Bibbed Beauties: Steiff's Rare And Wonderful White Zotty Bears

Steiff's White Zotty bear, in the line for only two years, remains a collector's favorite more than six decades post his introduction. Here's a little more about this pattern, within the context of his legacy Zotty bear design. 

“Zotty” is from the German word “zottel,” which means “shaggy," and as such, is the perfect name for this signature Steiff bear. He was designed as a breath of fresh air after the factory reopened for toymaking business post WWII as his elements truly reflected the optimism and aesthetics of the 1950s. He was instantly popular, and many other toy companies introduced copycat Zotty bears as a result of his success. These companies would vary the pattern just enough not to infringe on the Steiff version.

Zotty’s legacy (and perhaps namesake) goes back over a century. In 1914, Steiff debuted their first “Zottlebaer” or “Shaggy Bear. ” He was in the line through 1927 and was known for his shaggy coat, sweet face, and soft texture.

Steiff's debut, midcentury Zotty bear was produced in 9 sizes ranging from 17 - 100 cm from 1951 through 1978. He was fully jointed and made from long shaggy caramel tipped mohair with an orange bib and a shorter mohair muzzle. His paw pads were made from felt. Earlier versions had glass pupil eyes, while later versions had plastic pupil eyes, for safety reason. Depending on size and era, Steiff sometimes backed the eyes in felt. Zotty featured an open, felt lined mouth, an embroidered nose, and distinctly toddler-like proportions. Zotty was created by Steiff designer Mr. Siegfried Zeller (1915-2000) around 1949-1950. His son, Rolland Zeller (1944-2008) also worked for Steiff and designed over 2,000 items over the course of his career there. You can see this great Steiff duo, along with an original caramel Zotty bear, in this photo on the left. 

Given his supersonic rise in popularity, Steiff debuted a white version of Zotty in 1960. He was made in 28 or 35 cm. He had almost identical design details as his caramel tipped cousin, but was made from very shaggy white mohair. In Steiff's 1960 new releases catalog, he is pictured along with a Disney Perri squirrel and a mohair Nagy beaver who were also relatively new products in the line at that time. Both Perri and Nagy which would go on to appear in the catalog for decades. You can see this catalog page here in the photo on the left. 

It is not clear why White Zotty was produced in so few sizes, relative to the standard line Zotty, or why he was discontinued just a year later in 1961. Traditionally, white mohair Steiff bears are quite popular and sell really well. It is possible that he just did not take off with customers, and/or the finances did not make sense. It is also possible that his white mohair was not available, or really expensive, or simply was challenging to work with. Whatever the reason - only he knows for sure!

Steiffgal hopes this discussion on the history of Steiff's white mohair Zotty bear has been a hair raising experience for you!

Having A Quack-Attack Over Steiff's Fantastic Duck Chain History

Steiff's Duck Chains are charming novelties that were traditionally produced in the form of a mother duck with two, three, or five babies in tow. These birds on the go rode upon eccentric wooden wheels which truly captured their natural strides. This Duck Chain image above with five ducklings is from Ladenburger Toy Auctions. 

Toys with "eccentric wheels" have appeared in the Steiff line for over a century. Steiff even owns a patent on this mechanism! The way it works on rolling items is that the wheels are aligned off center or on a bent axle, causing them to move up and down when rotated. Eccentric wheels were invented accidentally, but Steiff realized the opportunity created by their drilling mistakes. The first animal to appear on eccentric wheels was a duck. Steiff launched this item in 1912 as... "This waddling felt duck with brightly colored fathers is fixed onto solidly built, eccentric wooden wheels, which provide the duck with its characteristic waddle. Also fitted with a deceptively realistic "quack-quack" voice. A droll little toy."

Steiff's first and legacy Duck Chain, also on eccentric wheels, debuted in 1917 and was made from felt. It consisted of a 10 cm mother duck (pictured here on the left) and two or five 6 cm ducklings (pictured just below.) All were unjointed and stuffed with excelsior. They had grey bodies and green wings and heads. Their wings were decorated with embroidery. Their beaks, legs, and feet were made from orange felt, and their eyes were little black buttons. The mother was cataloged as article number "2110,42 ex," and the ducklings were cataloged as article number "2106 ex." These numbers translate to: 2= lying; 1=felt; 10= 10 cm and 06= 6 cm; 42= simple pattern with a voice; and ex= eccentric wheels. These were branded with Steiff buttons and tags on their felt feet. 

 

In terms of their vehicles, the mother sat on a square metal wire carriage with four wooden eccentric wheels. When she was pulled, she waddled and made a peep sound which was generated by a movement activated voice box embedded in her belly. The ducklings were each mounted on a diamond shaped metal wire carriage with two wooden eccentric wheels. They did not have a voice box. Loops and hooks at the end of the carriages kept the family linked together. This felt Duck Chain was featured in the Steiff catalog through 1932.

 

Duck Chains were also produced in other materials over the years. In the prewar era, the felt version was produced from 1919-1921 in a substitute plush because felt was in short supply for toy making purposes during and shortly after World War I. From 1925-1936, Steiff produced its Duck Chain with two or five ducklings in mohair. Duck Chains appeared in colorfully painted wood from 1924-1927 overall and then in an updated model with integral wheels from 1932-1943. After the debut of the woolen miniature line in the early 1930s, a woolen miniature Duck Chain featuring a drake and three ducklings, all on wooden wheeled metal carriages, appeared in the catalog from 1934-1941. You can see this petite treat here above on the left; the image is from Ladenburger Toy Auctions. 

Postwar, Duck Chains were produced from colorfully painted wood in families of four birds riding on integral eccentric wheels from 1949 through 1966. You can see an example of a 1950s era Steiff wooden duck chain here above on the left; the image is from Ladenburger Toy Auctions. Duck Chains made their final appearance in the catalog from 1969-1973, as a family of four birds in sanded beechwood, decorated with burned-in markings and riding upon large red eccentric wheels that were integral to their bodies. 

 

Steiffgal hopes this discussion on the history of Steiff's Duck Chain production has fully aligned with your expectations!

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

Going Loopy Over The History Of Steiff's Wolf Production

Some of Steiff's creations leave collector's howling in delight. It is safe to say wolves are one of those very special designs! These majestic creatures did not appear in the Steiff line until 1956 - more than six decades onward from the company's late 1890s debut catalog. Let's join the pack and check out some of these field and forest highlights that have graced the Steiff catalog over the years.

Steiff's debut wolf was a 17 cm tall puppet named Loopy. His body was made from tan mohair with grey highlights on his back and arms. His face was made from longer tan mohair; it was airbrushed with a few shades of grey, tan, and brown to give it depth and texture. He came to life with black and green slit eyes, a black stitched nose, and an open, felt mouth - complete with four pointy teeth and a red felt tongue. His paws had black hand embroidered claws. This design was produced from 1956 through 1978. You can see this puppet pictured here on the left. 

Steiff's next wolf was based on the company's Loopy puppet, and was a full bodied creature. This is unusual as Steiff traditionally debuted a full bodied item, and then created a puppet novelty from that item's pattern - not the other way around. Full bodied Loopy was made in 25 and 35 cm. He was unjointed and made from long and short grey mohair, which was detailed with airbrushed highlights. He had black embroidered claws and came to life with an inset facial mask, brown and black pupil eyes, black embroidered facial features, and a touch of airbrushing. The smaller version had a closed mouth; the larger version had an open mouth with a felt tongue. Loopy was produced in 1964 only and today is one of the rarest and most sought after Steiff postwar editions. You can see the 25 cm version of full bodied Loopy here on the left. 

It is not clear why standing Loopy appeared in the catalog for only a year. He is pictured in the Steiff Button In Ear Brand New Models 1964 catalog on page three of this publication and you can see that entry here on the left. Snurry, the sleeping cat, and a white dralon Cosy Teddy graced the cover of this brochure. Steiff usually put its most important debut items on the cover of these publicity pieces. This suggests that the company never had high hopes for this design.

Other somewhat more recent mohair wolves in the line include the distinctly youthful Loopy wolf, who was 12 cm, sitting, and head jointed. This happy handful appeared in the line from 1991-1993 and is also relatively rare. You can see him here on the left. And in 2003, Steiff introduced a wolf as part of the company's Last Frontier Animals series for North America. This example was 26 cm tall, standing, and made in an edition size of 1,500 pieces.

It is interesting to note that Steiff's wolf production has traditionally featured wolves as companions to other dolls or animals. Here are a few examples of that. In 1983, Steiff made a mohair Big Bad Wolf face mask in an edition size of 3,000 to accompany Reeves International's Suzanne Gibson Little Red Riding Hood set. In 1988, the company produced an adorable Teddy baby and wolf set made in an edition size of 1,000 for the toy store Speilwaren Wolff of Giengen, Germany as part of Steiff's 85th anniversary celebration. This mohair wolf was 15 cm tall, standing, and unjointed. And in 1995, Steiff introduced its Polar bear and wolf set - also for Speilwaren Wolff - in an edition size of 2,000 pieces. This wolf was sitting, unjointed, and was detailed with a red collar. You can see this handsome pair here on the left. 

And finally, what is the tie between the word "Loopy" and Steiff's midcentury wolf production? "Lupin" sounds a lot like the name Loopy - and for good reason! Lupin (or lupine) directly translates to wolf or wolf-like, and originates from the Latin word lupus (wolf) and lupinus (of or belonging to a wolf). So that all makes perfect sense from a naming perspective.

Steiffgal hopes this discussion on Steiff's wolf production has you running with the wolves - in the best possible way!

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

A Brief Revue Of All Steiff Things 'Goo!

Marsupials are a subclass of mammals, with one key difference: all females deliver their babies prematurely and nurture them in their pouches, sometimes for up to a year. Today, there are only 344 species of marsupials on the planet; most live in Australia, New Guinea, and the surrounding island nations. Perhaps the best known marsupials are kangaroos - who also happen to have a long history in the Steiff line! A fine example of the company's late midcentury 14 cm Linda Kangaroo is pictured here on the left. 

These “pocketed pretties” were one of the very earliest animals made by Steiff. The first ones were produced in 1897 – only five years after the company published their first catalog in 1892, and nine years before the introduction of the button-in-ear trademark in late 1904. These 1897 standing, unjointed 'goo debuts included a 28 cm version made from short pile plush and a felt model made in 12, 17, and 28 cm. 

Soon after, in 1902, Steiff introduced a velvet kangaroo in 12 and 17 cm that was similar in design to its felt offering. The 12 cm velvet version also was produced with a basket on its back as a pincushion from 1902-1905. The 17 cm versions of both the felt and velvet kangaroos were made as tumblers on wooden hemispheres from 1901-1905 overall. You can see an example of that here on the left, the photo is from Pfeiffer's 1892-1943 Sortiment. These turn of last century models may have been male as none had pouches. All were basic in design and in some ways looked more like little rodents than the bouncing beauties intended.   

 

That possible case of “mistaken identity” did not last long. In 1906, Steiff updated their original kangaroo pattern to make it more lifelike; the new model was now five ways jointed, made from short pile plush, had a robust curved tail and shapely limbs, and a much more detailed face. New kangaroo was produced in 35, 43, 50, and 120 cm and was available through 1917. 

It was not until 1929 that Steiff’s kangaroos were again updated; many of these new design features remained on kangaroos through the 1970s. Most importantly, this late 1920’s pattern finally included a pouch and a joey, starting in 1933! These models were made from mohair and were manufactured in 35, 43, and 50 cm through 1939. The joey was 10 cm and also made from mohair; interestingly, his construction consisted just of a head and body and no limbs. He resembled a cute bottle-stopper with a mouse-like head. 

Fast forward to 1953. The factory had reopened after the war and Steiff was jumping at the bit to rebuild its toy empire. They introduced Kangaroo “Kangoo”, who was very similar to the prewar design. Mohair Kangoo was made through 1966 in 14, 28, 50, and 65 cm. The biggest one debuted in 1958; here on the left, you can see the 65 cm version as it was introduced in the company's catalog that year. The larger versions were arm jointed; all sizes were made with a pouch. The 14 and 28 cm Kangoos had plastic joeys, the 50 cm size had a velvet joey, and the 65 cm size had a mohair joey; all the joeys were “full body." Kangoo also appeared, albeit less frequently, without a pouch as a male Kangaroo. You can see an example of the "pouchless" Kangoo below on the left. 

A newer but similar kangaroo design named "Linda" took Kangoo’s place in the Steiff line from 1967 through 1974. Linda was made in 14, 28, and 50 cm; like Kangoo, the 14 and 28 cm Lindas had plastic joeys and the 50 cm size had a velvet joey. In 1960, Steiff debuted its postwar Studio Kangaroo; this big bouncing beauty was head and arm jointed and had a prominent pouch and darling joey. This model appeared in the line in 150 cm through 1967; she was also made in 120 cm in 1967. 

Steiffgal hopes this discussion on the history of Steiff's 20th century kangaroo evolution has you jumping for joy!

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