Rabbits have always ranked among Steiff's top categories of animals manufactured, with the others being dogs, cats, and bears. Rabbits have appeared in Steiff's catalogs since their debut in 1892. At least 7 examples were featured in this first issue alone. It is interesting to note that Steiff's rabbits are "officially" measured vertically, sans ears, and that through 1937, all were called "Rabbit." In 1938, Steiff introduced "Ossi," the first named rabbit. Ossi is a nod to the German word "Ostern," which translates to "Easter" in English.
Steiff's rabbits have evolved significantly over time, which makes them somewhat easy to date if they lack their buttons or ear tags. Here's a summary of their key characteristics through the mid-1940's when the company stopped production due to World War II. The picture above on the left features a rabbit doll, two miniature rabbits, and a sitting rabbit.
Steiff's rabbits from c. 1892-1910 featured simple, “primitive” patterns with chunky proportions. They were unjointed, or VERY jointed, with head, limb, and ear jointing. Their faces were detailed with simple facial stitching and black button eyes - sometimes backed in felt - or pink and red albino eyes, or glass pupil eyes starting around 1908. These earliest buns were made from felt or velvet, often with painted spots. Mohair rabbits debuted around 1903, when this fabric became available on a commercial level. You can see an adorable, more than fully jointed white mohair albino rabbit from around 1909 here on the left. Even his little ears are jointed - and you can move them around 360 degrees!
Steiff's rabbits from the 19-teens to the early 1920s had slightly more sophisticated and lifelike presentations. They were primarily unjointed and made from tan, white, grey, or white mohair. They came to life with simple facial stitching and glass pupil eyes, sometimes backed in red felt, or pink and red albino eyes.
Steiff's rabbits from the mid-1920s to the early 1930s had a very distinct aesthetic. The patterns introduced during this era were childlike and detailed with oversized glass pupil eyes. In addition to natural colored examples, Steiff also made rabbits in jellybean hued velvet, as well as longer nap mohair. Their facial embroidery included a triangular nose outlined in distinctive long stitches. Also during this time, Steiff produced a number of charming rabbit novelties, including tail-moves-head models, pajama bags, pull toys, and rabbit dolls. Here on the left you can see a four adorable, sitting velvet jellybean rabbits from this era. Check out their very characteristic nose stitching!
Steiff's rabbit designs from the mid-1930s through the mid 1940s reflected the socio-economic realities of life leading up to WWII. These patterns were noticeably less playful and colorful than those made just a decade previously. Rabbits were again produced in natural colors. Their patterns were simplified and had a "lean and pensive" presentation. With wool materials allocated towards military production, Steiff began using substitute fabrics, including artificial silk plush and wool plush in the place of mohair, and linen in the place of felt, on their best-selling rabbit patterns. Rabbits from this era once again had very simple embroidered facial features and proportional glass pupil eyes. Here on the left you can see two very typical late 1930s-early 1940s rabbits; the running one on the left is made from wool plush and the sitting one on the right is made from artificial silk plush.
I hope this discussion on dating Steiff's prewar rabbits has been a cheerful earful for you!
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