would be wise to move onto this owl now. This brainy bird is called Uhu Wittie, or Wittie Owl. Wittie as a plaything or collectible was produced from 1954 through 1977 in four sizes: 10, 14, 22, and 35 cm. Kevin's Wittie is the 14 cm version. Wittie's body and wings are mohair and his feathers are designed from carefully cut and detailed felt. He is unjointed, has marvelous airbrushed detailing on his body, huge green pupil eyes, and charming tufts of black hair on his forehead. One of the things that is quite remarkable about this piece in any size is his enormous felt feet.

Wittie made a few appearances throughout the Steiff catalog over the years. He was produced as a popular hand puppet from 1955 through 1978. He was also made in blue in 10 cm as a promotional item for a German company in 1960. This blue version of Wittie is exceptionally rare and sought out by vintage Steiff collectors worldwide.

Steiffgal will try and stay between the lines on this next item. Here we have a tiny 14 cm Steiff mohair tiger. He is gorgeously hand airbrushed and sports the famous Steiff green "glowing eyes". This particular model was produced from 1952 through 1959 in 8, 10, and 14 cm. The 8 cm version has a cotton cord tail while his larger siblings have stuffed mohair tails.

This fabulous feline is particularly interesting and desirable to vintage collectors as he is five ways jointed, meaning his head, arms, and legs all move. This is rare and unusual for Steiff tigers. Adding to his appeal, this particular design was only available in the US - making him an early "country exclusive".

This next item is truly in a "cat"-a-gory all on her own. Here we have Siamy, the Siamese cat. Siamy is 15 cm, sitting, head jointed, and is made from light and dark chocolate brown mohair. She has a pink stitched nose and riveting cobalt blue glass pupil eyes. Both her ears and open mouth are lined in pink felt. She has her raised script ear button and what appears to be her original ribbon. Siamy was manufactured in 11, 15, and 23 cm from 1953 through 1954 only.

Siamy has had nine lives with Steiff. She was originally produced by Steiff in the 1930's and early 1940's in an almost identical pattern; pre-war she also appeared as a hand puppet and a pajama bag. From her introduction almost 80 years ago, Siamy has always been an absolute crowd favorite. From her adorable facial expression, endearing pose, and magnificent eyes, it is easy to see how she leads the pack on the Steiff catwalk!

As for the value of these finds from the fabulous fifties... as always, Steiffgal is not a formal appraiser and strongly believes that something is "worth" what someone else will pay for it. And although the economy is finally showing some signs of life, times still favor Steiff buyers over sellers pricewise. However, Kevin's items overall are from an era of increasing interest to collectors and are also in very good to excellent condition. That all being said, Steiffgal has recently seen comparable early post-war Zottys sell in the $175 to $250 range; Witties sell in the $25 to $80 range, comparable early post-war five ways jointed animals sell in the $75 to $200 range; and comparable Siamy cats sell in the $100 to $250 range.

Kevin, Steiffgal hopes that this overview of the history behind your Father's menagerie helps confirm your Aunt's fine taste in Steiff collectibles!

Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures, obtained via family or flea market? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.

Steiff's Very Own First Lady

She made her debut on the world's stage in 1953 and is known for her iconic sense of style and distinct femininity. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, perhaps? Or Steiff's very own Jackie Teddy? You wouldn't be wrong either way. Take a look at this note from a reader who asks about a Steiff Teddy from the early 50's. Carolyn writes...

"Dear Steiffgal: I came across your blog in searching Google to identify this little Steiff bear I bought at a recent estate sale.

• She has a silver color metal tag with raised letter Steiff in cursive, no underlining of the ff.
• She is jointed and approximately 6 1/2" tall.
• She has felt pads on her hands and feet and has four stitched claws.
• She has glass eyes and I think there is a dried out squeaker.
• She is mohair and I think I see the faint remains of airbrushing around her ankles. She is dirty and faded but adorable nonetheless.
• She is straw stuffed and I think there is some stitching missing across the nose.

Do you think this could possibly be a Jackie? I appreciate your help and enjoyed reading your blog. It encourages me to tend to mine.

Best, Carolyn"

Oh, Jackie... Steiffgal is quite certain that this little lady is an original Steiff Jackie Teddy bear. Jackie is light blond mohair, five ways jointed, and has a distinctly round and chubby appearance. Jackie was produced in 17, 25, 35, and 75 cm from 1953 through 1955 only. Carolyn's Jackie corresponds to the smallest 17 cm version. Jackie was produced in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Teddy bear - specifically the 50th anniversary of the registration of 55PB at the Heidenheim district court in 1903.

This particular Jackie is well loved and is missing several of the design details that she had when she left the factory in Giengen almost 60 years ago. These include a light pink stitch across the nose, an airbrushed belly button, and lots of facial airbrushing. New, all Jackies also had a raised script ear button and a white fabric "US Zone" tag sewn in their arm seam, and came with a small full color celebration booklet.

Jackie also has a few very distinctive body details that don't wear away with love over time. First, her hand are proportionally large for her chubby arms and don't have the break at the wrist as many Steiff bears do. Second, she is shorter and plumper, especially in the middle, than other Steiff bears made in, and before, her era. And third, her mouth is a very wide "V" shape, sort of pouty and "girly" while other Steiff bears of her time have/had a very sharp pointed "V" mouth. The picture on the left, which was taken from Gunther Pfeiffer's 1947 -2003 Sortiment Book, shows the original Jackie so readers can compare her now and then.

Steiffgal advises cleaning this mohair treasure as carefully as possible. Here's how:

• First, remove as much surface dirt and dust as possible by shaking her vigorously and then vacuuming her very gently and at a distance.
• Clean her surface mohair with a very weak solution of water and gentle dish detergent - just very sparingly moisten a washcloth and rub her down with the damp cloth. You'll be surprised what comes off!
• Let her naturally air dry away from the sun and heat sources.
• Gently fluff her up with a brush or comb.

Carolyn, Steiffgal hopes that this information is helpful to you... congrats on this wonderful find and please enjoy this special "first lady" of a Teddy bear!

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