tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86770846256912191312024-03-17T12:18:50.114-04:00MY STEIFF LIFEThis blog focuses on vintage Steiff finds, Steiff antiquing and travel adventures, international Steiff happenings, and the legacy and history of the Steiff company. Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger761125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-26395391100919400172024-03-17T12:15:00.004-04:002024-03-17T12:18:18.762-04:00Bleating With Happiness Over This Marvelous Moving Steiff Goat!<span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvLmVg5SbPfnHlbqdwPj0Y0672eaFsUHyy2WdCs05Eff8B5T_XW7sR3v5xemwlyfc2j5ErGLT61AHXvUvk76sxl5zTPltZAKl5vU32k3qqqCX0BbssY76mbPCmpcPIZwIoQs7k07R9rrXsTXv_bLl5YPZ2NjRbd5DDC8ZybHbtLNpHSRoi1mZqWGmqM4P/s4032/IMG_7715%203.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvLmVg5SbPfnHlbqdwPj0Y0672eaFsUHyy2WdCs05Eff8B5T_XW7sR3v5xemwlyfc2j5ErGLT61AHXvUvk76sxl5zTPltZAKl5vU32k3qqqCX0BbssY76mbPCmpcPIZwIoQs7k07R9rrXsTXv_bLl5YPZ2NjRbd5DDC8ZybHbtLNpHSRoi1mZqWGmqM4P/s320/IMG_7715%203.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Could this next Steiff discovery be the GOAT (greatest of all time)? </b></i>Well, it depends who you ask, but he certainly qualifies by genetics! Check out this absolute rarity from the early 1930s and see what makes him so delightful in multiple ways!<br /><br /><b><i>What we have here is Steiff's tail-moves-head goat. </i></b>He is standing, head and tail jointed, firmly stuffed with excelsior, and made from tan mohair. The backs of his ears and the underside of his tail are made from black mohair. He has gorgeous teal and black slit glass pupil eyes and a simple black hand embroidered nose and mouth. When he left the factory nearly a century ago, he had lovely and realistic hand airbrushing over his body to give him texture and dimension. His bow and bell are not original to him, but he also sported these accessories when he was new. <br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDW_s6rj58_g9zdK7I27XMdSb0dOVgULxEIbDu_CX_9das1HYgZolwswDZgH5LbIQbnFXys-NfoBfuTINb-ajJohCFTTlGHxWkDyrf9-bxCS6FReiqt0UD2zvMhL20HAeFUkwtiwWNFNAaczENvfsSEcY3TjHMAaXdHVMW0-RmjwY1wkm8GLW6xBVVTnE/s4032/IMG_7716%203.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDW_s6rj58_g9zdK7I27XMdSb0dOVgULxEIbDu_CX_9das1HYgZolwswDZgH5LbIQbnFXys-NfoBfuTINb-ajJohCFTTlGHxWkDyrf9-bxCS6FReiqt0UD2zvMhL20HAeFUkwtiwWNFNAaczENvfsSEcY3TjHMAaXdHVMW0-RmjwY1wkm8GLW6xBVVTnE/s320/IMG_7716%203.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>This adorable barnyard buddy was produced in 18, 23, and 29 cm from 1931-1934.</i></b> This guy is the baby of the bunch at 18 cm. His precious presentation plus his </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">tail-moves-head feature really put him in a class all by himself. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>So what are the deets behind this mechanical marvel?</i></b> When you very gently twist his mohair covered tail in a circle, his head follows in tandem. He has an internal metal jointing system which enables this. You can often tell tail-moves-head items because they have an especially long and thick and somewhat undefined neck area. That is necessary to hold the jointing apparatus as well as allow for room for the fabric to move a bit. And more times than not, tail-moves-head items are missing the mohair covering on their tails. You usually see just a naked metal loop or tag, but in this case goat has managed to retain his mohair tail over all of these years. Guess he was good at protecting his assets!<br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYN-vCEdh4hsgDz2v0g51hrA4o-og0Iw6L84efK6TaqOqjdb9Dbn7xOc1feVQmQWzNqqFMnShk9UO5CdpL-Dngw_ArVakkhYn6DhSJLlaZhP7CRt1fS6HP_4ABOvRzCuKwFtiIfj-cGp68OxZjg5sa1cxdu5BqrfOFmHpTUNv37oDLl6JL5HPgZ3KSB932/s4032/IMG_7718%203.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYN-vCEdh4hsgDz2v0g51hrA4o-og0Iw6L84efK6TaqOqjdb9Dbn7xOc1feVQmQWzNqqFMnShk9UO5CdpL-Dngw_ArVakkhYn6DhSJLlaZhP7CRt1fS6HP_4ABOvRzCuKwFtiIfj-cGp68OxZjg5sa1cxdu5BqrfOFmHpTUNv37oDLl6JL5HPgZ3KSB932/s320/IMG_7718%203.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>It is interesting to note that this guy, and other Steiff tail-moves-head items from his era had an additional ID tag.</i></b> This was a round, Steiff branded cardboard tag that read <i>"turn here and I will move my head"</i> in three languages. It was attached on or near the animals rear end. Unfortunately, goat's extra tag has been lost to time in this case. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>They heyday for Steiff's tail-moves-head production occurred in the years leading up to WWII.</i></b> The mechanism, which consisted of a metal apparatus, was patented in the early 1930s. Over 25 different animals were produced with this feature. These included cats, dogs, rabbits, penguins, goats, and lambs, and an elephant, among others. They were considered "luxury toys" at their time and even appeared on the cover of one of the company's 1931 catalogs for their debut. They were promoted as, <i>“The year 1931 has presented us with the animals with the new head movement… The simplicity of the mechanism, though which the splendid movement is produced, cannot be beaten, yet it is unbreakable and allows lifelike play, full of variety and mimics… When buying new supply in plush toys please be sure to include the STEIFF animals with the new head movement; all numbers equipped with it are marked ‘H."</i><br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Bv-qRJZ1v6TqvdqD4v3laekeECzeGIaXNDYg-4VqAX4GWsseSMsQGJr0RZQTEGg30NgxqLX4dJJei7jY7rw-AlledW7I5UqU5oJ_LI9eyQ6TfHJQHAeSpz_9Yknvifnw7hq8jxpVNwGGqMvsDmlFlXZ-UZLYwn0wZQBN4nl1XQS5jhdmK9jWtXtKGtH8/s4032/IMG_7719%203.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Bv-qRJZ1v6TqvdqD4v3laekeECzeGIaXNDYg-4VqAX4GWsseSMsQGJr0RZQTEGg30NgxqLX4dJJei7jY7rw-AlledW7I5UqU5oJ_LI9eyQ6TfHJQHAeSpz_9Yknvifnw7hq8jxpVNwGGqMvsDmlFlXZ-UZLYwn0wZQBN4nl1XQS5jhdmK9jWtXtKGtH8/w150-h200/IMG_7719%203.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>Steiffgal hopes this discussion on this delightful tail-moves-head goat has you jumping for joy.</i></b></span><div><br /></div><div><b style="caret-color: rgb(33, 17, 4); color: #211104; font-family: verdana;"><i>Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! <a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html" style="color: #211104;">Click here</a> to learn more.</i></b><br /><br /></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-43759848752453584302024-03-03T13:42:00.004-05:002024-03-03T13:42:56.991-05:00Hop-ping To Find Answers About This Fantastic Steiff Prewar Rabbit On Wheels <span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Orange you glad you checked in with this blog today?</i></b> Well you will be for sure after learning more about this super cool prewar rarity living with a new friend from far away. Alena shares...<br /><br /><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJHhpoEjEMohcdFbbdWs2DzXFdL7ZvMUgeM435oq3Yb-tnjY0GyAQn0AyGYJaGnuz3g-L8uAVkmA6fieL7OvpGrNQO3JQZNnDXL9eEPD3GnjPzVBKiXiTIaZKtz07F_sV5-M4HlBuDdkgQ41XzxLcWhvmFgFtAvRNCZSGcY7g_qaNwaxl-wKUOPX4w5ejx/s4000/IMG_20240229_224108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJHhpoEjEMohcdFbbdWs2DzXFdL7ZvMUgeM435oq3Yb-tnjY0GyAQn0AyGYJaGnuz3g-L8uAVkmA6fieL7OvpGrNQO3JQZNnDXL9eEPD3GnjPzVBKiXiTIaZKtz07F_sV5-M4HlBuDdkgQ41XzxLcWhvmFgFtAvRNCZSGcY7g_qaNwaxl-wKUOPX4w5ejx/s320/IMG_20240229_224108.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>"Hello from the Czech Republic,</i></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br />I have a question about my toy - rabbit on the wooden wheels. I couldn't find any information whether the Rabbit has been produced in Steiff factory in this color. Toy hasn't got any button neither any else marking. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Thank you very much in advance for the answer and maybe some more information about that."</i><br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBMdEp1fQawKB-sFDlLbkVRcU-Bn-5BWc7tiUzBnheHdao4AZYhFuwQ_S8XgQorQhEk0d5NrwF6LLcWkvI8kioP-VrFNR7S5eHQYXuM6pxhEENfmEoHCaIwehzeCKKUldEvmzIXgLA5vfXdLx_7vuEMcXyP54aGMsw0FHdkf_6tKzL0KPA6YIiEvd5U95/s2992/IMG_7139%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2228" data-original-width="2992" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBMdEp1fQawKB-sFDlLbkVRcU-Bn-5BWc7tiUzBnheHdao4AZYhFuwQ_S8XgQorQhEk0d5NrwF6LLcWkvI8kioP-VrFNR7S5eHQYXuM6pxhEENfmEoHCaIwehzeCKKUldEvmzIXgLA5vfXdLx_7vuEMcXyP54aGMsw0FHdkf_6tKzL0KPA6YIiEvd5U95/s320/IMG_7139%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This happy hopper is the wheel-deal indeed. </i></b>It is Steiffgal's best thinking that he is one of Steiff's standard line rabbits on wheels from the late 1920s. Here on the left, you can see the photo from Pfeiffer's <i>1892-1943 Sortiment</i> illustrating what Steiffgal believes is this exact item. He is in a "hopping" position, meaning he is on all fours and about ready to take off! The name of this body position was later changed to "running", which also makes alot of sense. <br /><br /><b style="font-style: italic;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0EEdVTK4mxbPofn7JVpJZMUywUQ_d1zpcVKPb6OfhvVV6ocErNSAvlaai_9t5gSh6yreOrOxJg-gPqGv5kAmKizTJJNVRn73Nmy60dhc9_S4RQnAv7dDsvYBcwUReyNQkOJY_sQ1bpPXZgytB3GjynOgOc8aURyIAnhE4juli8fSonY55J4CKndzMyA-/s3264/IMG_20240229_215046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0EEdVTK4mxbPofn7JVpJZMUywUQ_d1zpcVKPb6OfhvVV6ocErNSAvlaai_9t5gSh6yreOrOxJg-gPqGv5kAmKizTJJNVRn73Nmy60dhc9_S4RQnAv7dDsvYBcwUReyNQkOJY_sQ1bpPXZgytB3GjynOgOc8aURyIAnhE4juli8fSonY55J4CKndzMyA-/s320/IMG_20240229_215046.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></b><b><i>Alena's treasure is one beautiful bunny. </i></b>Here you can see him relaxing with some WAH-HOO good vintage friends in the photo on the left. Rabbit is unjointed, solidly stuffed with excelsior, and features large brown and black glass pupil eyes, a hand embroidered pink and black nose and mouth, and clear monofilament whiskers. He has once vivid orange mohair. He rides upon four asymmetrical wooden "eccentric" style wheels. As such, he appears to sway back and forth as he is pulled along. This item was produced in 12, 15, 18, and 23 cm (measured vertically, top of the head to toe, not including ears or wheels) from 1927-1930 overall in this stunning color. He was also produced in an almost identical pattern in brown tipped mohair in 14, 17, and 22 cm in 1928.</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYbTq-0gooSTrM4iu9g3TXsJUnw0QV1posemYvyoNlNkij2mRE7RN1yRI3Jc-y0eITDNxeNfoXpAjYkZZcycsyPlRSqh9gSFRjHOuxrUeAxE2UD_HsL8HCSfbpJKZja0lm-AGSy-b6Vz90rOAgXLnrDLDwOKM8B2dKMSyVwICNCEV-JV7zsAp4BXsb8WN/s718/jellybean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="718" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYbTq-0gooSTrM4iu9g3TXsJUnw0QV1posemYvyoNlNkij2mRE7RN1yRI3Jc-y0eITDNxeNfoXpAjYkZZcycsyPlRSqh9gSFRjHOuxrUeAxE2UD_HsL8HCSfbpJKZja0lm-AGSy-b6Vz90rOAgXLnrDLDwOKM8B2dKMSyVwICNCEV-JV7zsAp4BXsb8WN/s320/jellybean.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Brightly colored animals, including rabbits, dogs, cats, and bears - were a delightful feature of Steiff's late 1920s to very early 1930s product line. </i></b>These sweet pets appeared in orange, pink, blue, green, gold, or other "jellybean” colored mohair or velvet fabrics, and usually had playful, youthful personalities to match! Tipped mohair - meaning mohair with just the ends or tips dyed a complementary or eye-catching color - also had its heyday in the product line around the same time. You can see a number of these colorful rabbits in the photo on the left, the image is from the company's 1929 product catalog. <br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsRgkDWh_Rwjug-ldVVEhXih-0mrRIaHgR70TTorEtJBC2zdjKHduXuojIHtm1QDXFF4_PFvzr-cIesZMIYd1bgM8Lg3_NbpqjS6beFGGUUiY_NMwroDbf0-xPvkhTs2l_Kls4kiahNq415rGb-cfbXbCHG4YmF9maIJnJw9VHuYQxrXfQf4X95CgRXlp/s1357/carrot%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1357" data-original-width="970" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsRgkDWh_Rwjug-ldVVEhXih-0mrRIaHgR70TTorEtJBC2zdjKHduXuojIHtm1QDXFF4_PFvzr-cIesZMIYd1bgM8Lg3_NbpqjS6beFGGUUiY_NMwroDbf0-xPvkhTs2l_Kls4kiahNq415rGb-cfbXbCHG4YmF9maIJnJw9VHuYQxrXfQf4X95CgRXlp/s320/carrot%20.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>Steiff also produced a few other fun novelties featuring "larger than life" colors like Alena's wheeled rabbit. </i></b>One of particular interest is a delightful orange and white begging style rabbit on eccentric wheels. In July, 2023, the auction house Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion GmbH of Ladenburg, Germany sold this 20 cm tall rarity from 1926-1932 for nearly $4,000. He is pictured here on the left, the image is from Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Steiffgal hopes you enjoyed learning about this darling, 24 carrot gold prewar novelty!</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><b style="caret-color: rgb(33, 17, 4); color: #211104; font-family: verdana;"><i>Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! <a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html" style="color: #211104;">Click here</a> to learn more.</i></b></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-42549595431176093332024-02-25T13:14:00.001-05:002024-02-25T13:14:13.329-05:00Racing To The Finish Line With This Unusual Wintertime Steiff Mascot<span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5B3WBG92aW0fwhXeKhraDrxm2lwE62dzOUL-LKcqdha3kncxS7j8VQgX3sb5PYX0jiXm5Ftjlqi_ia0q00-yy9JlOUetFKAc0Eh4weleH5TQ8vF865kswAM_BQcarrqLBsDwo-4DeGdVIKKw0gRuLm9blsC8uY8PURjq6I7ZGaXKfB4qAPnzvG7Di09mK/s4032/IMG_6123%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5B3WBG92aW0fwhXeKhraDrxm2lwE62dzOUL-LKcqdha3kncxS7j8VQgX3sb5PYX0jiXm5Ftjlqi_ia0q00-yy9JlOUetFKAc0Eh4weleH5TQ8vF865kswAM_BQcarrqLBsDwo-4DeGdVIKKw0gRuLm9blsC8uY8PURjq6I7ZGaXKfB4qAPnzvG7Di09mK/s320/IMG_6123%202.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Baby it's cold outside! </i></b>At least in many places where Steiff Superfans are residing right now! Here's a little chilly weather fellow that is certain to warm your soul - and possibly even start your heart racing! This little bunny on the mend recently joined Steiffgal's collection, and the timing could not be more perfect! Come see what makes him so fun, quirky, and intriguing from the product design and development perspectives. <br /><br /><i style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></i></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6dmOGQ_vU1ec1_TpJKpPEoAcjylCFbm_kgKZztMxjdFqKGOduHcXQjof1zKeXLGJqwmqm3iuzbcTE2iUc9ahIRxpblde3GmL1-Fzn2N5LpSTToRe9CpDK0Jg5VsjKPLKSYArHcBCudqyMCOoJiff6ucJMxb4c_1hbdiQmfyrAaKpUeUQ-YvlZlfyhBjc/s4032/IMG_6122%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6dmOGQ_vU1ec1_TpJKpPEoAcjylCFbm_kgKZztMxjdFqKGOduHcXQjof1zKeXLGJqwmqm3iuzbcTE2iUc9ahIRxpblde3GmL1-Fzn2N5LpSTToRe9CpDK0Jg5VsjKPLKSYArHcBCudqyMCOoJiff6ucJMxb4c_1hbdiQmfyrAaKpUeUQ-YvlZlfyhBjc/s320/IMG_6122%202.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>This bandaged bunny is 18 cm tall and head jointed. </i>Knupfi's head, ears, hands, and feet are made from mohair. His body is made from velvety material. His shirt is green and his pants are red; this clothing is integral to his body. His face comes to life with felt lined ears, big black and white cartoon style eyes, a red hand embroidered nose, a little pink airbrushing, clear whiskers, and brown shaded highlights. His arm is in a sling made from white cotton calico fabric with pink dots. His foot is bandaged in white tape, and he holds a red, white, and blue plastic ski pole in his hand. Perhaps he is using it as a cane, given his injuries? He retains his raised script button, yellow ear tag, and named chest tag as his Steiff IDs. This unusual character appeared in the line in this size only from 1968-1971.<br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXgW-i0UWpbxFYCDv_xTaHJmdFWQm6kuiR-QNYIfYNQEZEahIa-QQzbwcOGJ5PLdcFB-70h-PLB83yAoAXhQFpgbzMRuhTrw5O0_8F_RmhOzfd_7JjvNuxbh3wyP6UBMfMjmCEQoA7TtPkJAlsHRvjEaVBVs-zzXGfA_vVrv18e2ObfRKRt9dRywD9kMl/s2087/IMG_6125%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2087" data-original-width="2087" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXgW-i0UWpbxFYCDv_xTaHJmdFWQm6kuiR-QNYIfYNQEZEahIa-QQzbwcOGJ5PLdcFB-70h-PLB83yAoAXhQFpgbzMRuhTrw5O0_8F_RmhOzfd_7JjvNuxbh3wyP6UBMfMjmCEQoA7TtPkJAlsHRvjEaVBVs-zzXGfA_vVrv18e2ObfRKRt9dRywD9kMl/s320/IMG_6125%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Things are actually twice as nice when it comes to this (once) racing rabbit. </i></b>It turns out that he was actually produced with a companion named Hupfi. Like Knupfi, Hupfi is 18 cm tall and head jointed. He has an almost identical body construction with a mohair head, ears, hands, and feet and a velvet body. His integral outfit includes a blue shirt and red pants. However, unlike Knupfi, he is in fine form physically and has a ski pole in each hand and carries a perfectly to scale pair of skis. Hupfi was produced from 1968-1970. Perhaps Hupfi is the "before" and Knupfi is the "after" bunny when it comes to skiing safety? You can see Knupfi and Hupfi posed together on the left; the photo is from Pfeiffer's <i>1947-1999 Sortiment. </i><br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHga23e39naljUOKFEIIfqJClVpEbMv9h5p_FEH3z9F0RugF0wli5zO8rsg6VTRF0HCgNBc26p04JQEhcjCTVmr-phzA_cjTj0_8KOzrAjLVH94JhT985bL8wA7bynn5lixasiZEHUNdSwjJDEKX5PaUaN7b4EVrfYJDKDwcwmNuDtQx9JjVuyk8JzuvS/s4032/IMG_6124%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHga23e39naljUOKFEIIfqJClVpEbMv9h5p_FEH3z9F0RugF0wli5zO8rsg6VTRF0HCgNBc26p04JQEhcjCTVmr-phzA_cjTj0_8KOzrAjLVH94JhT985bL8wA7bynn5lixasiZEHUNdSwjJDEKX5PaUaN7b4EVrfYJDKDwcwmNuDtQx9JjVuyk8JzuvS/w150-h200/IMG_6124%202.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>So what is the back story to these fine fellows?</i></b> Steiffgal couldn't find anything specific about that, but has an idea. Given their dating, it is possible that they might have been inspired by a big worldwide sporting event. The 1968 Winter Olympics were held from February 6th - February 18th in Grenoble, France. These were the first Olympics to be broadcast on television in color. <br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaJUcMrXyAKWO4iVlSTrnKVGg9auhaZJlIx0dYKYVfOUKRTo3FbVPsj7mM3rZMgLpAr3PD1ViB0HMW92ymhG7Lp7CJ_1oUTxivfELFq7C2oG0SfVMcq6EHLI8xSTuOn-7aUUf_N9Uv0m1ij2o7IoiHbuWUtz_xB8rawT8B86Ex8fZBqm8F5wpf5LdF48Z/s1111/logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="1111" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaJUcMrXyAKWO4iVlSTrnKVGg9auhaZJlIx0dYKYVfOUKRTo3FbVPsj7mM3rZMgLpAr3PD1ViB0HMW92ymhG7Lp7CJ_1oUTxivfELFq7C2oG0SfVMcq6EHLI8xSTuOn-7aUUf_N9Uv0m1ij2o7IoiHbuWUtz_xB8rawT8B86Ex8fZBqm8F5wpf5LdF48Z/s320/logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Skiing related competitions are usually a big part of these cold weather games, and this one did not disappoint. </i></b>French athlete Jean-Claude Killy swept three Alpine skiing events (downhill, giant slalom, and slalom). This accomplishment elevated him to icon status; he would go on to serve as co-president of the Organizing Committee of the 1992 Albertville Olympic Winter Games and become an IOC member in 1995. It is also interesting to note that the mascot for these games was also a playful, quirky little guy. He was named “Shuss”, and was in the form of a little man on skis. The top of his oversized, colorful head head, which rested on a unique zig-zag flash-shaped foot, featured the Olympic rings. You can see Shuss pictured here on the left. Perhaps Knupfi and Hupfi were Steiff's gentle nod to this also colorful and somewhat goofy mascot of the era. <br /><br /><b><i>Steiffgal hopes this discussion on Steiff's ski rabbits has put you in the pole position. </i></b><br /><br /><b><i>Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! <a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html">Click here</a> to learn more.</i></b></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-42085952536383359422024-02-15T11:30:00.000-05:002024-02-15T11:30:09.381-05:00Does This Steiff Prewar Tom Cat Tickle Your Whiskers?<span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yd_Z6x3ASE1WUSFwLkpudoeENFLyFWlPdwWeYYLstSv4tc_8ToZa_7LV-V1q8-ah_qZKNo6GEU_pfHSFjyHpXIHpLHPnl1p7-syOptPlcO0DUqb6sx7DvXobxJVASDqYChiRM-Z2W57ZE5fwq9iOvRdvjgooZSQRGqc7gvvn9mOBP-znFi0Y84c2EIYN/s3904/1000065817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3904" data-original-width="2928" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yd_Z6x3ASE1WUSFwLkpudoeENFLyFWlPdwWeYYLstSv4tc_8ToZa_7LV-V1q8-ah_qZKNo6GEU_pfHSFjyHpXIHpLHPnl1p7-syOptPlcO0DUqb6sx7DvXobxJVASDqYChiRM-Z2W57ZE5fwq9iOvRdvjgooZSQRGqc7gvvn9mOBP-znFi0Y84c2EIYN/s320/1000065817.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>This great Steiff inquiry walked in on little cat's feet!</i></b> And talk about launching a collection with a rockstar! A new friend from Germany writes about her debut vintage Steiff purchase. She is curious about its birth year, give or take a bit. Rebecca shares,<br /><br /><i>"I bought my first vintage Steiff animal and it's the famous Tom cat. As I know that she was produced over many many years I'm now super curious which exact time it was that mine was produced. It's the smallest one. And it has the old button with the long "f" at the end. So I think that means that it can be between 1923 and 1953, right? Do you think you can say it more specific? I just can't find more information. Kind regards from Germany!"</i><br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvK5Et5WrSdRe1IZMXVLuobasdlk5UGgI01osdW0Tvd54wfDSFKUuSxb3qoFQhyiNvhOqR2wj4kD3_5j40USTw_pDL0IUNK2h4ATUhD7TNoXg_1HA_-oYosgS5WkyONkGPeqI_PkEBG52dX-CTHcxdeoe_8Q2xNSbogSUFEH1RXVQWUrU5ZT_p3NdwGOiq/s1600/1000065815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvK5Et5WrSdRe1IZMXVLuobasdlk5UGgI01osdW0Tvd54wfDSFKUuSxb3qoFQhyiNvhOqR2wj4kD3_5j40USTw_pDL0IUNK2h4ATUhD7TNoXg_1HA_-oYosgS5WkyONkGPeqI_PkEBG52dX-CTHcxdeoe_8Q2xNSbogSUFEH1RXVQWUrU5ZT_p3NdwGOiq/s320/1000065815.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Wow, Rebecca's purchase is truly the cat's meow</i></b>. It is Steiff's mid- to later prewar Tom cat. This fantastic feline was made for the standard line in 8, 10, 14, 14, 22, and 28 cm from 1923-1943 overall. The 8 cm and the 10 cm versions had a pitch black velvet body and a fuzzy black mohair tail. From 14 cm onward, all sizes were made entirely from black mohair. These cats were technically measured vertically, from the top of their heads to their toes. Their long vertical tails almost "doubled" their height measurements. They were detailed with green and black round or slit glass pupil eyes, a simple hand embroidered mouth and nose (Steiffgal has seen both pink and red examples), and clear monofilament whiskers. They left the factory wearing a decorative silk ribbon and sometimes a little bell to match. The bow on Rebecca's example is not factory original. <br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-7anCX0E-mZUv802vB826cmMkZuA0RkmdXu03fd5XCY_RgXg5ZNdrbPIL98phxCv8Oyk_1VSnuHjdRaGotzjkvF91uXs1_X-IpwqmINMBqMaSubHBVRVEsQq79nK9yf6wgYDWqSplx6VaN54tJJlhz3bMu3me1Mb6zyC1Ty9EOP5iyt_n-uPzB9BN6S5/s1600/1000065813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-7anCX0E-mZUv802vB826cmMkZuA0RkmdXu03fd5XCY_RgXg5ZNdrbPIL98phxCv8Oyk_1VSnuHjdRaGotzjkvF91uXs1_X-IpwqmINMBqMaSubHBVRVEsQq79nK9yf6wgYDWqSplx6VaN54tJJlhz3bMu3me1Mb6zyC1Ty9EOP5iyt_n-uPzB9BN6S5/s320/1000065813.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Now back to the question - his birthday.</i></b> The best telling clue here is that he has the short trailing 'f' style button. This button appeared on items in the line from about 1936 through the very early 1950s. So we know that the earliest the cat was produced was 1936. As noted above, this particular cat with a black velvet head and body and mohair tail was made in 8 or 10 cm from 1933-1943 overall. This skinnies down his production timeframe to most likely in the c. 1936-1943 timeframe. So he's clearly from the late prewar period. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3ZxdNFLQzKgqjlIUOaBQCKuftzt8_2BX6rqrLrs-t2nmvCOeFpP0Yyxrqz3cPfZ893tbegxGZTQx77CoIYPg9XFbhShomH7bORkMIABlI2k-8NIKujaWU18EcHEkAOTGByZnK7SCLyHZzh_8yBbBG2fyRAqbZhdi6vPl3N-HHrXgq4A1I8RXUfsu4ov0/s2243/tom%20cat%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1388" data-original-width="2243" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3ZxdNFLQzKgqjlIUOaBQCKuftzt8_2BX6rqrLrs-t2nmvCOeFpP0Yyxrqz3cPfZ893tbegxGZTQx77CoIYPg9XFbhShomH7bORkMIABlI2k-8NIKujaWU18EcHEkAOTGByZnK7SCLyHZzh_8yBbBG2fyRAqbZhdi6vPl3N-HHrXgq4A1I8RXUfsu4ov0/s320/tom%20cat%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>One thing that's nearly purr-fect about this feline pattern is how long it has appeared in the Steiff line.</i></b> The earliest version made its grand public debut in a photograph featured in the 1903-1904 Steiff catalog... in the same picture that introduced PB55... the world's first jointed Teddy bear! This puts Tom in very good company for sure. This photo is here on the left - you can click on it to make it bigger. And Tom CONTINUES to make guest appearances in the line on and off to this day in the form of replicas and special editions. His timeless, universal popularity and appeal have truly earned him legacy status within the Steiff collecting community.</span><div><b style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Steiffgal hopes this discussion on Steiff's prewar black Tom cats has tickled your whiskers in a most happy way. </i></b><div><b style="caret-color: rgb(33, 17, 4); color: #211104;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b style="caret-color: rgb(33, 17, 4); color: #211104;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! <a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html" style="color: #211104;">Click here</a> to learn more.</span></i></b></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-16305057605236351842024-01-28T15:59:00.002-05:002024-01-28T15:59:30.022-05:00Developing A Plush Crush On This Early Steiff Rod Bear <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Steiffgal's just a little out of joint when it comes to today's special guest.</i></b> And you probably will be too! This turn of last century cub is off the charts rare, totally adorable, and has great provenance. Check out "Plush," an all original Steiff rod jointed bear, and see what makes him so amazing from the historical and product development perspectives. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="font-style: italic;"></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXzWfc-eMT35OIXl2SB6iaXY_i_jwCRUFMpmNQpgrbQRfSThF54JqFRfYdf_9cYGpobErJoneq8dfEOw4vHdDOLrygSeZ6wt5k_ISQrajqZyVokLPLPu16isbxbM8Kh_IxbC99AfqnGCrMpeFyq0XK1TDbP_uSJorMdgkRf8SJR4s-BLQutNDpPZeiw2s/s4032/IMG_4425%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXzWfc-eMT35OIXl2SB6iaXY_i_jwCRUFMpmNQpgrbQRfSThF54JqFRfYdf_9cYGpobErJoneq8dfEOw4vHdDOLrygSeZ6wt5k_ISQrajqZyVokLPLPu16isbxbM8Kh_IxbC99AfqnGCrMpeFyq0XK1TDbP_uSJorMdgkRf8SJR4s-BLQutNDpPZeiw2s/s320/IMG_4425%202.JPG" width="240" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="font-style: italic;">This grand old man is Steiff's 28PB. </b>This somewhat technical name refers to 28=measures 28 cm sitting down, P=plush material, and B=jointed. Plush was "born" around 1904, is fully jointed, and is very solidly stuffed with excelsior. His early and signature features include black wooden shoe button eyes, a prominent back hump, an "American" football shaped torso, very curved wrists, felt pads, a simple tan embroidered mouth, a trimmed muzzle, and five black hand embroidered claws on each of his paws. He has very long arms, as he was originally designed to be posed standing on all fours. He also has his original black gutta percha nose. This is pretty special, and also unusual, as this hard rubber facial feature often is lost to time. He would have sported the company's earliest elephant style button when he left the factory c. 120 years ago - but that ID has been lost to time. Without a doubt, Plush is a great example of Steiff's early turn of last century commercial production. </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i></i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2z3liXMUYHyI0uE27QepCdHvPf14tSOCu2lj0ibqNKcG9A74_joIUytgNxMlnGp5EfEJ2nkUk9CRh84ntIA0nD4afpvnj9ulSsVya69gdWihi3phrzh0YbMZLEtG92UFwgDtq2vy3TWG8uCtxPV0UzISFgnCxms1hUPR571epVEsKaJoeEFSayj_k_Iuo/s4032/IMG_4426%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2z3liXMUYHyI0uE27QepCdHvPf14tSOCu2lj0ibqNKcG9A74_joIUytgNxMlnGp5EfEJ2nkUk9CRh84ntIA0nD4afpvnj9ulSsVya69gdWihi3phrzh0YbMZLEtG92UFwgDtq2vy3TWG8uCtxPV0UzISFgnCxms1hUPR571epVEsKaJoeEFSayj_k_Iuo/s320/IMG_4426%202.JPG" width="240" /></a></i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Steiff's rod bears are typically firm to hard in their texture... not usually "cuddly" as we think of Teddy bears today.</i></b> They need to be "sturdy," in part, because of their jointing. Their metal rod jointing is heavy and clunky, and would shift around in the bear if it were not tightly packed into his body. The reason rod bears typically have a football shaped torso and slightly unnatural proportions is because these shapes can hold the rods and hardware securely in place when augmented with wood wool stuffing. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i></i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrp1717ZyWeaB5Q58tT6v9dP4A8cnLmAVtGmeD3dF0tPGLtxN6gfJLuFQzrQir41HkCQen4Xb2BV1hmh1WvyoME-IOefx2KMA_Ut-ENZ-tToxI1eD0BmOMR1jPp4kWsJev3sGTwvASsQD0J7pgzxcf-IEhbqQfvQhrLetTkol5CIaUmV7JSaCgI80c7jHg/s4032/IMG_4427%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrp1717ZyWeaB5Q58tT6v9dP4A8cnLmAVtGmeD3dF0tPGLtxN6gfJLuFQzrQir41HkCQen4Xb2BV1hmh1WvyoME-IOefx2KMA_Ut-ENZ-tToxI1eD0BmOMR1jPp4kWsJev3sGTwvASsQD0J7pgzxcf-IEhbqQfvQhrLetTkol5CIaUmV7JSaCgI80c7jHg/s320/IMG_4427%202.JPG" width="240" /></a></i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>The nose also knows when it comes to rod bears.</i></b> Each rod bear's nose was applied by hand - with an artisan dropping bits of melted gutta percha directly on the bear's muzzle area until there was enough there to configure this important facial feature. The warm gutta percha was sculpted by hand, so each nose was a little different, and often included the fingerprints of the person making the nose. Legacy has it that Richard Steiff saw this production step and felt it took far too long, and was not consistent enough. So, when he designed the next version of his fully jointed bear - a cardboard disk version that was introduced around 1905/06 - this cub pattern had an embroidered nose (and mouth) to simplify and add efficiencies to the manufacturing process. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i></i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGvJ3K2trtJyXEE7kLnbY9_M6i30vG6WliBrZYjWWNxuWrNzOUo7xHtp9VYpspAO9DdmXXVJ-lUqommuQyBKjTacaVkcwgyAlknROjo3focKSH2mU6seUNwLjNDTt4kIhDHPjmFLJ1Cx1Bm4CBvK9AfUBvqCOg1Q7l01kuV-zLQXiLtkVsSQP9a8kPbSg/s1478/plates%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1478" data-original-width="1114" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGvJ3K2trtJyXEE7kLnbY9_M6i30vG6WliBrZYjWWNxuWrNzOUo7xHtp9VYpspAO9DdmXXVJ-lUqommuQyBKjTacaVkcwgyAlknROjo3focKSH2mU6seUNwLjNDTt4kIhDHPjmFLJ1Cx1Bm4CBvK9AfUBvqCOg1Q7l01kuV-zLQXiLtkVsSQP9a8kPbSg/s320/plates%20.jpg" width="241" /></a></i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Now let's talk a little bit about Plush's history and background.</i></b> This bear originally belonged to Katharine Wilson Walker (2/14/1899 - 2/28/1985). Kathe (as she was called) named the bear "Plush" when she was a young child. Kathe passed the bear to her great niece, Barbara Walker Burrows, in the early 1980s. Until most recently, Barbara proudly displayed Plush in her china cabinet, along with other family treasures and period antiques.You can see Plush right at home amongst some lovely blue and white plates in the photo here on the left. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Steiffgal hopes this discussion on the company's early rod style bears has given you a "Plush Crush" on this remarkable Walker family treasure!</i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(33, 17, 4); color: #211104;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! <a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html" style="color: #954f72;">Click here</a> to learn more!</span></i></b></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-89153688755871103412024-01-22T15:49:00.002-05:002024-01-22T15:49:51.043-05:00Jumping For Joy Over This Funky 1980s Era Steiff Toy Rabbit <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcf3Ev2F0lcyOck1Rxph77k6D5g5NZwdlkTJmzS-eegdrAY5FkxXVhNRX95fNzBU7uR69rOu-RYT-y9Qx-bnwFhboFU8fAg_6Ptzgymy2qGNLVofKp7ATwt3eaH5kcq6llruEKr5BdfI0VTD9CBQUZmphCHNFIjmNEnX2ewkAwt7uJL65p-h0KYgUY9ou/s4032/IMG_3404%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcf3Ev2F0lcyOck1Rxph77k6D5g5NZwdlkTJmzS-eegdrAY5FkxXVhNRX95fNzBU7uR69rOu-RYT-y9Qx-bnwFhboFU8fAg_6Ptzgymy2qGNLVofKp7ATwt3eaH5kcq6llruEKr5BdfI0VTD9CBQUZmphCHNFIjmNEnX2ewkAwt7uJL65p-h0KYgUY9ou/s320/IMG_3404%202.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>You may be really surprised at Steiffgal's latest addition to her hug.</i></b> This softie recently arrived as part of a large auction lot purchase from overseas. Although he doesn't exactly fit in with the age, materials, and era of most of her vintage to antique button-in-ear collection, there's just something really sweet and appealing about him. As such, he's earned a place on Team Steiffgal, and in her heart as well. Come learn more about this happy hopper produced at a key time in Steiff's business history. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i></i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyet8DG1zwAkIHOJHJ7O86zm1R0G_rTp6w1CT6Pqg0gDQZVrp9bCocwT1ATmfgBsQvQ8yvgfK7r0l425PtYdBVYTyGS5kKK-aoCyrA_9U9j6WUkk9vv6kyC7U48ul2jnxLRG6qv1lFwtMCJMHnkfq0EJJ9xEZZRwoDRpOqwGjlX3aTpIK4gLVmYxJlnJJN/s4032/IMG_3405%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyet8DG1zwAkIHOJHJ7O86zm1R0G_rTp6w1CT6Pqg0gDQZVrp9bCocwT1ATmfgBsQvQ8yvgfK7r0l425PtYdBVYTyGS5kKK-aoCyrA_9U9j6WUkk9vv6kyC7U48ul2jnxLRG6qv1lFwtMCJMHnkfq0EJJ9xEZZRwoDRpOqwGjlX3aTpIK4gLVmYxJlnJJN/s320/IMG_3405%202.JPG" width="240" /></a></i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Baby Rabbit is standing, unjointed, and measures 28 cm tall, including his ears. </i></b>He is made primarily from a vibrant baby blue colored soft plush. His paw pads, chest, muzzle, and the lining of his ears are made from soft white plush. His face comes to life with black button eyes, a black hand embroidered nose, and a spot of pink to highlight his mouth. His squeaker works loud and clear. He left the factory wearing a pink neck bow. Baby Rabbit was made in this size in this color combination, as well as a pink and white version, from 1983 through 1986. The pink version is pictured below on left; the image is from Pfeiffer's <i>Steiff Sortiment 1947-2003. </i><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSzBRUmsnY3w6-OfD5aHV0fcedIND1nnHq-Gh7FCc5m347BWpLPVEX35_QVmXUCe8WnkWvWzH2APIK_9KdJQGqoAuJbzGnx3mwy5QGYm62c9zozmLuBQTEB90pDGV90lxJMH55J9RTE4R5k1mczMn5eQIigZOZ_roBm__Dhu9EjNGwm3vTHRROWtGHw2r/s2435/IMG_3407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2435" data-original-width="1738" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSzBRUmsnY3w6-OfD5aHV0fcedIND1nnHq-Gh7FCc5m347BWpLPVEX35_QVmXUCe8WnkWvWzH2APIK_9KdJQGqoAuJbzGnx3mwy5QGYm62c9zozmLuBQTEB90pDGV90lxJMH55J9RTE4R5k1mczMn5eQIigZOZ_roBm__Dhu9EjNGwm3vTHRROWtGHw2r/w229-h320/IMG_3407.jpg" width="229" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>This super sweet bunny was clearly produced as a toy for children. </i></b>In terms of "kidproofing," his practically embedded black plastic eyes, lack of a chest tag and button branding (his tag is stitched into the seam of his ear), and washable, synthetic materials set him up for years of cuddles, play, and roughhousing. And his name, and youthful color, (and that of his twin pink sister,) also hint that this pattern may have been intended as a nice baby or baby shower gift. </span><br /><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>What's most interesting about Baby Rabbit is the timing and era in which he was produced.</i></b> The 1980s through the early 1990s were a period of great transition at Steiff. The company was at an important juncture in terms of business, pricing, and design priorities, and the toy industry as a whole was moving quickly in new directions. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i></i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIzi6rJegTU60PVTN0WXFgiZ1wb767kd6_1A0eRXu6ePrNHhRgZk6ygmnHZFRiopluJa_wDlJ5n0rIaR8q6mpXfIo8QejIExPe_O_fk6MIe-Y-WKCUfi5Pv2HkfgzWPCa5ceXzxtjnnixnc0VYYYAWgWJ0PT-pNLuJ9Pbm2Tl3mosU79gn7rYMFBR9-jl/s1236/papa%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="851" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIzi6rJegTU60PVTN0WXFgiZ1wb767kd6_1A0eRXu6ePrNHhRgZk6ygmnHZFRiopluJa_wDlJ5n0rIaR8q6mpXfIo8QejIExPe_O_fk6MIe-Y-WKCUfi5Pv2HkfgzWPCa5ceXzxtjnnixnc0VYYYAWgWJ0PT-pNLuJ9Pbm2Tl3mosU79gn7rYMFBR9-jl/s320/papa%20.jpg" width="220" /></a></i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Two key market realities of this era were the continued influx of inexpensive toy imports from Asia and the emerging interest (and rise in value) of vintage to antique Steiff bears, animals, and dolls.</i></b> As a result of all of this, Steiff started, and/or tested, several new initiatives to adapt to these changes. These included offering replicas and special limited editions; creating an ongoing line of Christmas items and ornaments; increasing partnerships with key organizations (like Disney and F.A.O. Schwarz) and other toymakers (like Suzanne Gibson); and launching the Steiff Club in 1992. These strategies were rolled out in part to capture the higher end market and gain new collectors. Here on the left you can see Steiff's very first replica, "Papa" bear, from 1980. He was made in a worldwide edition size of 11,000 and was designed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Steiff Company. </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Steiffgal thinks that Baby Rabbit, and other simple, lower end soft plush items of his era, were probably designed, produced, and distributed to compete with the Asian exports part of the business equation. </i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>Steiffgal hopes this discussion on the company's 1980s production has you feeling nostalgic, in the best possible way. </b></i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! <a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html" style="color: #954f72;">Click here</a> to learn more!</i></b></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-21117688237317832492024-01-08T15:26:00.000-05:002024-01-08T15:26:37.253-05:00How Do You Make Vintage Steiff Buying Decisions?<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFADITSSrUqrIteVkk_H1vbVJ3eYD2lIxLoRSPL44Fp2JP5d16oqTxfl-MeNu3EoGaJrzZzT4Q4xBUXx36V7Q_vrYcs9YcsBrAFQ4GgOSNJbjRQyxPUzYLUyxm07sDBquIffY45UuyZ63SB_ls9RsbuZ5g9-q4ONtgIszzcEmsq0ON0AGdMW3tcLC0Ery/s3648/tiny%20bears.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFADITSSrUqrIteVkk_H1vbVJ3eYD2lIxLoRSPL44Fp2JP5d16oqTxfl-MeNu3EoGaJrzZzT4Q4xBUXx36V7Q_vrYcs9YcsBrAFQ4GgOSNJbjRQyxPUzYLUyxm07sDBquIffY45UuyZ63SB_ls9RsbuZ5g9-q4ONtgIszzcEmsq0ON0AGdMW3tcLC0Ery/w200-h150/tiny%20bears.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Steiffgal had an interesting thought question posed to her the other day by one of her Steiff collecting-colleagues. </i></b>This person had been collecting for many years, and had accumulated a significant collection of favorites and rarities. Sensing that they were at a new point in their collecting path, they simply asked, <i>"How do I know when I should buy something for my collection, and when I should pass on an opportunity?" </i></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmNxrNk5xA4RqjxhYaRizrluV6CbrQ2vtE_DKXmUwiLw-3rWyIOQQ5l02LjJrpD_7btBjFtWlQFh5UaRLt8u0pwbj_b4YMFtALNQAN73mzxKD65eX_p98xuUwCs-czgYhOWDmCIx0B1CwqCUVRET4Igx0fw7OgdHGy0HbZQC3feJETA_6bsXhTaLJeXo_/s2016/couch%20rabbit%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmNxrNk5xA4RqjxhYaRizrluV6CbrQ2vtE_DKXmUwiLw-3rWyIOQQ5l02LjJrpD_7btBjFtWlQFh5UaRLt8u0pwbj_b4YMFtALNQAN73mzxKD65eX_p98xuUwCs-czgYhOWDmCIx0B1CwqCUVRET4Igx0fw7OgdHGy0HbZQC3feJETA_6bsXhTaLJeXo_/w200-h150/couch%20rabbit%20.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Of course, there is no one right (or wrong) answer to this inquiry, and it totally varies from person to person.</i></b> Clearly, one's budget, buying patterns, available space, collection management strategies, preferences, and other factors play a huge role in "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" Steiff buying investments. However, after noodling the question for a while, Steiffgal came up with five general guideline recommendations for her colleague. She thought they might be helpful to some SteiffLife blog readers who may also be wondering about these sorts of things as well. </span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i></i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19hdkD7F-AA_bMxD9PfMcmbGICjGKdbJ-OnzpJ7lbu3Ajf9KgIU2PEF3o0-D-6AiAkrPG6P5tG8n1416fyVDw4LMPqMX3EPwHxxmMvLNWniZRdtMFvnA0tVSfXoROtTOnjXk-bxf7zZ1TCiEPfQwAqAlRxMOkrMcUNyas5REieTNDFUjS5IaZTih0WVXt/s1211/excellent%20bear%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1211" data-original-width="1103" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19hdkD7F-AA_bMxD9PfMcmbGICjGKdbJ-OnzpJ7lbu3Ajf9KgIU2PEF3o0-D-6AiAkrPG6P5tG8n1416fyVDw4LMPqMX3EPwHxxmMvLNWniZRdtMFvnA0tVSfXoROtTOnjXk-bxf7zZ1TCiEPfQwAqAlRxMOkrMcUNyas5REieTNDFUjS5IaZTih0WVXt/w182-h200/excellent%20bear%20.jpg" width="182" /></a></i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>1. If you have a mature collection, and/or have pivoted your interests to more expensive and rarer items, it is probably time to buy more with your head than with your heart.</i></b> When many of us started collecting, we bought tons of Steiff items willy-nilly because they were available and we fell in love with them, or with the idea of growing our collection through them. That is buying with your heart. By buying with your head, Steiffgal means that collectors might want to think about each purchase a little more strategically, taking into full consideration the price of the item, the condition of the item, and how it fits into their collection. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i></i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkO8KMN4qqVqM7c-vrwQeZB1EtPBkQ9l6nSvkVJAqANCETOQsKnsBc9L5j2RdNW580wE2H_yXTD9HfaYlKdHylB65RAcHufFCEALBoPjgHuwPO51Ip3vFi5zzWn6mVz7ELbthr8zeAfz4OgCQ-7PRmb5Ku_clhajLPp2efP5zOb40dxpSTC4yAG1A7mmcs/s2227/1912%20squirrels%20postcard%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1419" data-original-width="2227" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkO8KMN4qqVqM7c-vrwQeZB1EtPBkQ9l6nSvkVJAqANCETOQsKnsBc9L5j2RdNW580wE2H_yXTD9HfaYlKdHylB65RAcHufFCEALBoPjgHuwPO51Ip3vFi5zzWn6mVz7ELbthr8zeAfz4OgCQ-7PRmb5Ku_clhajLPp2efP5zOb40dxpSTC4yAG1A7mmcs/w200-h127/1912%20squirrels%20postcard%20.jpg" width="200" /></a></i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>2. If you have been building your hug for a while, aim to have each new addition ELEVATE - not just expand - your collection.</i></b> Consider purchasing non-redundant pieces that complement your existing inventory or take it in a new and exciting direction. For example, Steiffgal recently started collecting antique Steiff ephemera (catalogs, postcards, advertising materials, etc.) to display with her prewar items. This has opened many new doors as well as research opportunities. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i></i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Tx9HxPYQsRo0hFsTzr3GE1IScBqXFxFJLCZms07HvoNJN7zRfYTaPYyUC5AuJXP89fxTUl0WJX7ZvKbSEuyNVgVLCPiKNx1aHiXT8Hhekqv1SJgAdFgqvOMoArj9QDLotyP9Y3_auD56iNWPatYMECWisYCRjMm1KeTE7UGR64j8sYvwazy4zmChoEjL/s640/transitional%20fluffy%20front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="488" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Tx9HxPYQsRo0hFsTzr3GE1IScBqXFxFJLCZms07HvoNJN7zRfYTaPYyUC5AuJXP89fxTUl0WJX7ZvKbSEuyNVgVLCPiKNx1aHiXT8Hhekqv1SJgAdFgqvOMoArj9QDLotyP9Y3_auD56iNWPatYMECWisYCRjMm1KeTE7UGR64j8sYvwazy4zmChoEjL/w153-h200/transitional%20fluffy%20front.jpg" width="153" /></a></i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>3. As your collection evolves over time, seriously consider only buying an item if you don't already have an example in your collection, or if it significantly upgrades one you already own. </i></b><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><b><i>4. Following up on recommendation #3... if you are upgrading or replacing an item, rehome the replaced item ASAP. </i></b>Don't hang onto it. This is one simple way to keep the potential for "collection clutter" in control, as well as paying (perhaps in part) for the replacement. "The more the merrier" doesn't hold true for most well curated collections. Depending on what you are selling, options for moving items along include eBay, Facebook marketplace, Craigslist, doll club sales and events, auctions, and other online channels. <br /><br /><b><i></i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX22xbJDexSz8gy6nfj0v7v_vthrt4SnhyphenhyphengF5Tq2RmtaFY-D3DBL6b0FqG_pUgnDG7P_KZpxBi-kPGEr5upGymUZTTuT2Pv8T4kZEghUtoJfH_Ndu-0FLt1guck87EzDsKZ6T_FrHTQ7Kpcnr_yg5S8LJq4dD_dqBAKL_Q17XEyqzT755ng2Ne94zon3bC/s2272/vintage%20squirrels.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX22xbJDexSz8gy6nfj0v7v_vthrt4SnhyphenhyphengF5Tq2RmtaFY-D3DBL6b0FqG_pUgnDG7P_KZpxBi-kPGEr5upGymUZTTuT2Pv8T4kZEghUtoJfH_Ndu-0FLt1guck87EzDsKZ6T_FrHTQ7Kpcnr_yg5S8LJq4dD_dqBAKL_Q17XEyqzT755ng2Ne94zon3bC/w200-h150/vintage%20squirrels.JPG" width="200" /></a></i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>5. And, if you are still not sure if you should buy something after much consideration, ask yourself "What are the chances I will find another one in the foreseeable future?"</i></b> All things being equal, if the answer is "slim to none," buy the item. If it is "likely to definitely” don’t buy the item. If it is somewhere in the middle, circle back to recommendations #1-4.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Steiffgal hopes this Steiff food for thought has added a little spice to your collecting outlook. </i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: #211104;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! <a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html"><span style="color: #211104;">Click here</span></a> to learn more!</span></span></i></b><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-17494280193641769422024-01-02T12:53:00.002-05:002024-01-02T12:53:57.285-05:00Farming For Answers About This Unusual Midcentury Steiff Donkey <span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yUyRQTZbFJfoOIkPS83HNUoAPD-xPOjzET3MB5aAflnGiCwue6Ju2FvCnxS34rbVFF_GSTL4Q3BuC3pMFPmpQcHKcXso1xWSnI4i0ctAjodkM8oimCa2hKpzrHeaRAXhu4oAJBT-xkBYLMMfBDS7rKqgEvz8IwUzixqMAYpJKBhI4DAEEcZpUq1r5hfc/s4032/IMG_2301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yUyRQTZbFJfoOIkPS83HNUoAPD-xPOjzET3MB5aAflnGiCwue6Ju2FvCnxS34rbVFF_GSTL4Q3BuC3pMFPmpQcHKcXso1xWSnI4i0ctAjodkM8oimCa2hKpzrHeaRAXhu4oAJBT-xkBYLMMfBDS7rKqgEvz8IwUzixqMAYpJKBhI4DAEEcZpUq1r5hfc/w242-h320/IMG_2301.JPG" width="242" /></a></div>Let's enter the fray - oops, I mean the bray - of 2024 with a peek at a super sweet and super rare Steiff novelty.</i></b> This darling and unusual velvet baby is a recent addition to Steiffgal's collection. He's based on a beloved Steiff pattern, but is accessorized in a most eye-catching way. Take a look at this old-new friend and see what makes him so noteworthy from the design and product development perspectives. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi250huRviIWNXjLmYJtnpHco8glKc4I8A5Qz8sLVt9oJ5aqDDcqnoVKJP6DcLIYaOLnKZ0Ylu0yPSibmQ0zo7yymCXU0PGcepHYxsfmAJK_OBzv-YKJVkhtYGDRj6quh0z1F9t9NbGeZAocFHLjP4N3ZNHM8hQOsgyqaCtNof5xC4ZwH3QWzFkqFhrVHZq/s4032/IMG_2304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi250huRviIWNXjLmYJtnpHco8glKc4I8A5Qz8sLVt9oJ5aqDDcqnoVKJP6DcLIYaOLnKZ0Ylu0yPSibmQ0zo7yymCXU0PGcepHYxsfmAJK_OBzv-YKJVkhtYGDRj6quh0z1F9t9NbGeZAocFHLjP4N3ZNHM8hQOsgyqaCtNof5xC4ZwH3QWzFkqFhrVHZq/w240-h320/IMG_2304.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>This barnyard buddy would love to be your beast of burden.</i></b> This is a well attired version of Steiff's legacy Esel or Donkey. He is 12 cm, standing, unjointed, and made from velvet that has darkened overall and evenly over time. He has a short black mohair mane. His tail is made from cord. He has black airbrush highlights down his back, on the tips of his ears, and marking his hooves. Esel's face is youthful and endearing; it is detailed with shiny black button eyes and delicate airbrushing to define his nose and mouth area. Esel retains his original accessories, including a red floss and plastic brindle with tiny green felt dots and a red and white checkered sack with a green tie. The bag is stuffed and dimensional, and stitched onto his back. His IDs include a raised script button, very early postwar ear tag, and a chest tag. He does not have a US Zone tag, and there is no evidence that he ever did. <br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEyt9UqQ7AuL9V1rSBrW4ItXqtXt3cWlg7zzax11xFbacXHc1OCXeX3kaphpDtlsE0skVHQEmeMDYMmKR5wcP9yLHEUzy-2XRiMXG5gsItg-t_K_fyL-3VB88VH8mbS9KFtW__RwWdD9A78PNmiXwUv8M_HeYQtG36-c2JzZl33qy-yLDOhZgx4-5b4lfb/s4032/IMG_2305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEyt9UqQ7AuL9V1rSBrW4ItXqtXt3cWlg7zzax11xFbacXHc1OCXeX3kaphpDtlsE0skVHQEmeMDYMmKR5wcP9yLHEUzy-2XRiMXG5gsItg-t_K_fyL-3VB88VH8mbS9KFtW__RwWdD9A78PNmiXwUv8M_HeYQtG36-c2JzZl33qy-yLDOhZgx4-5b4lfb/s320/IMG_2305.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Steiff's regular line, postwar Donkey appeared in the line in 12, 14, 22, and 28 cm.</i></b> The smallest size was made in velvet from 1950 through 1969 while the larger sizes were made in mohair from 1950 though 1961. This particular example under discussion here today does not appear in the standard Steiff Sortiment reference books, as far as Steiffgal can tell. However, he does appear on page 246 of the <i>Cieslik's Button in Ear The History of The Teddy Bear and His Friends.</i> In this image - pictured here on the left - he is simply noted as <i>"Donkey, 5 inches, 1951."</i><br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAW5dVuvK5yTCfM7NxlXR3l8QbMg9PLhCIhm-TLwo8Dkp085kyDXuGpxo_pRUwX3uWqjRb8iLmkkVPTAEddYv8i1zrQUxA8MYLjpwzbOJ4UNiMnuYAOF31h15AvPL9F8vYdY7XndcFaA_A-i2v4kIFidED7Z_QJG3zZ7hfCF_bL_zjJ843Rwqb4okJ0dVw/s4032/IMG_2302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAW5dVuvK5yTCfM7NxlXR3l8QbMg9PLhCIhm-TLwo8Dkp085kyDXuGpxo_pRUwX3uWqjRb8iLmkkVPTAEddYv8i1zrQUxA8MYLjpwzbOJ4UNiMnuYAOF31h15AvPL9F8vYdY7XndcFaA_A-i2v4kIFidED7Z_QJG3zZ7hfCF_bL_zjJ843Rwqb4okJ0dVw/w242-h320/IMG_2302.JPG" width="242" /></a></div>The immediate post war era brought much change and opportunity to Steiff as well as other important European toy manufacturers. </i></b>Button-in-ear products designed and manufactured during the c. 1948-1955 time frame bridged the company's prewar quality and appeal, while at the same time introduced new design elements with playful, midcentury vibes. It was also a time of trying new things and experimentation. This Donkey design is a great example of this. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlMZI36UeL38UyItZzQP7YuOcGAkA3GgKg-0_N8lwopf_7xlCgtNLYOmigS0LRNhZgr9QabGl8_CU8labphppWyIjS2hwWxbuTn41OFG44av01g9FQrzgZ-YB3xucaB8keeG9OkgmWXQwFvEtP5UDezED2FFmd8cQgd8rz2MLoH3VYBHRHN3AprCDEHeW/s1668/other%20donkey%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1273" data-original-width="1668" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlMZI36UeL38UyItZzQP7YuOcGAkA3GgKg-0_N8lwopf_7xlCgtNLYOmigS0LRNhZgr9QabGl8_CU8labphppWyIjS2hwWxbuTn41OFG44av01g9FQrzgZ-YB3xucaB8keeG9OkgmWXQwFvEtP5UDezED2FFmd8cQgd8rz2MLoH3VYBHRHN3AprCDEHeW/w320-h245/other%20donkey%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It is safe to say that most collectors are familiar with the standard line, 12 cm version of this Donkey pattern.</i></b> He was made with a cord tail and wore a red leather brindle. However, Steiffgal has handled other 12 cm examples with dimensional, excelsior stuffed felt tails with black mohair tips. And she even has one in her collection donned in his factory original red leather brindle with tiny green tassels and a red and black checkered felt blanket secured to him by a ribbon. You can see this other variation pictured here on the left. <br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8biLZHR9DT7c6mK5NcCl3lVgoqFuYD4CmrtXglpwAomo8u2cYt2D7RN1fk6pjTR_is1VA8uCA97RWOJyX-ceoigcMBxy2xMz4JDVaGFgtrWLoxiUMPXmi8YR8xJYS1ixxD4xPtvSeqDdaliC8LtNAVRTS3rPAOu13nBmdN3VisQEHV8ZG_YAkL3SFItF/s4032/IMG_2303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8biLZHR9DT7c6mK5NcCl3lVgoqFuYD4CmrtXglpwAomo8u2cYt2D7RN1fk6pjTR_is1VA8uCA97RWOJyX-ceoigcMBxy2xMz4JDVaGFgtrWLoxiUMPXmi8YR8xJYS1ixxD4xPtvSeqDdaliC8LtNAVRTS3rPAOu13nBmdN3VisQEHV8ZG_YAkL3SFItF/s320/IMG_2303.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Excelsior stuffed tails and extra accessories require more time and labor.</i></b> As a result, Steiffgal suspects that the company's standard line, post 1951 velvet 12 cm Donkey design is a simplified version of the original concept behind this pattern. He may have started out on the drawing board with a fancier tail, detailed brindle, and blankets or sacks, and the earliest examples of may include them. But these "nonessential" elements were quickly jettisoned, with no huge impact on the pattern's integrity or appeal. It is interesting to note that many of the smallest, early postwar animal editions, including the company's zebras and camels, were made from velvet and had cord tails, so this direction is somewhat consistent with trends of the era.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><b style="caret-color: rgb(33, 17, 4); color: #211104;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Steiffgal hopes this discussion on this well dressed Donkey has been a clothes call for you.<br /><br />Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! <a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html" style="color: #211104;">Click here</a> to learn more!</span></i></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-1852954981786794832023-12-20T11:40:00.004-05:002023-12-20T11:40:52.875-05:00Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, Steiff Style!<span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6W8wsRMtwRNfi2_otyg5yAR198VnPVBHQNDqM5F0erf4NbZNKW5XflKyra_9RpLDYoCZUPX3mzbV_2Drc5Mhuy8pS1oPjFuSeV88FhqlrU-EDbitSAHCFDT5XoELzLxdGodrvspt83QDJh4A3_tZ-4tt8iz_MEM4t3g0jcrd5Rp5Ynmugq_TEuBS9T46/s1332/first%20blog%20picture%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1332" data-original-width="979" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6W8wsRMtwRNfi2_otyg5yAR198VnPVBHQNDqM5F0erf4NbZNKW5XflKyra_9RpLDYoCZUPX3mzbV_2Drc5Mhuy8pS1oPjFuSeV88FhqlrU-EDbitSAHCFDT5XoELzLxdGodrvspt83QDJh4A3_tZ-4tt8iz_MEM4t3g0jcrd5Rp5Ynmugq_TEuBS9T46/w147-h200/first%20blog%20picture%20.jpg" width="147" /></a></div>It's the most wonderful time of the year... and Steiffgal is hoping you are celebrating with beloved family and friends, tasty treats, and treasured memories in the making.</i></b> For many folks, the dark days associated with the end of the calendar year are practically synonymous with brightly lit Christmas trees. And believe it or not, Steiff has made their own button-in-ear version of this legacy Christmas symbol. Take a look at this most unusual Steiff novelty, one of Steiffgal's most favorite modern editions of all time... so much so, that she leaves it on full display all year long!</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JuVISBi7LrgwAVbpOy3tWthL_nsMtVaO_zBzxSmcWD_ul5cbaCwbDtRCTOfhLBe9wXpI2GqCZZWa6VPemRMz1ntxgFkdeXhwjVHrFpq1O1C1HTczqbsBEEO_rnsjinZ4a-dXnG8oPi2pu83p0wn-NEX4wBwWVoIpq18JDvFIR-GpLL3D-zXfa7YtYKXR/s1331/tree%20back%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1331" data-original-width="815" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JuVISBi7LrgwAVbpOy3tWthL_nsMtVaO_zBzxSmcWD_ul5cbaCwbDtRCTOfhLBe9wXpI2GqCZZWa6VPemRMz1ntxgFkdeXhwjVHrFpq1O1C1HTczqbsBEEO_rnsjinZ4a-dXnG8oPi2pu83p0wn-NEX4wBwWVoIpq18JDvFIR-GpLL3D-zXfa7YtYKXR/w123-h200/tree%20back%20.jpg" width="123" /></a></div>This fabulous Steiff collectible gets the green light for its rarity, beauty, and clever design.</i></b> Here we have Steiff's Weihnachtsbaumor Christmas tree. It is 25 cm tall and made from soft green velour like material. The branches and limbs are all dimensional but not stuffed. This greenery is arranged around a wooden dowel mounted on a circular wooden stand. The tree is decorated with flat yellow felt stars, round red fabric balls, and a garland of tiny, opal-esque stars. It is topped with a larger yellow felt star. Of course a tree does not have ears, so its "button-in-ear" branding of a tag and button are located on one of its lower green fabric limbs. <br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhwwlG_sSKYW7eAo_3jbh8088VEJQM-0gBVPU3E2sNokICQEfG1QBd4Ngfh9qOTWb2VqrV-3sbRF77nJRQyYCx2zxhPjNDBNh3R1jvqaPpLp5Rv8ADJZYH8J2ngFRtw-_2Z2CvibCtHg4Wzc_LDOlXrgrwbj1yslLPc7RL2zsY3-tE4s0tuLAjxNQAAVq/s1155/tree%20tag%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="857" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhwwlG_sSKYW7eAo_3jbh8088VEJQM-0gBVPU3E2sNokICQEfG1QBd4Ngfh9qOTWb2VqrV-3sbRF77nJRQyYCx2zxhPjNDBNh3R1jvqaPpLp5Rv8ADJZYH8J2ngFRtw-_2Z2CvibCtHg4Wzc_LDOlXrgrwbj1yslLPc7RL2zsY3-tE4s0tuLAjxNQAAVq/w149-h200/tree%20tag%20.jpg" width="149" /></a></div>This holiday themed rarity was made in 2004.</i></b> It was not a limited edition, but manufactured in very small quantities. Steiffgal suspects that it was somewhat challenging to produce on a commercial scale, given its construction and form, as well as the number of seams it requires. As a result, they appear few and far between on the secondary market.</span><div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>It is pretty unusual for Steiff to create items that are not primarily based on living human or animal forms.</i></b> The company has made other novelties, like rattles, pram toys, and music boxes resembling flowers (and even fruit!) in the distant past. More recently, the Christmas line has featured Teds in felt Christmas tree suits, and holding trees. But as far as Steiffgal can tell, this is Steiff's only free standing Christmas tree design produced on a somewhat commercial scale to date. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLyhEAfEQ9V8KY1KQtw9BiUytgzxZK580LTZG2AZzlMRa3JzCy9dSZ-Jpnxjy_Nwd5ZlUsuUjpn3H742MkJhp_1hHuGBX2z66SxfJ2yUfFD0LsfnwsIXNu7oRJlmIMiSCgUwbnUpyeHuUWZ-vnlS7QnmtN4NoPfezucsh3GOBI2fOp9WqVV2soM8-pqAH/s1394/last%20blog%20picture%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1394" data-original-width="1039" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLyhEAfEQ9V8KY1KQtw9BiUytgzxZK580LTZG2AZzlMRa3JzCy9dSZ-Jpnxjy_Nwd5ZlUsuUjpn3H742MkJhp_1hHuGBX2z66SxfJ2yUfFD0LsfnwsIXNu7oRJlmIMiSCgUwbnUpyeHuUWZ-vnlS7QnmtN4NoPfezucsh3GOBI2fOp9WqVV2soM8-pqAH/w150-h200/last%20blog%20picture%20.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>Steiffgal hopes this discussion on Steiff's soft plush Christmas tree has added a holly-jolly touch to your day!</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(33, 17, 4); color: #211104;"><b><i><b><i><b><i><b><i><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! <a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html" style="color: #211104;">Click here</a> to learn more.</span></span></b></i></b></i></b></i></b></i></b></i></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-14118745006262981182023-12-09T14:09:00.001-05:002023-12-09T14:09:08.027-05:00Flying High With This Amazing Steiff Marketing Postcard From 1928<span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Can you hold history in your hand? </i></b>This blog has recently discussed a number of examples of antique Steiff ephemera, including photos and calling cards. Now let's take a look at an extraordinary postcard that sold recently on eBay. Its image, subject matter, transport logistics, destination, and detailing were simply off the chart interesting. Check out this tiny time capsule from 1928 and see what makes it so fascinating from the design and historical perspectives. </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>WARNING - A LONG (BUT SUPER INTERESTING) READ AHEAD!</i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i></i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAq2e6P2eKWs6s8o8pzlAjfhEdigDxAOtljcnsp0HHLUDHE5BUjcKqa5dwfYbOtcp__hncSUp2P-KOgzD0ugY5a9PBqq5oYH3Dv62iaDvun_Yf48jx19cbkWgezVXyJfC7tOvf6KhPunPEb4YZxbpPrWOGxpMeNWR2oQ0H_4oYIbxFJDio4sLRaIJr-Yp/s1840/front%20of%20interesting%20postcard%20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1295" data-original-width="1840" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAq2e6P2eKWs6s8o8pzlAjfhEdigDxAOtljcnsp0HHLUDHE5BUjcKqa5dwfYbOtcp__hncSUp2P-KOgzD0ugY5a9PBqq5oYH3Dv62iaDvun_Yf48jx19cbkWgezVXyJfC7tOvf6KhPunPEb4YZxbpPrWOGxpMeNWR2oQ0H_4oYIbxFJDio4sLRaIJr-Yp/w400-h283/front%20of%20interesting%20postcard%20.png" width="400" /></a></i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br />The front of this standard size postcard should be captioned "The Best of 1928!" </i></b>Pictured is a charming vignette of Steiff toys enjoying a fun outing together. Steiff has a rich history of creating marketing materials that bring their items to life through clever placement, body positions, and facial expressions. This is a perfect example of that. As for the featured items, the wooden cart and pony on wheels is the company's "Sandkar" or horse drawn wagon which was produced in four sizes from 1921-1936. The puppy is Steiff's sitting Molly, who was produced in 12 sizes ranging from 7 to 80 cm from 1925-1943 overall. The blonde Ted was made in 14 sizes ranging from 10 to 115 cm from 1905-1933 overall. And the bird is Steiff's duck; he was produced in 14, 17, and 22 cm from 1925-1932. One of each, please! You can see the front of the card pictured above, the image is from eBay. You can click on it to make it bigger. <br /><br /><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjz9cj4auNbX3v8qcnUaPNvPzGMUpwWT11M1ypEG7TTjoRL5mqRlu7k4BEUGGO6v23vdFvq2qbOHAEnORKHUfMtU-V5XH1XvUBfv6q9kMopojqRNuJnwOyDH-c7YA4edjlFCnLlVrTPeaW5s5GsjS5ZJ5fn5vld11Rjz5_HKfvD8qfC1gnz0Mh8VWPMcB/s1592/graf%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1592" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjz9cj4auNbX3v8qcnUaPNvPzGMUpwWT11M1ypEG7TTjoRL5mqRlu7k4BEUGGO6v23vdFvq2qbOHAEnORKHUfMtU-V5XH1XvUBfv6q9kMopojqRNuJnwOyDH-c7YA4edjlFCnLlVrTPeaW5s5GsjS5ZJ5fn5vld11Rjz5_HKfvD8qfC1gnz0Mh8VWPMcB/s320/graf%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The back of the card is an astonishing collection of historical facts, highlights, and period information</b>. Many of the card's details have to do with the card's delivery source, the Graf Zeppelin. This airship, the pride and joy of the German aviation community, debuted in 1928 - the year of this postcard! The Graf Zeppelin, also known as LZ 127, was in service for nine years. During that period, it made 590 flights, including 144 ocean crossings. You can see the Graf Zeppelin here on the left, the image is from www.upi.com.<br /><br /></span><b style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">Here are a few highlight and hidden "gems" tucked within the back copy of this card. </b><span style="font-family: verdana;">The back is pictured below, the image is from eBay. You can click on it to make it bigger. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i></i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wTkgCsEm-qTv76pQYaXC4Hj4xb-J9HTluU83wA9SObbsRM26bj4EOoWJuSlS51Ok4HRqgER3lt6rYT-SQAoQUudnnav4JgvI6qdVD3l4hNQDfuAh12qovmel8a8gTFe_s5UrHFufusy0-GKyyFhhyphenhyphenYWsFPnt53q_qa47G99ukfYKkZaUVdI_CaU3PIjQ/s1844/back%20of%20interesting%20postcard%20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="1844" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wTkgCsEm-qTv76pQYaXC4Hj4xb-J9HTluU83wA9SObbsRM26bj4EOoWJuSlS51Ok4HRqgER3lt6rYT-SQAoQUudnnav4JgvI6qdVD3l4hNQDfuAh12qovmel8a8gTFe_s5UrHFufusy0-GKyyFhhyphenhyphenYWsFPnt53q_qa47G99ukfYKkZaUVdI_CaU3PIjQ/w400-h291/back%20of%20interesting%20postcard%20.png" width="400" /></a></i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br />First, starting on the upper left corner, you can see two dates in pencil.</i></b> They correspond to the date that the card was mailed in Germany and the date that it arrived in the USA. It left Germany on October 10th, 1928 and arrived in the USA on October 16th, 1928 - for a travel time of 6 days. Pretty amazing - even for today, given today international mail often takes weeks to go "across the pond." <br /><br /><b><i>Next, check out the copy on the left hand side of the card.</i></b> <i>"Place your orders with Fred Wander early to insure Zeppelin deliveries next years. Many novelties will be on display at our old stand. Margarete Steiff & Co. Inc. Borgfeldt Building, 115-119 East 16th Street, New York."</i> Among other things, this tells us the name of Steiff's rep in the USA through the Borgfeldt company nearly a century ago, and the address of that distributor. Even more interesting here is that the card hints that all Steiff deliveries to the USA will be shipped via Zeppelin aircraft!<br /><br /><b><i>Now move to the middle of the card. </i></b>The information that appears there tells us a lot about how the card was transported, and the obvious and international pride the German postal service and aviation authorities had in their Zeppelin program. The orange stamp in the middle of the card translates to: <i>Mit Luftpost </i>(airmail in German) and <i>Par Avion</i> (by plane in French). Right under that, there is a block of copy which translates roughly to: <i>"To the post office in Friedrichshafen (a German town) to be sent via the airship Graf Zeppelin LZ 127 from Friendrichshafen (where there was an airport to handle Zeppelin aircraft.)"</i> And right under that is a blue oval stamp with the translated words <i>"Transported with airship LZ 127". </i>So we can be 99.99% certain that this exact card traveled on the world famous LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><b><i>The blue and white postage stamp on the upper right hand corner of the card is also revealing.</i></b> This idealized image pictures the Zeppelin gliding effortlessly and peacefully over the Earth - high enough to see the curve of the planet. The words on the stamp read "America, German Airmail, Europe, and 2 Reichmark". According the <a href="about://">Historical Dollar-to-Marks Currency Conversion Page</a>, in 1928, 1 RM was equal to about $4.19, so this stamp cost about $8.38 at the time. This little stamp gives off big vibes that this early airmail program was big, bold, ambitious... and expensive!</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i></i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyT5obgJSjElkCvF5vbtINIw8RB7HPdn-8xiTj9uEu_4qj63ywxrCymxykk1OB972pnw3OWZzmZlVAtc9a5TeSjoAdGjuM-ZoJzxLQ5rU6bcdwwYDF35hKFenz8OEMqdTYJesvMfXikdcIaKfhsPfZfSxJX0iI1BeEVmbL1ihrwKCAcuu4Amz12GlLvfV/s1423/gim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1279" data-original-width="1423" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyT5obgJSjElkCvF5vbtINIw8RB7HPdn-8xiTj9uEu_4qj63ywxrCymxykk1OB972pnw3OWZzmZlVAtc9a5TeSjoAdGjuM-ZoJzxLQ5rU6bcdwwYDF35hKFenz8OEMqdTYJesvMfXikdcIaKfhsPfZfSxJX0iI1BeEVmbL1ihrwKCAcuu4Amz12GlLvfV/s320/gim.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>And lastly, the recipients! </i></b>This card was sent to the toy buyers at Gimbel Brother department store in Milwaukee, WI. This legacy store brand and chain would go on to become one of largest and most beloved retailers in the United States, eventually operating over 50 storefronts. Gimbel's started the original Thanksgiving Day parade tradition in 1920. Its chief rival was Macy's - who would debut their version of a turkey day celebration parade in 1924. It is no surprise that Steiff would be doing business with Gimbels (or trying to!). This city block long institution with a river front facade certainly had a toy department and attracted high end customers that would be interested in the Steiff brand. You can see Gimbel's in Milwaukee here on the left in the late 1920's. The photo is from www.thedepartmentstoremuseum.org. </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Steiffgal hopes this discussion on this fascinating Steiff postcard has been the trip of a lifetime!</i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(33, 17, 4); color: #211104;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! <a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html" style="color: #211104;">Click here</a> to learn more.</span></i></b></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-129738191886712452023-12-02T18:43:00.002-05:002023-12-02T18:43:32.575-05:00Playing Doggy Detective Over This Unusual Steiff Wartime Era Canine <p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLflR_eTWURzGoDtUkh1_V3y5p3RaluNxxByg4x8jGeNFRAB7B-ls9ubnvSFlW269MhlFJXC54khyphenhyphenH0Qk9y8n5gZ1jLT5DFIoSMSEUBBffj0qcVLGsS5LGfW4Suuqr_Vktf4v2btiVUEygDu3cpfSWsrecqFSO4iXCRBM84jnES8tGuqElGumUvBQdygv/s4080/PXL_20231126_051757809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLflR_eTWURzGoDtUkh1_V3y5p3RaluNxxByg4x8jGeNFRAB7B-ls9ubnvSFlW269MhlFJXC54khyphenhyphenH0Qk9y8n5gZ1jLT5DFIoSMSEUBBffj0qcVLGsS5LGfW4Suuqr_Vktf4v2btiVUEygDu3cpfSWsrecqFSO4iXCRBM84jnES8tGuqElGumUvBQdygv/w304-h400/PXL_20231126_051757809.jpg" width="304" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Paws and take a look at this interesting dog made during a really challenging time in world history.</b> He has a familiar ring to him, don't you think... but his fabric is quite different than his standard line relatives. Just who is he, and when was his birthday - in dog years or otherwise? </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>His lucky owner - Patricia from Europe - shares:</i></b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>"I would be very grateful for your expertise concerning this Spitz dog. He is not catalogued in any of the Steiff Sortiment books. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I have absolutely no idea if he is prewar? </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>My concerns are his alternative coat. This is definitely not mohair plush. This is very lightly woven and the pile is flat, not fluffy.The airbrushing is bright and vibrant and his coat has full coverage. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>He is completely perfect with no damages at all. Unfortunately, he doesn't have his Steiff ID. He has beautiful glass eyes and is quite lovely. He is 22 x 22 cm in size. Any information on this little treasure will be greatly appreciated."</i><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4QeBo_x7mjRjJuCmzy0frQCcSzxREkpZ65pssdbfG7ai8lFTbaCubqu5KRPfPbjOfJGg2oTUQr2Ik4J-lBTJI_1HzGyc61u73spxtlcWDSu4y5gKDZIGEBMZYsQ1marj_oo2iO93leUaLkUT2Ru0kUradYvcZodG1PNFNLEyl6I0w3kpicJoao1igD0L/s4080/PXL_20231126_051557428.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4QeBo_x7mjRjJuCmzy0frQCcSzxREkpZ65pssdbfG7ai8lFTbaCubqu5KRPfPbjOfJGg2oTUQr2Ik4J-lBTJI_1HzGyc61u73spxtlcWDSu4y5gKDZIGEBMZYsQ1marj_oo2iO93leUaLkUT2Ru0kUradYvcZodG1PNFNLEyl6I0w3kpicJoao1igD0L/s320/PXL_20231126_051557428.MP.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>What an interesting find!</i></b> Some of Steiff's items made just before, and just after, WWII are not captured in the <i>Sortiment</i> books. This could be because very few were actually made and sold, they are extremely rare today, they might have been produced only as samples or test items, or they simply fell through the documentation cracks during a complicated geopolitical period and its aftermath. The <i>Sortiment</i> books are great references, but they are not a complete and comprehensive accounting of Steiff's production. And, they were not validated or published by Steiff - but by a third party. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSke9mcmUfat4ZqIOI6_AhAMKiEHVA-eskL5Zh7qZCo5cwZPwtsC177QO6qYexkTOzfXQqLzzw48hY8zww8vgXg7z7z4LK6vskuAKoab2ger_JXYoxK1CtwTu9Ay7klpty-5PHp5yvoCRORXH3UwImVTsot4iiklxt9RKZU6xW_eoSEzFcQSKJIAvk9AxR/s1111/rk%20spitz%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="744" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSke9mcmUfat4ZqIOI6_AhAMKiEHVA-eskL5Zh7qZCo5cwZPwtsC177QO6qYexkTOzfXQqLzzw48hY8zww8vgXg7z7z4LK6vskuAKoab2ger_JXYoxK1CtwTu9Ay7klpty-5PHp5yvoCRORXH3UwImVTsot4iiklxt9RKZU6xW_eoSEzFcQSKJIAvk9AxR/s320/rk%20spitz%20.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>That being said, it is Steiffgal's best guess that this dog is a version of the company's standard line Wolfspitz dog series that was officially in production from 1934-1943 overall.</i></b> These canines were made standing on all fours in 22 and 35 cm; on eccentric wheels in 22 cm; and sitting in 17, 21, 22, and 25 cm. They were all unjointed and stuffed with excelsior. Their face, ears, and legs were made from shorter mohair while their backs, tails, and torsos were made from very long matching mohair. Each was detailed with lifelike brown and black shading on their backs and tails and had three embroidered black claws on each paw. Their faces came to life with felt lined ears, brown and black glass pupil eyes, a black embroidered nose and mouth, and brown airbrushed highlights on their foreheads. For reference, you can see the 22 cm mohair sitting Wolfspitz here on the left; the photo is from Steiffgal's collection. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDot-uNhacDIkvBQ366E3St0VO6seyl1E13md72SMciZSSHfB13aV5twO2wGwNBpYpM4gj5PwAdJkSRJgxx-ngyX_ME8T3625M6bd15K7ZL50VEOyQU564Pj_gkc2LMTdxZSmwqlK4KJJFmU3O9Bz1RBnkr-CeOBMl9Rx0yZk2_pSNzfMXjPCF7UhXQah/s4080/PXL_20231126_051301308.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDot-uNhacDIkvBQ366E3St0VO6seyl1E13md72SMciZSSHfB13aV5twO2wGwNBpYpM4gj5PwAdJkSRJgxx-ngyX_ME8T3625M6bd15K7ZL50VEOyQU564Pj_gkc2LMTdxZSmwqlK4KJJFmU3O9Bz1RBnkr-CeOBMl9Rx0yZk2_pSNzfMXjPCF7UhXQah/s320/PXL_20231126_051301308.MP.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>Patricia's dog appears to check many of the boxes to the company's basic prewar Wolfspitz pattern.</i></b> These details include things like the use of long and short materials to replicate the dog's coat; three painted folds on the dog's forehead; airbrushed shading on his back and tail; and a very similar facial expression and rendering, among others.<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>From c. 1934 - the early 1940s, and then again from c. 1946 - 1949, things were really tough from the materials, supply chain, and operations perspectives at Steiff.</i></b> Premier, traditional toy making materials including mohair and felt were in short supply and were often allocated to military purposes. As such, Steiff did everything it could to keep its toy making production lines supplied and active during these times. One way to do this was to use fabrics and materials that were available in the place of felt and mohair. These often were in the forms of artificial silk plush, wool plush, cotton plush, and other hybrid fabrics that blended wool, mohair, and other fibers. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxSW0DYJ-6dSXbKgoddICVg9tms0lur-TUyZg9Bq6P_Kef97lh5xkivhTe8P-QCPlNVp_YWTcTBEY5ZWVpGvXQzvsy43XR3XrVySAzv0cXJQfHLeSM4vK8RySK9gMiGovEGlzw63UmwQa9trWGj06hyphenhyphenSjeOMPKCkwLNiwjVcTolf23CERDmwBkD-Vqxvg/s4032/IMG_1361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxSW0DYJ-6dSXbKgoddICVg9tms0lur-TUyZg9Bq6P_Kef97lh5xkivhTe8P-QCPlNVp_YWTcTBEY5ZWVpGvXQzvsy43XR3XrVySAzv0cXJQfHLeSM4vK8RySK9gMiGovEGlzw63UmwQa9trWGj06hyphenhyphenSjeOMPKCkwLNiwjVcTolf23CERDmwBkD-Vqxvg/s320/IMG_1361.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Given its presentation, materials, size, and detailing, it is Steiffgal's best thinking that this Spitz dog dates from the late prewar period and is made in part from some type of substitute plush that has wool as an element of its weave.</i></b> He might have been a sample or prototype to test how his design would turn out in the plush available at the time. There is no indication (as far as Steiffgal knows of) that this pattern was produced in any form in the early postwar era. The fabric on Patricia's pooch appears somewhat similar in texture and density to the unusual "lumpy-bumpy" plush on an otherwise standard line standing play duck from Steiffgal's collection. This fine feathered friend - like the Wolfspitz - was in the line from the early 1930s through the early 1940s. You can see this duck here on image on the left. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Steiffgal hopes this discussion on this interesting Spitz dog has you barking up the right tree!</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><b style="caret-color: rgb(33, 17, 4); color: #211104; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! <a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html" style="color: #211104;">Click here</a> to learn more!</span></i></b></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-43887090324411420752023-11-26T16:18:00.001-05:002023-11-26T16:18:17.239-05:00Can Steiff's Jocko Chimps of Yesteryear Speak French? <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Given how adorable and appealing Steiff's dolls, bears, and animals are, it is no surprise that antique advertising featuring these photogenic superstars can be as collectible as the items themselves.</i></b> Early Steiff catalogs, mailers, and advertisements give unique insights into the design and marketing priorities of the company over time. They can also provide interesting metrics like prices, weights, and minimum orders, and even company or distributors' names, addresses, and contact information. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPTdX6RKwYg5e1Sgibb6851444rwcL0WH9_P3kKTZcAQF40ixO1iuOq_WufOGY8hKVMspiHgmMKcn27X0qo08I206xM-5q0csyZnwl1PbrRfexWMYv1m9H9xO1kVhrUNvEppFVbsIWWOgbTcIfDQodUHnOzBHu8O1PV1GgVyc1uU0FYnntaYX7F9p_B6S/s1761/Jocko%201912%20business%20card%20front%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="1761" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPTdX6RKwYg5e1Sgibb6851444rwcL0WH9_P3kKTZcAQF40ixO1iuOq_WufOGY8hKVMspiHgmMKcn27X0qo08I206xM-5q0csyZnwl1PbrRfexWMYv1m9H9xO1kVhrUNvEppFVbsIWWOgbTcIfDQodUHnOzBHu8O1PV1GgVyc1uU0FYnntaYX7F9p_B6S/w400-h261/Jocko%201912%20business%20card%20front%20.jpg" width="400" /></a></p>Check out this amazing piece of ephemera featuring Steiff's legacy Jocko chimpanzees. </i></b>There is much to learn from this simple 3" x 5" card. This all original example was produced around 1912 for Steiff's business partner in Paris. The front of this double sided, cardboard card shows a full color image of six Jockos playing in a miniature bedroom. The space is furnished with three wooden chairs and a bed. There is also a framed and matted picture on the wall. Three Jockos don turn of last century style dresses detailed with pleated fronts and decorative embroidery. Two others wear blue playsuits with white trim. And one is just simply in his birthday suit. The Jocko on the far right seems upset, and her friend just to her left appears worried about that. Steiff always had a great way of capturing these emotional subtleties in their early images. You can also see Steiff branding on the top left side of the image. The vignette is simply irresistible.<b><i><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i></i></b></div></i></b></span><br /><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzZwh6OcIV3GEWpm8TnSJm7MWXSC9bUlV7CLO_PKa_l17SpJu-1BBFhUkVyTLMIyPWBdzvpOLwsWr6ixO2zK_Fmt5J4cxBfwtdR9dCc1iBb2fSM-CqPUq7oBuPcHmkXama3LxNTRPVhaFDtmjRPYwsbQC970GKatI04FkkcxpbJk4PLnnwV1Gs6K2jvFG/s2186/Jocko%201912%20business%20card%20back%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2186" data-original-width="1435" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzZwh6OcIV3GEWpm8TnSJm7MWXSC9bUlV7CLO_PKa_l17SpJu-1BBFhUkVyTLMIyPWBdzvpOLwsWr6ixO2zK_Fmt5J4cxBfwtdR9dCc1iBb2fSM-CqPUq7oBuPcHmkXama3LxNTRPVhaFDtmjRPYwsbQC970GKatI04FkkcxpbJk4PLnnwV1Gs6K2jvFG/s320/Jocko%201912%20business%20card%20back%20.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br /><b>The back of this time capsule is equally as interesting, but for different reasons.</b> It has a simply rendered map of turn of last century Paris, with a red square indicating the location of the Steiff distributorship at 23 Rue des Petites-Hotels. The words on the card summarize as:<i> "Fabric Toy Factory, Margarete Steiff, located at 23 Rue des Petits Hotels in Paris with the head office in Giengen on the Brenz River in Germany. Offering toys and animals, dolls, kites, and pincushions made from felt, plush, velvet, etc. Winner of the grand prize at the World's fairs in Saint Louis in 1904 and Brussels in 1910."</i></span></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>The actual intended purpose of this card is not clear.</i></b> It doesn't have a space for an address or stamp, so it could not be mailed like a postcard as we know them today. And it is a little large for a standard business card. It might have been put in an envelope as a mailer, or it could have been handed out at a trade show or exhibition as a mini brochure. The map on the back suggests that the location may have been hard to find, and/or that the location encouraged visitors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZim-pLWyfyJNoIHpQJi6r3pJBWNrQf2ulC0Sn0V3qjedqxoAySOw2LoaOpB-x3_zTQVcT09f-sCy3Uh9bcUD-eeJD_cenfskLR6BsPADJbW1UzKRPfoyz3wEmlraC_peqAqDyDrg6Ov3oRUP8K8ZAuRoWxeZ9qsZdcQAIzksRVa3s_pdL2R3rgXl_vPgv/s1842/rue%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1381" data-original-width="1842" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZim-pLWyfyJNoIHpQJi6r3pJBWNrQf2ulC0Sn0V3qjedqxoAySOw2LoaOpB-x3_zTQVcT09f-sCy3Uh9bcUD-eeJD_cenfskLR6BsPADJbW1UzKRPfoyz3wEmlraC_peqAqDyDrg6Ov3oRUP8K8ZAuRoWxeZ9qsZdcQAIzksRVa3s_pdL2R3rgXl_vPgv/s320/rue%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>A simple google search finds that today, 23 Rue des Petites-Hotels in Paris is occupied in part by the <a href="https://www.aldenteparis.com">Al Dente Agency</a>.</i></b> According to their website, Al Dente describes itself as:<i> “We are an integrated creative agency based in Paris and Rome, believing in the cultural aura of luxury brands.” </i>Perhaps its principals could feel the Steiff love - and aura - when they considered this location for their business in the City of Lights? Above you can see what the street looks like today from the on-the-ground perspective; the image is from Wikipedia.org.<br /><b><i><br />Steiffgal hopes this discussion on this Jocko card has given you a little insight into the company's turn of last century monkey business.</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><b><i>Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! <a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html">Click here</a> to learn more.</i></b></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-41652492834069285752023-11-19T20:01:00.000-05:002023-11-19T20:01:08.770-05:00This Antique Image Featuring Steiff's Record Peter Is Pretty As A Picture <span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>This reader's question is the real-wheel-deal indeed!</i></b> And just goes to show you how far back, and how deeply, some of Steiff's legacy patterns resonate with people all around the world. Zuzana from Slovakia writes,<br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuK54blE-nweHKyjBhqe75eKKor9QWEps41WcnU-E32M9u2UtoRNXhjTTqzg-FyAIhbZ3x8H3fj2dGP7L0k02cZrxIxumlzh5vlltTrK_qdPUulKXPcb0k2-kE5myM1Q9CF9bS1pOiFcoqrjWwUsL0QtGPHwF-0WcGdZpBd_dAkEIVb8gfK1YI_lTl7Za/s3572/use%20this%20one%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3572" data-original-width="2923" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuK54blE-nweHKyjBhqe75eKKor9QWEps41WcnU-E32M9u2UtoRNXhjTTqzg-FyAIhbZ3x8H3fj2dGP7L0k02cZrxIxumlzh5vlltTrK_qdPUulKXPcb0k2-kE5myM1Q9CF9bS1pOiFcoqrjWwUsL0QtGPHwF-0WcGdZpBd_dAkEIVb8gfK1YI_lTl7Za/s320/use%20this%20one%20.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>"Good evening, <br /><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I have a very special question for you and would be really grateful if you can help me. I am a restoration and conservation student from Academy of Fine Art and Design in Bratislava, Slovakia. I am working on this gelatine photograph of two girls with a goat in the middle. One of the girls has a pull toy monkey and I am guessing it's a Steiff toy. I was just curious, if you maybe will have any kind of information about this specific toy. This photo is the only I have and no more information was attached. Maybe you as a professional will see something I cannot. <br /><br />I'm looking forward to hearing from you and thank you so so much. <br /><br />Have a nice day and Greetings from Slovakia, Zuzana."</i><br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6s2OB47xpQTr8Iq-ugqwiU1j5xdEP_ycYfaek5irCd_U4nhK-Nkc4CNQwTUEfs__-hqSQ6Wysh8mlF72JAjow_ue3ZHy81MUNfMEygoDkZnysFkO3m9xc7GawyBGNk7Oe52xuyxjbwKg_KiVaqJB3UhoNts6_7fMjUXAodg2JX7MAjTFB5Pl2cE3UbEkv/s2272/jocko%2016_Record%20Peter%20print%20ad%20from%201914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="2272" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6s2OB47xpQTr8Iq-ugqwiU1j5xdEP_ycYfaek5irCd_U4nhK-Nkc4CNQwTUEfs__-hqSQ6Wysh8mlF72JAjow_ue3ZHy81MUNfMEygoDkZnysFkO3m9xc7GawyBGNk7Oe52xuyxjbwKg_KiVaqJB3UhoNts6_7fMjUXAodg2JX7MAjTFB5Pl2cE3UbEkv/s320/jocko%2016_Record%20Peter%20print%20ad%20from%201914.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This delightful inquiry falls beautifully at the intersection of antique ephemera and Steiff history. </i></b>It is always fascinating to see Steiff items appearing in photographs of yesterday - or even last century. What you see here in the photo from Zuzana is definitely one of Steiff's most beloved and signature items - a chimpanzee on a four wheeled cart, or what is traditionally called a "Record Peter." Here on the left you can see a very early Steiff print advertisement for this very product, the image is from D. Ayers and D. Harrison's, <i>Advertising Art of Steiff, Teddy Bears and Playthings.</i><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDDJasHnkTBZcNjuEwKPV7fJGYVVIq6AGBLNHYGAEFVAQ6xbKFWvBJYahKa-BpTGhh9cIhqouobHr_kB45yvK07Goj6zY5ZRi-rIfUjOiYjNqT_MGJsMqjFHZk0KU-jTG87L-S9aEmDrVHqgjz8503ZCVd8xxvtN9KrudaRGSmFsA8cA3jZysJaIWEDMX/s1397/record%20peter%20jocko%20iwth%20box%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1397" data-original-width="1030" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDDJasHnkTBZcNjuEwKPV7fJGYVVIq6AGBLNHYGAEFVAQ6xbKFWvBJYahKa-BpTGhh9cIhqouobHr_kB45yvK07Goj6zY5ZRi-rIfUjOiYjNqT_MGJsMqjFHZk0KU-jTG87L-S9aEmDrVHqgjz8503ZCVd8xxvtN9KrudaRGSmFsA8cA3jZysJaIWEDMX/s320/record%20peter%20jocko%20iwth%20box%20.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>Let's focus on the history and details of this marvelous monkey.</i></b> Steiff's Record Peter is unquestionably the most well-known novelty based on the company's legacy Jocko the Chimp pattern. This plaything consists of a Jocko riding upon a metal chassis hand cart which glides along on four wooden wheels - usually painted red. When Record Peter is pulled, his arms and legs swing back and forth in synchrony, giving the appearance that he’s working hard to keep his vehicle in motion. Record Peter made his debut in 1912 in 25 cm. As such, this photo was taken in 1912 at the earliest. Here on the left you can see a lovely legacy and most likely mid-century Steiff Record Peter with his original box, the image is from Invaluable.com.<br /><br /><b><i>The Record Peter design was an immediate sensation upon its introduction.</i></b> Steiff's 1912 catalog described him as: <i>“Record Peter, in silky brown mohair plush, seated on a self-drive chassis with sturdy wooden wheels and automatic sound box. Virtually unbreakable mechanism. Simply has to be pulled along by attached cord.”</i> This novelty also came in a number of cataloged and colorful forms and size variations through the early 1940s. These included examples ranging from 10 to 30 cm, as well as rarities made in red, blue, yellow, white, green, red, and black mohair. Each of these colorful characters was decorated with a festive neck ruff. Given his longevity in the line, he also appeared once in a blue moon in some unconventional and/or not cataloged fabrics, including artificial silk plush and cotton plush. These "non-mohair" fabrics usually suggest that the item was made just before, during, or after one of the world wars. You can see two prewar variations on Steiff's Record Peter design below; the one on the left is made from all felt and wears a matching fez and the one of the right is made from cinnamon colored mohair. The image is from the author's collection. <br /><br /><b><i> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wH0r_yfDHFHiysQ2_wHLjaFsRsrugiXvE5JQhqwUsAewrlouWLD_Ry3JMx909-hY1n-q_-762QSrLzT9e2oYv93FxmFK2WN0SEmGA2xHx6Yy0xARY9TVs_dbCd4EAXg_k5Q1NQsdHW5iGJ7wpkT-qtDiRK6l7rlv48cFlUu47JLPDIe1M1fUsZnf9pet/s3648/4%20Record%20Peter%20chimps%20on%20wooden%20wheels%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wH0r_yfDHFHiysQ2_wHLjaFsRsrugiXvE5JQhqwUsAewrlouWLD_Ry3JMx909-hY1n-q_-762QSrLzT9e2oYv93FxmFK2WN0SEmGA2xHx6Yy0xARY9TVs_dbCd4EAXg_k5Q1NQsdHW5iGJ7wpkT-qtDiRK6l7rlv48cFlUu47JLPDIe1M1fUsZnf9pet/s320/4%20Record%20Peter%20chimps%20on%20wooden%20wheels%20.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Due to his popularity, it is no surprise that Record Peter was one of the first items Steiff manufactured when the factory reopened for toy making business post WWII.</i></b> A 25 cm version was produced in brown silk plush in 1949, then in brown mohair through 1970. Even though he has not "officially" appeared full time in the line for nearly half a century, he remains one of the most cherished and timeless Steiff designs amongst collectors today. <br /><br /><b><i>Steiffgal hopes this discussion on this fabulous photo (and its contents) has been a picture perfect experience for you.</i></b><br /><br /><b><i>Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! <a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html">Click here</a> to learn more. </i></b></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-17378657278637900972023-10-26T11:43:00.001-04:002023-10-26T11:43:26.739-04:00Barking Up The Right Tree With This Petite And Princely Steiff Pinscher <div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>And they call it puppy love! </i></b>And for good reason. This sweet sitting pup recently joined Steiffgal's hug. He came in a giant box lot. But as all collectors know... sometimes these types of purchases contain unexpected treasures like this. <br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrl9cSAdxiWCSLY4vFnXlmEIfdDHRqXRq6tzMKMpa6X7nlGW6P7WVNuoUSrPg8oCJcLeZQLNEV_LLHN38D6NWhVeKHIzAG3md-1FGR1bW7pxvFGauGTwvmD3mTwlAmVCJhZfOvuYb_0GhccZ6SXX9JbKu-EVucJDyIJ2bG3eraJHFqRvozGgHRoCna-yLG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrl9cSAdxiWCSLY4vFnXlmEIfdDHRqXRq6tzMKMpa6X7nlGW6P7WVNuoUSrPg8oCJcLeZQLNEV_LLHN38D6NWhVeKHIzAG3md-1FGR1bW7pxvFGauGTwvmD3mTwlAmVCJhZfOvuYb_0GhccZ6SXX9JbKu-EVucJDyIJ2bG3eraJHFqRvozGgHRoCna-yLG" width="180" /></a></div>Sit and stay and check out this sweet pup.</i></b> He is a sweet example of Steiff's Pinscher dog. He is 17 cm tall, sitting, and unjointed. He is made from long tan mohair that was tipped in brown when he was new. You can see this tipping in his armpits, folds, and other places where the sun does not shine! Pinscher</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> has black hand embroidered claws on his front and back paws.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">His face is detailed with charming proportional brown and black glass pupil eyes, a black hand stitched nose and mouth, a spot of red on his lips, and a center-seamed muzzle. His pert triangular mohair ears are lined in tan felt, and as is customary to the breed, he has a proportionally very small tail. He has a nonworking squeaker in his belly. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwC-rzcT4H32T-VUCZkukCeHiNpwROpVZqyU9PiqzrYTBA-boDFdh85bhIuDBreFigQebFSIqe1y_X3VtKQQMqciWvfLSFE487g93cSKvOUL4_UhP2KVXSAWYdoaMFHO12miI_lL40Oe5gOgbeJeapq9IyZhLchty0l4ZYJPVlZE7MIiTdl2sCRooymZ8F/s4032/IMG_9421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwC-rzcT4H32T-VUCZkukCeHiNpwROpVZqyU9PiqzrYTBA-boDFdh85bhIuDBreFigQebFSIqe1y_X3VtKQQMqciWvfLSFE487g93cSKvOUL4_UhP2KVXSAWYdoaMFHO12miI_lL40Oe5gOgbeJeapq9IyZhLchty0l4ZYJPVlZE7MIiTdl2sCRooymZ8F/s320/IMG_9421.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Like most of Steiff's creations, this Pinscher is lovingly and authentically rendered.</i></b> He in a very appealing and authentic sitting position; his back legs are angled and bent in the way a real puppy sits - especially when they are trying coax you into giving them a snack! This guy retains his long trailing "f" Steiff button and bits of his red tag as his Steiff IDs. This tipped mohair Steiff Pinscher pattern was produced in 17, 22, 28, 35, 43, and 50 cm from 1914 though 1931 overall.<br /><br /></span><b style="font-family: verdana;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqNTKbO7408jJIB0ubkz-SNAXoZivp3IMhJgSUBon8tLCcWw8O4z4m3lMon8g76QAuLflgbIWlM9BmDwbNfgxNJeIBxhApC5Meg2rUFGOJQ6so6eOZyo1C2kjla6fJK9Lih-g-LiIdQ3nnOUm_5Q4KTzCmWwcxmLebEzjvQ7XpTH-3W9SD9wMmVBM2xH27" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqNTKbO7408jJIB0ubkz-SNAXoZivp3IMhJgSUBon8tLCcWw8O4z4m3lMon8g76QAuLflgbIWlM9BmDwbNfgxNJeIBxhApC5Meg2rUFGOJQ6so6eOZyo1C2kjla6fJK9Lih-g-LiIdQ3nnOUm_5Q4KTzCmWwcxmLebEzjvQ7XpTH-3W9SD9wMmVBM2xH27" width="180" /></a></div></i></b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Pinschers are few and far between in the Steiff line. </i></b>Over time, three versions were produced prewar. As far as Steiffgal can tell, there has not been one in the line after the early 1940s. It is interesting to note that Steiff's debut Pinscher was produced at the same time as the company's rod jointed bears. Like the rod jointed bears, this guy was also fully rod jointed, had black wooden shoebutton eyes, and a handmade black gutta percha nose. He appeared in 35 cm from 1903 through 1906. He had a distinctly Teddy bear look to him but his limbs were more slender and he did not have felt paw pads. You can see a picture of him here on the left; the image is from Pfeiffer's <i>1892-1943 Sortiment.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><b style="font-family: verdana;"><i>After an eight year hiatus, Pinschers again graced the Steiff catalog.</i></b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> The Pinscher under discussion here today followed the </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">rod jointed version. Steiff's final Pinscher was similar to the tipped version, but made in long grey brown mohair in 17, 22, and 28 cm from 1935-1942. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtXxRrlagmFnFQHnEs8bo_erjsYQ5yxngVNKTIfwyyg_lJT6CBdwLDHj1FViv8hIE-WSrcc4rkeiwwanhGH0yKzzd7V3lnDCNDQWtTt1G1TU53nDNxKBEHLqop4tpwR11aL1KfhGmW1RAzDuHZjwZMxTnbxlifl-DS_HFkh1P3WiEa6pf6UUIFshUJxjA/s4032/IMG_9422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtXxRrlagmFnFQHnEs8bo_erjsYQ5yxngVNKTIfwyyg_lJT6CBdwLDHj1FViv8hIE-WSrcc4rkeiwwanhGH0yKzzd7V3lnDCNDQWtTt1G1TU53nDNxKBEHLqop4tpwR11aL1KfhGmW1RAzDuHZjwZMxTnbxlifl-DS_HFkh1P3WiEa6pf6UUIFshUJxjA/s320/IMG_9422.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Pinschers are a distinctly German breed, so it should be no surprise that Steiff chose to produce a few for their line.</i></b> These dogs originated in southern Germany (also where the Steiff company is located.) They were first officially recognized in 1885 and accepted into the American Kennel Club in 2003. German Pinschers were one of the foundation breeds in the origins of the Doberman Pinscher and the Miniature Pinscher as we know them today. German Pinschers were almost lost to time both post WWI and WWII. According to the AKC, there were no litters registered in West Germany from 1949 to 1958. Due to the heroic efforts of one man, the breed was rescued via intensive breeding and conservation efforts.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Steiffgal hopes this discussion on this petite Pinscher has brought a little more happiness to your day.</i></b><br /><br /><b><i>Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? </i></b>Let's talk! <a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html">Click here</a> to learn more. </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-73933044188924539782023-10-14T12:25:00.004-04:002023-10-14T12:28:00.397-04:00Thinking Outside The Box With This Delightful Steiff Moving Display <span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Would you climb every mountain for a wonderful Steiff rarity?</i></b> How about an actual Steiff hillside scene with moving parts? Check out this note from a new friend in Europe who has inherited such a crated treasure in working order. Just what do we have here? Jeanette shares:</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyHpMkJMW8Mx-zpCgaSXF2IRPB0Bp3rO1tYCsAK0NvGsztm0120g6lyyXMRPpAZQxNJD22NtstKdMFrtxjEKvmTcaV5noiq-eOtr5JLcS7Ca9-tAuwSLmgKkmRXSdlYC4x1G-y0Z0-HMOfhqZIh1Moox1r4HRLQBqrfpTqEzxYFr8oUbLtFew1Y1HLu0i/s5120/IMG_20231014_104149.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="3840" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyHpMkJMW8Mx-zpCgaSXF2IRPB0Bp3rO1tYCsAK0NvGsztm0120g6lyyXMRPpAZQxNJD22NtstKdMFrtxjEKvmTcaV5noiq-eOtr5JLcS7Ca9-tAuwSLmgKkmRXSdlYC4x1G-y0Z0-HMOfhqZIh1Moox1r4HRLQBqrfpTqEzxYFr8oUbLtFew1Y1HLu0i/s320/IMG_20231014_104149.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Hello! I have inherited this Steiff display, but do not know anything about it, except for what Google tells me, and that is how I found your website. The display has been standing in a shop window for many years and works fine mechanically. All the figures have a Steiff mark on the chest. The hedgehogs all stand up and are about 27cm tall, have mohair, velvet, soft arms that can move and a plastic face. Dark blue eyes. There are hedgehogs, dogs, cows, monkeys, mice, mountain goats and a mountain ram. It is a mechanical setup and everything mechanical moves fine. Without music. A serial number is noted on a hedgehog: 7627/28. </i></span><i style="font-family: verdana;">Do you know if it could be worth anything?</i></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br />Kind regards, </i></span><i style="font-family: verdana;">Jeanette from Denmark</i></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqDnEtPLeMd2PBbYyXH5ccYUPWzVC2Cf1_WzUq3pmR_c4LxMVc02r78cPJJ9EdwqMYbx7W1ofjl0zU_C8zz2a2uVjQ9Dv-PZFgdNJcXzxqel7XwNYAXlVMm9PQ0vD4NZO1c7aD1kXy0yFrPvuKu2d0t9MbWuzYn98LaLVobxwYCziqSgBP9EXlBMXk0Wz/s5120/IMG_20231014_104029.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="3840" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqDnEtPLeMd2PBbYyXH5ccYUPWzVC2Cf1_WzUq3pmR_c4LxMVc02r78cPJJ9EdwqMYbx7W1ofjl0zU_C8zz2a2uVjQ9Dv-PZFgdNJcXzxqel7XwNYAXlVMm9PQ0vD4NZO1c7aD1kXy0yFrPvuKu2d0t9MbWuzYn98LaLVobxwYCziqSgBP9EXlBMXk0Wz/s320/IMG_20231014_104029.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>There's so much to unpack here, so let's get started.</i></b> Jeanette has an example of one of Steiff's legacy mechanized displays. It features a pastoral scene consisting of a simple wooden building with a mountain scape in the background. It is populated by a family of Micki and Mecki hedgehog dolls, as well as farm, forest, and mountain animals. The animals on display all appeared in the line from the late 1960s onward; the Mecki noted, with article number 7627/28 was produced from 1968-1990. Steiffgal suspects that this display was assembled in 1969 (give or take a year or two) given the "date" on the sign on the shelter. This sign also notes "Mecki Alm." The word "alm" is very interesting and does not really have an equivalent in English. It refers to a simple hut as well as the broad swath of meadows, forests, and hills surrounding it. That perfectly describes what's going on here. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #4d5156;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86);"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNqndv7VlmDq5e3dMjv96FvJu942fTeIHGfh9oChqjGBd99p-_MfE7cQ8XGxo24TrEHwes5nuN5PrYNeFH7ROOi7EquGjaO5zIwLCOerdwzHg7WUiOSzhlO2rtmMH4nVirIKWzi1VUS2uzeHC4GQW3cSYcS7D47dBoaDj7UFByyB8985ojM7cLY2xsrpE/s5120/IMG_20231014_104220.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="3840" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNqndv7VlmDq5e3dMjv96FvJu942fTeIHGfh9oChqjGBd99p-_MfE7cQ8XGxo24TrEHwes5nuN5PrYNeFH7ROOi7EquGjaO5zIwLCOerdwzHg7WUiOSzhlO2rtmMH4nVirIKWzi1VUS2uzeHC4GQW3cSYcS7D47dBoaDj7UFByyB8985ojM7cLY2xsrpE/s320/IMG_20231014_104220.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></i></b></span></span><b><i>Steiff has a rich history of creating these can't-look-away moving displays. </i></b>They debuted around 1910 as a natural extension of the company's advertising and promotional efforts. Over time, they have been produced in sizes ranging from less than a meter to almost the length of a city block. These vignettes were often reflective of life in a small town, farming, nature, a circus, or sports. Today, Steiff's moving displays are created, serviced, and maintained in what the company calls its Exhibition Department. Because they are made in Giengen and installed all over the world, how they are designed, assembled, and disassembled for transport are almost as critical as their presentations and themes.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Given some online research, it appears that Steiff produced a number of examples of Jeanette's alm display.</i></b> These have appeared at public auction over the years. On December 11, 2016, Morphy Auctions of Denver, PA sold an almost identical version of this display. <a href="https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/48837123_steiff-mountainside-automaton" target="_blank">It was estimated at $500-1,000 and traded hands at $3,125, including the buyer's premium.</a> It was cataloged as: </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>"<span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 22, 20); color: #211614; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This automaton measures approximately 41” x 28” x 48” overall and features 15 Steiff animals at a mountainside farm. The automaton base is made from wood and includes faux cliffs, rocks, plants, and a farmhouse. The animals include monkeys, rams, marmots, goats, woolen miniature birds, cows, and a three member dressed hedgehog family. This display was purchased directly from Margarete Steiff GmbH at New York’s annual ToyFair trade show in the 1980’s. It was on display once or twice a year at Steiff collector events, usually for 3 days at a time, over a 25-year period. When not on display, it was stored in its individual wood shipping crate (included) in a controlled warehouse. This display is in working order with Steiff factory installed 110v US plugs. Condition: As noted. In clean, very good condition overall. Provenance: From a fine Ohio collection." </span></i></span></div><div><span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 22, 20); color: #211614; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><span style="color: #211614;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 22, 20); letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9g6j-XSerUURVoGa_xqecaqsVZLQi8P2pjrheA_amSRFRWFnkQLk2JZGJOt47PAgh7PtARHmDnh0NptVNPkBeT77850JkQeOJzHKoQDtyM-H9mJFbKNrXHWONgKRDjRaCCS9Hr9lCPw6yfva33OqPgmXr9RyYmjuYF1AzhVNZ_MAXVrEVjmjZcEKdXt7/s5120/IMG_20231014_104156.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="3840" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9g6j-XSerUURVoGa_xqecaqsVZLQi8P2pjrheA_amSRFRWFnkQLk2JZGJOt47PAgh7PtARHmDnh0NptVNPkBeT77850JkQeOJzHKoQDtyM-H9mJFbKNrXHWONgKRDjRaCCS9Hr9lCPw6yfva33OqPgmXr9RyYmjuYF1AzhVNZ_MAXVrEVjmjZcEKdXt7/s320/IMG_20231014_104156.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Now let's get to </span></span>Jeanette's question about value.</i></b> As always, something is worth what someone will pay for it, and Steiffgal has not seen this item firsthand to account for condition. <span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 22, 20); color: #211614; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">Other more recent sales of this item include a similar version sold in December, 2022 by Hindman of Chicago. <a href="https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/140923273_a-large-steiff-store-display-automaton" target="_blank">Estimated at $1,000-1,500, it realized $2,064, including the buyer's premium.</a> So the selling price has gone down a little in the past few years, at least based on information available. Given these metrics, it is not out of the question that this item under review her might realize in the c. $2,000-2,500 at auction today. </span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Steiffgal hopes this discussion on Jeanette's alm display has been a breath of fresh air for you today.</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><b style="caret-color: rgb(33, 17, 4); color: #211104; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! <a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html" style="color: #211104;">Click here</a> to learn more.</span></i></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-3431096028019513522023-10-06T15:21:00.004-04:002023-10-07T21:21:12.001-04:00This Rare Steiff Cartoon Doll Is No Laughing Matter!<div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Steiff certainly has international appeal - and so do many of the company's rarer prewar novelties!</i></b> Check out this note from a lucky collector who hit it really big with a fantastic doll purchase. Stefan shares:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-v2MP3q19uv0xerQfeaggCol-_6TWWH5Mfq8P5UcSR6FCh_OTfD9NgVWaH7rAX04S5YoWedQgx76810XlfO0qIBDJZInM-7FnGQf-zP2cK73xCNIBK4KFbFriM8w1ea31HxMxTL3KP1rb5Rdu4TVyXZPHv7cZ1-2DRZp8HdUfkk_-4CDwqAqSXwFh2bv/s1080/Steiff%20Silent%20Sam.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-v2MP3q19uv0xerQfeaggCol-_6TWWH5Mfq8P5UcSR6FCh_OTfD9NgVWaH7rAX04S5YoWedQgx76810XlfO0qIBDJZInM-7FnGQf-zP2cK73xCNIBK4KFbFriM8w1ea31HxMxTL3KP1rb5Rdu4TVyXZPHv7cZ1-2DRZp8HdUfkk_-4CDwqAqSXwFh2bv/s320/Steiff%20Silent%20Sam.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>"I hope this email finds you well and you're doing well. Recently I purchased a figure, which I'm 99% sure it's Steiff. It's a comical character, known as Silent Sam in America, but in Europe known as Adamson. I was just wondering, do you know what year it was manufactured? Thank you so much. </i></span><i style="font-family: verdana;">Kind regards, Stefan"</i><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>This delightful cartoon doll is no laughing matter! </i></b>Here we have Steiff's Adamson doll. This fine fellow is 29 cm tall, fully jointed, and made from felt. His face comes to life with dramatic seaming, blue and black glass pupil eyes backed in large white felt circles, a dimensional nose, and a bald head highlighted with a few remaining black hairs. He smokes a brown and white cigar, which is integral to his mouth. He wears a red and white shirt with cuffs; a white vest detailed with buttons, a collar, and a blue tie; blue pants, and white shoes. These dolls were made from 1925-1929 in this size only. According to the Cieslik's <u>Button in Ear The History of the Teddy Bear and His Friends</u> reference book, 997 examples of this doll were sold. The Ciesliks also note, <i>"In 1925 Steiff adopted Adamson into their program after several trial attempts. For Adamson was not easy to portray; he had a cigar in his mouth which he rarely removed." </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEnVwsmFH6MheEZflqxz6Zz2ascPw7xirfRUm2HzZ9cTRdArfO4hrD5FzLaukB3TXIkxXJ22-u1rw4BZtHxJic63PtbPnmBq31DBDDEC0n5UWkPlCmkLV2Pxp3bpIt3y5NOc3s8XQzLKex37bqJKDJ9CDcHIpeLqkFB4oVzAYan40eFTjS2krNUCnZxoG/s1200/strip%20.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1088" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEnVwsmFH6MheEZflqxz6Zz2ascPw7xirfRUm2HzZ9cTRdArfO4hrD5FzLaukB3TXIkxXJ22-u1rw4BZtHxJic63PtbPnmBq31DBDDEC0n5UWkPlCmkLV2Pxp3bpIt3y5NOc3s8XQzLKex37bqJKDJ9CDcHIpeLqkFB4oVzAYan40eFTjS2krNUCnZxoG/s320/strip%20.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>So just who is this cute character?</i></b> Adamson, also known as Silent Sam, was the star of a cartoon strip drawn by Oscar Jacobsson (Swedish, 1889–1945). It debuted on October 17, 1920 in the Swedish humor publication <u>Söndags-Nisse</u>. What was so interesting - and universal - about Adamson is that he almost never spoke or used words. Instead, he went about his business and communicated with gestures and movements. As such, Jacobsson's character would go on to be appreciated and enjoyed internationally across all of Europe, the USA, and Asian countries including Japan and China. Silent Sam was a big hit in America starting in 1922. Over time, a series of artists brought the strip to life until it was last published in 1964. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>To honor Jacobsson and his contribution to the art of illustration, the Swedish Academy of Comics founded the Adamson Award in 1965.</i></b> It is given to one Swedish and one international comic creator every year. You can see a sample of the Adamson cartoon above on the left. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4X_n8H87Cu6_cODlU2W5SVbuOTTfoCNcNsKQ-KvQewiPS79zh8J8-JXGK-xvb7Fii9UPrnunC92hqTtRzVHpjDb9Rz1U0pejiRrLuCocyfYCEJY66oU-iD7fEDYawn-N-Cwt5Qaa1SsX0HxQJPN4Wx9tg9DraUHQ8KBEWzGFdV3hrim9hKS58tJJNv-M2/s1136/ladenburg%20example%20.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="849" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4X_n8H87Cu6_cODlU2W5SVbuOTTfoCNcNsKQ-KvQewiPS79zh8J8-JXGK-xvb7Fii9UPrnunC92hqTtRzVHpjDb9Rz1U0pejiRrLuCocyfYCEJY66oU-iD7fEDYawn-N-Cwt5Qaa1SsX0HxQJPN4Wx9tg9DraUHQ8KBEWzGFdV3hrim9hKS58tJJNv-M2/s320/ladenburg%20example%20.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>Adamson dolls are certainly few and far between, and Stefan is super lucky to have one in his collection.</i></b> As far as Steiffgal can tell, only three examples of Steiff's Adamson dolls have come up for public auction from 2017 onward. All were sold by Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion GmbH of Ladenburg, Germany. They ranged in hammer price from 2600 to 4500 euro. The doll pictured here on the left hammered for 4200 euro in 2021; the image is from </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion GmbH.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><br /></div><div><div><div><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Steiffgal hopes this blog post about this cigar smoking doll has really lit up your day. </span></i></b></div></div></div></div><div><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b style="caret-color: rgb(33, 17, 4); color: #211104; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! <a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html" style="color: #211104;">Click here</a> to learn more.</span></i></b></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-3755998510856706692023-09-29T15:29:00.000-04:002023-09-29T15:29:11.604-04:00Moving And Grooving With This Extraordinary Steiff Auction Rarity <span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQf6dImRU0TUclzMGuO6XyKbfXZDRiCO20b92q0SG0W5TXO4Ui8eUABP66ELgM7vJpZQ8cpWSBj-hWjjf4jCDorRq7NSfb7S8_oPvZg68OilT0Jvjn8UWoqARGCwsQ6YNcXXvYT3Dcjpz6CVojnYJJ1yd4lESRroLejCPRzW-1NPAzOQD1dWVBtjBFh-Z0/s1372/brush%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1372" data-original-width="572" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQf6dImRU0TUclzMGuO6XyKbfXZDRiCO20b92q0SG0W5TXO4Ui8eUABP66ELgM7vJpZQ8cpWSBj-hWjjf4jCDorRq7NSfb7S8_oPvZg68OilT0Jvjn8UWoqARGCwsQ6YNcXXvYT3Dcjpz6CVojnYJJ1yd4lESRroLejCPRzW-1NPAzOQD1dWVBtjBFh-Z0/s320/brush%201.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><i><b>No need to brush off this week's special blog guest!</b></i> Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion GmbH recently held its annual early fall auction on September 22nd and 23rd, 2023. The sale included a number of interesting vintage toys, dolls, and bears... but one incredibly rare and often misunderstood Steiff rarity really rose to the top. It also caught Steiffgal's eye in a major way. Check out this very early turn of last century novelty. It's guaranteed to have you moving and grooving!<br /><br /><b><i>This special lot was number 3158, a Steiff "Bristles Bear."</i></b> It was cataloged as: "<i>Bristles bear, produced between 1902 and 1904, 20 cm, short plush, brown, attending, dancing on a circular wooden board, with feet made of bristles, with elephant button, shoe button eyes, and tip of the nose made of a shoe button, with original label, D.H. Wagner & Sohn, Spielwarenhandlung, Leipzig Grfmmaische Str. 6., Naschmarkt-Gegenüber, unused original condition, very rare, unusual."</i> It had a starting bid of 850 euro and hammered at an amazing 7,700 euro.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iw8ktRdTvRASZaogPh6pHtLZ0p98G2-xxxff0vb5rhPYuzUTVboXRokU2__9GYOH1aLMpBMgt2APmRYuOJkPBilfjTIPqBmvQUvvP2YjXA7ljBJpBZK5U1aF33-hRcIRTa9ytRPgsktFMYc0WzfWFP1bWRiZ_B5AGDxWNKDkd5brM3xSb8lGx4PJJ9DW/s1903/all%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="1903" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iw8ktRdTvRASZaogPh6pHtLZ0p98G2-xxxff0vb5rhPYuzUTVboXRokU2__9GYOH1aLMpBMgt2APmRYuOJkPBilfjTIPqBmvQUvvP2YjXA7ljBJpBZK5U1aF33-hRcIRTa9ytRPgsktFMYc0WzfWFP1bWRiZ_B5AGDxWNKDkd5brM3xSb8lGx4PJJ9DW/s320/all%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>So just what makes this guy so important? </i></b>Besides its breathtaking condition and extraordinary elephant button, this very early style of bear was one of the inspirations behind Richard Steiff's invention of the fully jointed Teddy bear as we know and love him today. Really! At the turn of last century, Richard was thinking of ways to make his family's toys more fun, interactive, and kinetic. This bear, in the form of a circus bear with a nose ring and chain, stands on a wooden platform which is mounted on little brushes like toothbrush brushes. When the toy is place on a table or flat surface, and the surface is tapped, the vibrations cause the bear to shake and shimmy on the platform. So the bear moves, sort of, but Richard knew there was a better design out there. You can see some of Steiff's earliest turn of last century "moving" bears on the picture above on the left; they include (from left to right) two Bristles bears, a bear on a four wheeled cart, and three tumblers on weighted wooden half spheres. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZCFwKf-4mpJcjNMQLg1xIO8CxCIKvoVn8TjBDae53URQlltiy2QLtkMcUYZRUO1siFUoSL6msyJPOnJVLY3Sn4Fpd9Q7mexAPqDJzMvDeVVNg9dIYProcrL3zCQ3RmPjXWd-GVLEPafkEeP1JcSEBo-laLxGUhnASarorwb1tTIiR6B3_DX52RIQ0oMt/s1366/brush%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="588" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZCFwKf-4mpJcjNMQLg1xIO8CxCIKvoVn8TjBDae53URQlltiy2QLtkMcUYZRUO1siFUoSL6msyJPOnJVLY3Sn4Fpd9Q7mexAPqDJzMvDeVVNg9dIYProcrL3zCQ3RmPjXWd-GVLEPafkEeP1JcSEBo-laLxGUhnASarorwb1tTIiR6B3_DX52RIQ0oMt/s320/brush%202.jpg" width="138" /></a></div>Richard also spent a lot of time at the local zoo, watching how animals interact and get around, and making sketches of them in the flesh. </i></b>He was very interested in trying to figure out how to reproduce these lifelike movements in his toy designs. Also around this time, in 1903, mohair became available on a commercial level and in supplies adequate enough for the toymaking business. It wasn't long before it became crystal clear that this soft, durable, and furry fabric would be perfect for making world class soft bears and animals. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>So how does this all come together?</i></b> After a lot of thinking, planning, and creative energy, Richard took the best of his current "moving" product line, his observations of bears ambling about in real life, and the opportunities presented by mohair fabric and came up with the company's first fully jointed string bear in 1902 - PB55. Although this pattern proved not to be commercially viable, it was quickly updated to rod and then cardboard disk style jointing, and the rest - as they say - is history! </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Steiffgal hopes this little history lesson, based on Steiff's early Bristles bear, has been a hair raising experience!</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><b style="caret-color: rgb(33, 17, 4); color: #211104; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! <a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html" style="color: #211104;">Click here</a> to learn more.</span></i></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-15140743623643067282023-09-24T15:01:00.000-04:002023-09-24T15:01:45.239-04:00Racing To The Finish Line With This Amazing Steiff Gallop Novelty <span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>There's no horsing around when it comes to this week's blog featured guest.</i></b> Or guests, in this case! This amazing Steiff rarity came to Steiffgal somewhat out of the blue, and belonged to a collector on the West Coast who really, really loved precious Steiff items. Check out this prancing pair on wheels and see what makes them so delightful from the design and product development timeline perspectives.<br /><br /><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-PZwQo0pRH2v8Xvyn7YIklrnMVkmXztpgHyYJxw-ZHOVozDhc3OV0L7DmtPstYUmJisFQXMimutcTSmo5_KBZl_yTh0SGLVITghhEHPD0woAuy37ViEkYsI_TeCiPKg9bu-ZS_kHNd1g3ESw-vhi-x5yIi3GGB73qkAMYyvPWOqqf8GiSQWkRJsbEKFF/s4032/IMG_7443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-PZwQo0pRH2v8Xvyn7YIklrnMVkmXztpgHyYJxw-ZHOVozDhc3OV0L7DmtPstYUmJisFQXMimutcTSmo5_KBZl_yTh0SGLVITghhEHPD0woAuy37ViEkYsI_TeCiPKg9bu-ZS_kHNd1g3ESw-vhi-x5yIi3GGB73qkAMYyvPWOqqf8GiSQWkRJsbEKFF/s320/IMG_7443.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>It's off to the races with this Steiff Gallop novelty.</b> It consists of two standing, unjointed 8 cm mohair pets on a metal cart with red wooden wheels. The first animal is little Molly dog. She is made from tan and brown tipped mohair and is solidly stuffed with excelsior. Her face comes to life with brown and black glass pupil eyes and a black hand embroidered nose and mouth. Her ears are seamed on their outside edges, and are folded over in typical Molly style. Her IDs have been lost to time. Her companion is a distinctive cat made from silver tipped mohair. She has a trimmed muzzle, a pink hand embroidered nose and mouth, green and black slit style glass pupil eyes, and a few remaining clear monofilament whiskers. She retains her long trailing "f" button. This Molly and cat Gallop novelty appeared in the line in this size and configuration from 1926-1929.<br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VuNEzlG6FM4RO6o7oXOkHr-QdrcaDlL5GwzhpHeusFxFa3CBVkVM6qw93T7pjdglj_MT7jBUOj9O_CQnWTc7PGkDh7gypgQDPBQbZE_NBO0yuragcEzbR0fPljqaeKymqV4-6t55R7bB1j4RahihaqlD7hhxSksKutpc9rn2r166f4ZSAwC-SP60J0Fe/s4032/IMG_7444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VuNEzlG6FM4RO6o7oXOkHr-QdrcaDlL5GwzhpHeusFxFa3CBVkVM6qw93T7pjdglj_MT7jBUOj9O_CQnWTc7PGkDh7gypgQDPBQbZE_NBO0yuragcEzbR0fPljqaeKymqV4-6t55R7bB1j4RahihaqlD7hhxSksKutpc9rn2r166f4ZSAwC-SP60J0Fe/s320/IMG_7444.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Now let's check out the lucky passengers on this very special ride!</i></b> Standing Molly appeared in the line in 8, 12, 14, 17, 22, 28, and 35 cm from 1925-1936 overall. She was not produced standing postwar. This Gallop Molly is most likely an example of the 8 cm standard line Molly. The cat, on the other hand, did not appear in Steiff's catalog, as far as Steiffgal can tell, except on this exact novelty. This prewar black mohair cat design is just one of a tiny handful of kittens - other than the company's famous arched back Tom Cat - produced in this color and fabric before WWII.<br /><br /><b><i>This Gallop toy was one of three novelty pull toy designs Steiff produced from the mid-1920s through the mid-1930s.</i></b> These included Roly-Drolys, Wiwags, and Gallop toys. Each of these three patterns used pairs of small, standard line items on wooden carts. All were created in response to product development need identified by Richard Steiff. He was living in America at the time and insisted that these sorts of "mobile" items were necessary in the line to keep up with the demands of the marketplace, consumer preferences, and growing worldwide competition. <br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIIHv8BYIO80B6lcF6CCvh0bEWm1a2EoAv5lj_NvgM9SMVThXOchLuaoq0p7UXG9yu_zxRJIQjpsVa0H5xJGsV3-GRdevYL3Jhry5vJqlvLci9ZjQpqLie8bfGseCvKnzhV-1XuMp6d6kFChJGZHuvOmlObaQ7K_d1e1is33vKIqbnHe0aHG_5YqAfWS1/s1143/catalog%20page%20all%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="839" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIIHv8BYIO80B6lcF6CCvh0bEWm1a2EoAv5lj_NvgM9SMVThXOchLuaoq0p7UXG9yu_zxRJIQjpsVa0H5xJGsV3-GRdevYL3Jhry5vJqlvLci9ZjQpqLie8bfGseCvKnzhV-1XuMp6d6kFChJGZHuvOmlObaQ7K_d1e1is33vKIqbnHe0aHG_5YqAfWS1/s320/catalog%20page%20all%20.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>And just how did these pull toys rock and roll?</i></b> Roly-Droys appeared in the line from 1924–1934. The animals rotated in circles as their cart was pulled along. "Roly-Droly" comes from the German words "rollen" (to roll) and "drollig" (funny or droll). Wiwags appeared in the line from 1924–1927; its passengers see-sawed up and down as their cart was propelled forward. And Gallop toys, like the one under review here, were made from 1926–1929. The riders glided back and forth as their cart's wheels turned round and round. Each of these metal and wooden toys came with a pull string that was tipped with a wooden knob decorated with a Steiff button. You can see Steiff's range of Gallop toys as pictured in the company's 1929 catalog. The image is from Carsten Esser's <i>Steiff Katalog 1920-1929. </i><br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71nU47ErlHseVWxpn8Ox8FfisHsGhclXgfC2RYDk2BowK3OlFk61VVcEPotVpCjDAPYIRaGR_PB4SgAWveg-CfFa7_BEBfvBoJDbxejTxqyyxWdC96A4nuOSiK2qSKEqh9Dps_zZHi5h7lt_luCELq1OFs3_oaLl4HaBgTEVVHtfQuZlPiX46B7gGAe7u/s1101/galop%20advertising%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1101" data-original-width="911" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71nU47ErlHseVWxpn8Ox8FfisHsGhclXgfC2RYDk2BowK3OlFk61VVcEPotVpCjDAPYIRaGR_PB4SgAWveg-CfFa7_BEBfvBoJDbxejTxqyyxWdC96A4nuOSiK2qSKEqh9Dps_zZHi5h7lt_luCELq1OFs3_oaLl4HaBgTEVVHtfQuZlPiX46B7gGAe7u/s320/galop%20advertising%20.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>According to Steiff's advertising, Gallop toys consisted of</i></b>...<i>"Two different animals of fine plush on car of special construction. When pulled along, the galloping moment is produced."</i> Gallop toys were produced in a number of configurations. These included one with a brown and white standing bear; one with a standing lion and elephant; one with a standing fox and hare; one with a Barney Google doll and a standing bear; one with a Barney Google doll and a standing Spark Plug horse; one with a Spark Plug horse and an ostrich; one with two standing goats; and one with a Molly and black cat. The advertisement on the left is from the mid-1920s and features the Molly and black cat version under discussion here today. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">The image is from Carsten Esser's </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">Steiff Katalog 1920-1929. </i><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Steiffgal hopes this discussion on Steiff's Gallop novelties has put a fun spring in your step today. </i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><b style="caret-color: rgb(33, 17, 4); color: #211104;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! <a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html" style="color: #211104;">Click here</a> to learn more.</span></i></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-63611190118956021552023-09-09T14:19:00.000-04:002023-09-09T14:19:09.049-04:00Does This Lifesize Steiff Sheep Call To Ewe? <span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-S1FA1daqt6pSRn5Vx0-OL1tZAs7_I2GGcnv6kQYgBDmMjP-rSTZYcGMZQyfXX5HT15KkMAnNDd-iSyhewdp0uQSejJu1kJodFynOH_ML47rPBSYRI1Kt7ni0BvfHA3P_kFCSN-soA56rJbOBpCBeLD_Ewqz_BgBL2S0ESuUP6dgK93vgspUNOseQSlX/s4032/image1-5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-S1FA1daqt6pSRn5Vx0-OL1tZAs7_I2GGcnv6kQYgBDmMjP-rSTZYcGMZQyfXX5HT15KkMAnNDd-iSyhewdp0uQSejJu1kJodFynOH_ML47rPBSYRI1Kt7ni0BvfHA3P_kFCSN-soA56rJbOBpCBeLD_Ewqz_BgBL2S0ESuUP6dgK93vgspUNOseQSlX/s320/image1-5.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Sometimes it's ok to be a little sheepish.</i></b> Especially when it comes to delightful Steiff button-in-ear mysteries like this one! Check out this fabulous and fuzzy farm friend who just might be larger than life. What do you think? Danna shares, </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>"Could you offer any assistance in figuring out the mystery of the sheep? His coat is darker and the feet are different than the two I found on the web, his eyes also have different centers and there is no yellow tag in the front. I think it's older. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!"</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlrDj8RkL1u8CK4AUMu3EeVz8W6oGvEsY1wYq5_66AjykgXlztp2VhbThHJklobTDkJ2gTu1x140uN82jwkj14kWE2izpV3llcoPYVchQF35Apjm4LZ1jG6fXMy9YrxA4F8G6bHATr6UKfOs4nSdMWgW5ZWvM0sjN4RTsiXuwfC0DTBh2-ykqa1sLE4oW/s4032/image2-4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlrDj8RkL1u8CK4AUMu3EeVz8W6oGvEsY1wYq5_66AjykgXlztp2VhbThHJklobTDkJ2gTu1x140uN82jwkj14kWE2izpV3llcoPYVchQF35Apjm4LZ1jG6fXMy9YrxA4F8G6bHATr6UKfOs4nSdMWgW5ZWvM0sjN4RTsiXuwfC0DTBh2-ykqa1sLE4oW/s320/image2-4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>This member of the flock truly rocks!</i></b> What we have here is a great example of one of Steiff's rarer studio, or life-sized sheep. He is standing on all fours, unjointed, and made from now faded brown tipped wool plush. His legs and ears are made from white wool plush. His inset muzzle is detailed with oversized green and black slit pupil eyes, a simple mouth and nose, and airbrushed highlights. He is solidly stuffed with excelsior and most likely has a metal skeleton inside to support his size and weight. He left the factory wearing a Steiff chest tag, but this has been lost to time. These brown tipped sheep were made in 80 and 90 cm from 1966-1967 only. The 80 cm version is also standing but his head his bowed to the ground as if he is nibbling on the grass. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>It is interesting to note that Steiff also created a 95 cm standing display ram produced in the same brown tipped wool plush as Danna's life-sized sheep. </i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1EcYBIHJuF6SBUgYM3EUPUItRRF7CF-LLGdUp8O7aJvt0-9xFmM5aWp4xn-VooBfyH64drqf0-_s0K0awrI0z3Pt0FhgI1ZV05CNvwES3iDVB8EmJAKD26-gTe1JpYv7x_xsWgPQUqcgUkhEBUp3ElTqSliWgh1frMJxzHUOjqAZu_8iXgkWX7M6hXTf6/s792/sheep%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="792" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1EcYBIHJuF6SBUgYM3EUPUItRRF7CF-LLGdUp8O7aJvt0-9xFmM5aWp4xn-VooBfyH64drqf0-_s0K0awrI0z3Pt0FhgI1ZV05CNvwES3iDVB8EmJAKD26-gTe1JpYv7x_xsWgPQUqcgUkhEBUp3ElTqSliWgh1frMJxzHUOjqAZu_8iXgkWX7M6hXTf6/s320/sheep%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Now let's shepherd this sheep discussion to his IDs.</i></b> Danna's sheep has a product number of 1590,90 which is the 90 cm version made in 1966. Those made in 1967 have a product number of 3459/09. His numbers correspond as... 1= standing, 5= wool plush, 90= 90 cm, 9= display animal or special edition, and 0= normal (in reference to coloring.) Here on the left you can see these tipped sheep as they appeared in Steiff's 1967 studio line catalog.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Steiffgal hopes this discussion on Danna's sheep has put ewe in a great mood today.</i></b> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><b style="caret-color: rgb(33, 17, 4); color: #211104; font-family: verdana;"><i>Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! <a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html" style="color: #211104;">Click here</a> to learn more.</i></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-69918447638357464612023-09-02T22:27:00.004-04:002023-09-02T22:27:46.648-04:00Going Out On A Limb Over This Unusual Steiff Prewar Novelty <span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Look what I found!</i></b> That's exactly what a new friend from Florida said when she came across an interesting button-in-ear treasure at an estate sale local to her. But what exactly is this creature? Is it a merry mashup, or a loved to (almost) death standard line novelty? Valerie shares in part,</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><p><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstkw9_yVnS3_GossCNKEnyOY4Zo1379YhjiXNgovqyFxChW3-cb2p7sk2YWTdOzcjhqdsww1jJwjgPYegtOdXPuhWtV2w5GTlnmgiKqQRO8VIEF_rSMr26l2dbH2D22wZXSFyoRXjfJbfWBg3qHpa0bGowMEBU746w30Q_0tsMC3pGma_ejNpSWLBBOZO/s1339/val%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="825" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstkw9_yVnS3_GossCNKEnyOY4Zo1379YhjiXNgovqyFxChW3-cb2p7sk2YWTdOzcjhqdsww1jJwjgPYegtOdXPuhWtV2w5GTlnmgiKqQRO8VIEF_rSMr26l2dbH2D22wZXSFyoRXjfJbfWBg3qHpa0bGowMEBU746w30Q_0tsMC3pGma_ejNpSWLBBOZO/s320/val%201.jpg" width="197" /></a></span></i></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>"This odd little fellow has a bear head; a caramel colored velvet body; a maybe muslin head, ears, hands, and feet; but also a 2" long tail! His skinny arms and legs are sewn/unjointed. His hands and feet have red embroidery threads roughly delineating his fingers and toes. All of his "fur" has been lost over time, except for very scant tufts of grey mohair inside his right ear. There's a dark metal button in his left ear, with Steiff in all capital letters with the tail of the second F extending to the "e." His nose and mouth are embroidered with faded pink thread. His eyes are sew-on green glass with black centers, and stick away from his face. I think the head is stuffed with excelsior, but the body, hands and feel softer.<br /> <br />Ancient bears had long tails, but I'm wondering if somebody sewed a Steiff bear head onto another beloved animal's body? The only thing that throws me off is that the material of the head, hands, feet and tail are the same. What do you think?"</i><br /> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLdDjYDc97t1JTRABjWpjZatyqmJ7e3Fis1AQAJUzaK6VVmre4djNQIKlQknj5H-BwKZkSXAbMwewJmvsSffbM9eiMMgjut9p1OrDxzUuX1LAOLZ1psMnLsOS9Tj4csHH33vIpGrUlEIZasJ-Pg7yy2ivuKyA7o0GjpQQh0jiVddN6GonSWMZsHAHVoVAQ/s1383/fluffiette%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1383" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLdDjYDc97t1JTRABjWpjZatyqmJ7e3Fis1AQAJUzaK6VVmre4djNQIKlQknj5H-BwKZkSXAbMwewJmvsSffbM9eiMMgjut9p1OrDxzUuX1LAOLZ1psMnLsOS9Tj4csHH33vIpGrUlEIZasJ-Pg7yy2ivuKyA7o0GjpQQh0jiVddN6GonSWMZsHAHVoVAQ/s320/fluffiette%201.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>Fingers crossed that Valerie can bear the news that her fabulous find is not a bear, but actually a cat!</i></b> This cute cat is named Fluffiette, and she was one of a series of long limbed lovelies featured in the Steiff catalog from 1927-1932. These "play and car dolls" included Bulliette the bulldog, Molliette the puppy, Rabbiette the rabbit, Cherrioette the open mouthed puppy, and this cat - named Fluffiette (after the company's popular and beloved 1920s era cat named Fluffy.) Each animal doll had the mohair or velvet head of the character, mohair or velvet paws and feet, and dangling velvet limbs. Most were available in several colors and in 20, 30, and 43 cm, with the larger sizes having a squeaker. Each left the factory suspended from an elastic cord and was detailed with an ivory ring for hanging and a decorative pom-pom. Fluffiette was produced in pink or orange velvet, which is completely consistent with Valerie's example. Here on the left you can see what Fluffiette looked like when new, the image is from Pfeiffer's <i>1892-1943 Sortiment.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnECM2OD-uIF0Dn5lWzjyTZBHp_z49uiV1QkkUsTn49fY_h2kY98OBZ3uc2o1Cx2SjqL4v1-ztxf4fADHNXCX1HseIXPHEpIw0w2rduVmGAk2OFin-YQUJRxdNbEvH8z-cYjSyN0S_y6YIX6kMmxIcXeRx0-GyGvgEp75CL1uM5W-c66DsoPd_fYtHgBVl/s2152/fluffiette%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2152" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnECM2OD-uIF0Dn5lWzjyTZBHp_z49uiV1QkkUsTn49fY_h2kY98OBZ3uc2o1Cx2SjqL4v1-ztxf4fADHNXCX1HseIXPHEpIw0w2rduVmGAk2OFin-YQUJRxdNbEvH8z-cYjSyN0S_y6YIX6kMmxIcXeRx0-GyGvgEp75CL1uM5W-c66DsoPd_fYtHgBVl/s320/fluffiette%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>It has been suggested that the design of this series was based on a similar line from the Chad Valley Toy Company of England called "Tango Toys.</i></b>" Steiff modified the design to fit their characters and manufacturing processes, and named the line "Charleston Animals," based on the Charleston dance crazy of the 1920’s, with its fast moving arm and leg movements. You can see Steiff's full line of Charleston Animals here on the left; this image appeared in the company's 1929 product catalog. Fluffiette is third in from the right, sandwiched between a standing Molliette and a standing Rabbiette. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><b><i>Steiffgal hopes this discussion on this Fluffiette Charleston Animal has put a little spring in your step today. <br /><br />Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! <a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html">Click here</a> to learn more.</i></b></span></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-37677945867949221572023-08-27T18:46:00.003-04:002023-08-27T18:50:16.395-04:00Getting Carried Away With A Most Unexpected Antique Steiff Find!<span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2I0w7w9MQVFC6qi320ugG8WoOuyES-Jmxd-SpWM_WEiL1PklFAMOXWiblO7n4J34l3wAuhGCTQFWdjOD7sV27k_VRX7LYxB5uhJn3i3YpT3eQHOw8JG6DPJrW4MoRfuAM6lgAUg18CGFabF--yYdjgIH62V-IM7bwFnKkmRZPTjGqoHKqDss3l5-7vwd/s4032/IMG_6192.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2I0w7w9MQVFC6qi320ugG8WoOuyES-Jmxd-SpWM_WEiL1PklFAMOXWiblO7n4J34l3wAuhGCTQFWdjOD7sV27k_VRX7LYxB5uhJn3i3YpT3eQHOw8JG6DPJrW4MoRfuAM6lgAUg18CGFabF--yYdjgIH62V-IM7bwFnKkmRZPTjGqoHKqDss3l5-7vwd/s320/IMG_6192.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Steiff treasures sometimes appear when you least expect to find them.</i></b> Steiffgal recently participated in an online auction. One of the lots listed was a simple and somewhat common midcentury button-in-ear bear. He was super sweet, but nothing really out of the ordinary. Except he was wearing a backpack. This accessory was pictured in one photo of his listing, but not really called out in the description. At the last moment, as he was being sold, Steiffgal took a closer look at his backpack... and realized that it was an absolute Steiff rarity hiding in plain sight. Come take a look at this amazing accessory and see what makes it so appealing from the collector's perspectives.<br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgs8lEzYxdRPcjy4xs6wvtv12tgDVPeWVaT1qQOvEAeOxRt3vLBbMKJtCeHZQGxRatrvl8RWwQUiDUBY7c4jyvagMMQei8f6lza-vU5wlgTe72UKVYTSZD1b5vp8ot5R62BcnLgQrMol-vVU08KOeD5C8-WrdBlJ3MloQPWWjBb0w7wTe0Z-h3BJgQ_P6/s2923/IMG_6193.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2923" data-original-width="2839" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgs8lEzYxdRPcjy4xs6wvtv12tgDVPeWVaT1qQOvEAeOxRt3vLBbMKJtCeHZQGxRatrvl8RWwQUiDUBY7c4jyvagMMQei8f6lza-vU5wlgTe72UKVYTSZD1b5vp8ot5R62BcnLgQrMol-vVU08KOeD5C8-WrdBlJ3MloQPWWjBb0w7wTe0Z-h3BJgQ_P6/s320/IMG_6193.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>First, let's get carried away and check out the detailing of this tiny treasure.</i></b> The rectangular shaped backpack itself measures 8 cm x 6 cm x 2 cm overall. The front flap is made from brown mohair. The edges are trimmed in red, and it is monogrammed "DL" also in red. The rest of the case is made from brown canvas. The bottom inside is lined with a small piece of cardboard to hold the backpack's shape and angles. The backpack's straps are made from soft brown leather. They close with metal buckles and loops attached to the bottom of the backpack, and to leather straps that are attached to the front flap. The backpack itself has no specific Steiff branding to it. It does has the look, feel, and quality of the company's first quarter of the 20th century accessories - mostly seen on Steiff's military dolls in the form of soldier's kits, canteens, bread bags, etc. <br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgtdFgEjPcOAJSaI241azdbsRjmuOEAWtE2z8E776vbX9pSlNSyjodMT189tdc_4ydXIh0rEgdnjyxFzrW5T9Hu0BsNNBqKh4mkfvo077cdWp2nXO-_rIXce2vYjQM5UkMUXdMd9MWAkp0bqdi9cLwi5ZVaU5lAT_X7XyG1SacjVOSNcRkKzrFZzbKThl/s4032/IMG_6191.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgtdFgEjPcOAJSaI241azdbsRjmuOEAWtE2z8E776vbX9pSlNSyjodMT189tdc_4ydXIh0rEgdnjyxFzrW5T9Hu0BsNNBqKh4mkfvo077cdWp2nXO-_rIXce2vYjQM5UkMUXdMd9MWAkp0bqdi9cLwi5ZVaU5lAT_X7XyG1SacjVOSNcRkKzrFZzbKThl/s320/IMG_6191.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>But hold everything - that's not all!</i></b> This little time capsule also held a delightful secret. When Steiffgal CAREFULLY opened it up, she discovered two dolly-scaled, double sided chalkboards packed perfectly within the backpack's internal storage space. These lesson boards measured 8 cm x 5 cm and were made from thick brown cardboard with a black painted center. The outer corners of each blackboard were painted silver, and each also had a little hole and a hanging string. Traces of a math lesson could be found on one of them. They also had the look, quality, and detailing of premier Steiff accessories from the first quarter of the 20th century.<br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8_PkxMsiWs8Zmt94OTISpZ9_xLZyzLNSXiPtfe2bGml9BETAG4Ji_Wky6FOfGgxtAKCzedbvUrKlChcBtQs0zCYHtELYFaJxrLWn5Pmj9yy9KzhcI4L_PxSS1Yu7cLsHhgwab_GR5lWfkTbVp_3b6InXQve-10JiK5LYnal1bFLk4P9sG-Gyaw6nDUs1/s1656/last%20use%20this%20one%20.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="1656" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8_PkxMsiWs8Zmt94OTISpZ9_xLZyzLNSXiPtfe2bGml9BETAG4Ji_Wky6FOfGgxtAKCzedbvUrKlChcBtQs0zCYHtELYFaJxrLWn5Pmj9yy9KzhcI4L_PxSS1Yu7cLsHhgwab_GR5lWfkTbVp_3b6InXQve-10JiK5LYnal1bFLk4P9sG-Gyaw6nDUs1/s320/last%20use%20this%20one%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>So what does all this mean?</i></b> This backpack was produced around 1909 or 1910 and was designed - at least in part - to go with the company's line of school children dolls. So the chalkboards make perfect sense here! Steiff designed and produced a number of classroom-style display vignettes featuring their school pupils and their perfectly to scale scholarly accessories through the early 19-teens. According to the Cieslik's <u>Button in Ear</u> book from 1989, <i>"Steiff designed a few versions of this vignette, a smaller one with nine dolls as pupils and their teacher, and a larger one with 13 pupils and a teacher. All school furniture and accessories could be ordered from Steiff. In 1910 Steiff sold 45 complete school displays.”</i> You can see a photo of one of these partial vignettes here on the left; the image is from Theriault's and they sold this set for $50,000 in 2012. Check out those backpacks and chalkboards, too!</span><br /><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KPYGzF8xf9QmW49YMztgpzgFUYeEtHk_oigRTBnm5MZoqP-grVbxMeXW6cRsmvQ44TSaZCKudQyVDdYrKKJsr8MvVTRBiiYTVfuVU89RJbpZtmeZrKKmhgXQKM5c4OUFhPVKsov3gvaonWjXEPPlAf3dVxs1UHBtZEv-ZKBKXJ5qUyvgfxWFjUiauvQi/s2271/sample%20backpack.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1361" data-original-width="2271" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KPYGzF8xf9QmW49YMztgpzgFUYeEtHk_oigRTBnm5MZoqP-grVbxMeXW6cRsmvQ44TSaZCKudQyVDdYrKKJsr8MvVTRBiiYTVfuVU89RJbpZtmeZrKKmhgXQKM5c4OUFhPVKsov3gvaonWjXEPPlAf3dVxs1UHBtZEv-ZKBKXJ5qUyvgfxWFjUiauvQi/s320/sample%20backpack.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Steiffgal hopes this discussion on this tiny, turn of last century Steiff bookbag (also pictured here on the left on a wonderful Steiff student sold on eBay a few years ago) has put you in a back-to-school sort of way. </i></b></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 17, 4); color: #211104; font-family: verdana; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Have a question about one of your </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59" style="caret-color: rgb(33, 17, 4); color: #211104; font-family: verdana; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Steiff</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 17, 4); color: #211104; font-family: verdana; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;"> treasures? Let's talk! </span><a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html" style="caret-color: rgb(33, 17, 4); color: #211104; font-family: verdana; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Click here</a><span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 17, 4); color: #211104; font-family: verdana; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;"> to learn more!</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-82836120290173624012023-08-20T12:19:00.003-04:002023-08-20T12:21:12.304-04:00What a Devilishly Interesting Steiff Mystery!<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>The devil made me do it!</i></b> But in this case, it's all in good fun! Check out this note from a new friend who asks about an unusual item she found among her Mother's things. What do we have here? And could this man in red be made by Steiff? Darcie shares:</span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNv2mPpj3HgAlAu_ZWb2t8QYI0lOXbvVm0c7pA7fA6IKvovFuLNEwATMO-jhKnsGRtwY5yBXQMHjRX-v13Dhm1fYwaWQVGFPzzk_WhSEXYJ63arbtTmIuxHhANME7XuvFfUKmIryKjtohWhNbBE8rJjZ0aReZ8jxQePj8XW_X0YkT3GEgaD4VTA7HKGTo2/s2016/IMG_3323.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNv2mPpj3HgAlAu_ZWb2t8QYI0lOXbvVm0c7pA7fA6IKvovFuLNEwATMO-jhKnsGRtwY5yBXQMHjRX-v13Dhm1fYwaWQVGFPzzk_WhSEXYJ63arbtTmIuxHhANME7XuvFfUKmIryKjtohWhNbBE8rJjZ0aReZ8jxQePj8XW_X0YkT3GEgaD4VTA7HKGTo2/s320/IMG_3323.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>"I have a red devil doll with a Steiff tag but it is not attached. So I am not sure if it was made by Steiff. I thought Steiff’s have the metal button/tag on them. Can you help?"</i><br /><br /><b><i>Well hell-o handsome! </i></b>What a great find! Although not specified, it would be Steiffgal's best bet that this devil doll is nearly identical to the blue felt version Steiff made of the <a href="http://insidetheparkcollectibles.com/1954-duke-blue-devil-steiff-doll-lot1311.aspx">Duke University Blue Devil mascot.</a> The Duke Devil was jointed, with a felt body and a rubber head with horns. He was detailed with a blue felt suit, long blue felt tail, and white felt shoes, and carried a three pointed spear. He appeared in the Steiff line from 1954-1958, and then again from 1959-1963 as part of Steiff's early post war series of university and institutional mascots. These charming mascots were featured in F.A.O. Schwarz's catalogs in the early 1950s. <br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOZUvyi0z1i71ZR3LON_b3QW_PKw78-8ufSJWg3fY36wRv3HcJRgBI3DzPCYWzKy4pHuFwcYlQ7SyoLch84sHebwmEAgFfmcSpASXYdW1zAzTpMv17W89AjM1WJVlg1m2M84D_ryUg8EIYIFCU-6wzfDxblJpzqF2DtxpzmUbzV9CzHcTqZUu-eWJ0MA2/s2016/IMG_3326.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOZUvyi0z1i71ZR3LON_b3QW_PKw78-8ufSJWg3fY36wRv3HcJRgBI3DzPCYWzKy4pHuFwcYlQ7SyoLch84sHebwmEAgFfmcSpASXYdW1zAzTpMv17W89AjM1WJVlg1m2M84D_ryUg8EIYIFCU-6wzfDxblJpzqF2DtxpzmUbzV9CzHcTqZUu-eWJ0MA2/s320/IMG_3326.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>So what might be the story behind this uncatalogued red version?</i></b> Steiffgal suspects it might be a sample or very low edition as she has never seen or heard of a red version previous to this one. The handwritten number "7128" on the early postwar ear tag provided by Darcie refers to 7= in caricature, 1= felt, and 28= 28 cm tall. This makes sense in terms of this guy for sure. 7128 is also the number of the earliest blue Duke Blue Devil mascot edition. Perhaps this red felt version with the US Zone tag and raised script button was made in the c. 1951-1953 time frame (before the launch of the Duke version) when you see items with the US Zone tag, for the most part. It is entirely possible that Steiff saw greater market potential and interest in making this rubber devil doll in blue as the Duke mascot than simply in generic red.<br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9A-ntYgZSNmtFwn0TZcw43Ls4AWZFK99HWc6S7HMVw4y-NRhbW-kpPKkZ43es8-QDilV5xLsej0QzBNtVxrZp-A5-_E5x_QngoyhIMHaTEHUYweqj4PDh3u6rr7p-H_IALDXO-cgzeWIopziugeSAM2EV2P6QlI1vxWeJQrAjcQMVuKQTrhm2_Fgpo-fk/s2016/IMG_3325.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9A-ntYgZSNmtFwn0TZcw43Ls4AWZFK99HWc6S7HMVw4y-NRhbW-kpPKkZ43es8-QDilV5xLsej0QzBNtVxrZp-A5-_E5x_QngoyhIMHaTEHUYweqj4PDh3u6rr7p-H_IALDXO-cgzeWIopziugeSAM2EV2P6QlI1vxWeJQrAjcQMVuKQTrhm2_Fgpo-fk/w150-h200/IMG_3325.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>Steiffgal hopes this discussion on this rare devil doll has fired up your interest in the company's unusual mid-century production.</i></b></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Have a question about one of your </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Steiff</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;"> treasures? Let's talk! </span><a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html" style="color: #211104; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Click here</a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;"> to learn more!</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-73211039437048163832023-08-12T16:01:00.002-04:002023-08-12T16:01:49.985-04:00Rolling Along With This Early 1930s Steiff Scotty On Wheels <span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Great Scot!</i></b> Check out this utterly charming prewar pup on wheels. Despite his small size, he's got a few interesting "time capsule" details that help to date him to a "T". Read on to learn more.<br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnndJ1sKVDK-HsYO5tN5Eslac4LtnUCkltPoWfByCew_G3dlX_Q7DdCs-bjDaj5XT364jeM3RXahSHxzmFXC0ecJhCamge0MD8NyNgXPcidfgXt8Qz3TeSKow4WuvrgGXXgKgIdyFGPrrH7eJh1KLC74CG_MBuKWzvTUF-F2IIW4QysKFBbYOCdDqCaWE6/s4032/IMG_5070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnndJ1sKVDK-HsYO5tN5Eslac4LtnUCkltPoWfByCew_G3dlX_Q7DdCs-bjDaj5XT364jeM3RXahSHxzmFXC0ecJhCamge0MD8NyNgXPcidfgXt8Qz3TeSKow4WuvrgGXXgKgIdyFGPrrH7eJh1KLC74CG_MBuKWzvTUF-F2IIW4QysKFBbYOCdDqCaWE6/s320/IMG_5070.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>This bearded beauty is the wheel-deal indeed!</i></b> Scotty is 17 cm tall, standing, and head jointed. His body and head are made from grey and light black mohair plush fabric. His ears are made from pitch black mohair. Scotty is detailed with proportional black and brown round glass pupil eyes, a black embroidered nose and mouth, and dark pink embroidered claws on each of his four paws. His ears are lined in black mohair. The dog is mounted on a metal carriage and glides along on four blue wooden eccentric wheels. He retains his original collar and brass bell. His collar is white and dark blue or black leather, and closes with a ring and two (now very rusty) Steiff buttons. He retains his long trailing "f" button in ear and traces of his chest tag as his Steiff IDs. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>This model was made in 14, 17, and 22 cm (measured vertically, without wheels) from 1932-1943. </i></b>He was produced in grey and black mohair plush from 1932 through 1934; after 1934 he appeared in all black mohair. Given those dates, it is safe to say that this guy was "born" in the 1932-1934 time frame. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqtWOeSvwR3IHn0u7Ami7-ErFdch0asfbMP5xPHP1FMsqgESQX5njzIIInCIGHWYFrel_j9DPTmkbUyd2OHECw0Grqq-E9TqQ-EjWcvNQt_z93uFmWMLn8qN4lf0XNoVKdb1gGgwwY2SrOhOamHC0oeo-GJa87EOC6g2pZSwQhLYX7YaTY3d9V5o4fPnw/s4032/IMG_5074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqtWOeSvwR3IHn0u7Ami7-ErFdch0asfbMP5xPHP1FMsqgESQX5njzIIInCIGHWYFrel_j9DPTmkbUyd2OHECw0Grqq-E9TqQ-EjWcvNQt_z93uFmWMLn8qN4lf0XNoVKdb1gGgwwY2SrOhOamHC0oeo-GJa87EOC6g2pZSwQhLYX7YaTY3d9V5o4fPnw/s320/IMG_5074.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Scotty dogs debuted in the Steiff line in 1930 and were an immediate success with customers. </i></b>Their size, personality, and proportions translated well into soft toys designs, and Steiff created a number of sitting, standing, wheeled, and novelty versions over the next decade. Some had round glass pupil eyes like this example, while others had brown, white, and black almond shaped glass eyes. Steiffgal has never been able to figure out why that was the case, but both style of eyes are original to Steiff. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>The Scotty under discussion here has two distinctive early 1930s-era details that Steiffgal has not seen on items produced during any other time.</i></b> The first is his body fabric, which is a mostly black mohair plush with grey fiber details. It is not "spiky" like traditional mohair, but smoother and more elegant, with the longer fibers really resembling a dog's coat. This lovely material was used for awhile on the company's Scotties, but then disappeared in 1934 - about the time that things really started getting difficult at Steiff - and throughout Germany due to geopolitical realities. It is possible that the grey and black fabric was expensive, and the company was trying to save money on materials, and/or that it was no longer being produced, and/or it was entirely allocated by the government for wartime material production. Through the early 1940s, Scotty dogs would go on to be produced in mohair, wool plush, cotton plush, and silk plush - apparently coming to life in the fabrics available at the time. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7at4UqsZfqsSoFAX5WeHKY7JVh9-4W-1kAq69ayfKD36c-vf4vq7vNGueibBxV8qpXtcEqV20mX6Evo9T-H34Pb9Db1h5YvFYO_BXZy9Asx3kI7aKrCQTXE7qYj2ESSX8TiAylHPqAtPZDFHkptpQw6y75lRRriN8fh-7kdCQXirgQRJqPRhH1K0OGX9h/s4032/IMG_5072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7at4UqsZfqsSoFAX5WeHKY7JVh9-4W-1kAq69ayfKD36c-vf4vq7vNGueibBxV8qpXtcEqV20mX6Evo9T-H34Pb9Db1h5YvFYO_BXZy9Asx3kI7aKrCQTXE7qYj2ESSX8TiAylHPqAtPZDFHkptpQw6y75lRRriN8fh-7kdCQXirgQRJqPRhH1K0OGX9h/s320/IMG_5072.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Also of note is this Scotty's prominent leather collar.</i></b> Steiffgal has only noted this woven style, light and dark belled collar on dogs from the early 1930s. It is possible that this accessory was designed and produced to give the dogs wearing it a more "upscale" look and feel. The collar, which is not removable, needed to be manually attached to the dog and finished with two inserted buttons. This of course required many more assembly steps than the signature, simple red buckled collar which would be used on the model just a few years later. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Steiffgal hopes this discussion on this early 1930s Scotty on wheels was a joy ride for you!</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><b style="caret-color: rgb(33, 17, 4); color: #211104;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! <a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html" style="color: #211104;">Click here</a> to learn more!</span></i></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-8865166604687309312023-07-30T12:48:00.003-04:002023-07-30T12:48:43.274-04:00Less Is More When It Comes To Steiff's Early Felt Doll Production <span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJF5qXfQErHBEN6DQbu9xM-Ez5clqNhMjnhSdqgzn7z48JTLiVXIqg42yPz57ocI_oQb7tZZowpFipw_Lf85p9KtAO3wM8hP54iCoa_6mulDjUoJxspYJUgQxuZtAI81ceoSgsnnHC83Lu7--jFPqtL2vhBO44gtD4Lux3aM4_dZ-vJDOxKONTEWR5RNPs/s4032/IMG_2018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJF5qXfQErHBEN6DQbu9xM-Ez5clqNhMjnhSdqgzn7z48JTLiVXIqg42yPz57ocI_oQb7tZZowpFipw_Lf85p9KtAO3wM8hP54iCoa_6mulDjUoJxspYJUgQxuZtAI81ceoSgsnnHC83Lu7--jFPqtL2vhBO44gtD4Lux3aM4_dZ-vJDOxKONTEWR5RNPs/s320/IMG_2018.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Size defies with today's blog special guest. </i></b>Steiffgal tries to adopt at least one special Steiff bear, doll, or animal tied to major Steiff events, auctions, and happenings she attends. Here is the little button-in-ear buddy that made his way home to the United States with her via the recent Steiff Special Auction held in Giengen, Germany on July 1st, 2023. Read on to hear his story and to see what makes him so precious from many perspectives.<br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4u-GiZjpDdjRCLo-KoJkzjwydsQUjH9MG7cBvvfNW8nOhG9KzNErC0rP_dXsE1GDfuBpqrdgjdn23QxlfVa2rOmt2wnlg6RGlNTGYb_xPglNG-ddp5vN_Xry6eb_wn2PbgC47FefkL1UQ_zO2PT4avdJrCTGRFCn6kCkEUP5UyBhs2DTWU67QdemCQnYT/s4032/IMG_1834%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4u-GiZjpDdjRCLo-KoJkzjwydsQUjH9MG7cBvvfNW8nOhG9KzNErC0rP_dXsE1GDfuBpqrdgjdn23QxlfVa2rOmt2wnlg6RGlNTGYb_xPglNG-ddp5vN_Xry6eb_wn2PbgC47FefkL1UQ_zO2PT4avdJrCTGRFCn6kCkEUP5UyBhs2DTWU67QdemCQnYT/s320/IMG_1834%202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Like many Steiff collectors, Steiffgal poured over the Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion GmbH Special Steiff Auction catalog from their July 1, 2023 sale.</i></b> A million things caught her eye online and on the printed catalog pages... but not this tiny treasure for some reason. However, that all changed when she attended the live auction preview, held in the gallery adjacent to Steiff's museum and gift store, right on the company's campus. Here on the left you can see a photo of Steiffgal attending this auction preview the day before the big sale. <br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>It was an amazing experience touring this preview room filled with world class treasures - in a world class space!</b></i> All the auction items were stored in rectangular, glass and wooden cases. You could walk all the way around them and see every angle of the treasures on display. Of course, all eyes were on the 1912 black mohair Titanic Mourning Bear and the google eyed Petsy bear - the stars of the show who were displayed right at the entrance to the room. </span><div><span><br /><b style="font-family: verdana;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGf_r5XAQKpwCZaes1SSTQm6Jd-Mn6wJxtbFb1DVt5uM6nze9TJkeoZPAyx45ajwq955RzH12ZKYwOpvv4QwNFnOXUENGdUj4vfCF0Ft_b5KAqwwMSn29PsKBvz3y2gNIzaP5f7RiIek6gcxkqyIx2Wtiw-Tvu2WQb-pbtlWKfat_gv5pJWBcbepKMBJ_/s4032/IMG_1839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGf_r5XAQKpwCZaes1SSTQm6Jd-Mn6wJxtbFb1DVt5uM6nze9TJkeoZPAyx45ajwq955RzH12ZKYwOpvv4QwNFnOXUENGdUj4vfCF0Ft_b5KAqwwMSn29PsKBvz3y2gNIzaP5f7RiIek6gcxkqyIx2Wtiw-Tvu2WQb-pbtlWKfat_gv5pJWBcbepKMBJ_/s320/IMG_1839.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Steiffgal saw this little guy sitting on a shelf and she could not look away. </i></b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yes, he was in the catalog, but he presented so differently in real life than in his pictures. This happens a lot, and a good reason to attend live previews! He was TINY! And his size was further in the spotlight as he was posed with medium and larger Steiff felt dolls. His scale and presentation were so adorable, and so unusual, that Steiffgal immediately decided he was the one! Here on the left you can see this little guy as he was displayed for the auction preview event. </span><br /><br /><b style="font-family: verdana;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7ljCmpYhEQSPDxq6qNqRoHD-N14hPqHX5zXkbiWzYXf8r6Vbc1G-ZczTT_uYx9UreUhQ0hp8QKSzgAv2injg_JMSH-V0NN-X3hVwcNHUuh0-uuiuU2Q3CUtxPXqzTEGyhIqtf8yq3riL_4lco_mTvkUYnv_tGJ9Wy9IsHPCA1tzwWEb8hBA30WDMAOpd/s4032/IMG_4633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7ljCmpYhEQSPDxq6qNqRoHD-N14hPqHX5zXkbiWzYXf8r6Vbc1G-ZczTT_uYx9UreUhQ0hp8QKSzgAv2injg_JMSH-V0NN-X3hVwcNHUuh0-uuiuU2Q3CUtxPXqzTEGyhIqtf8yq3riL_4lco_mTvkUYnv_tGJ9Wy9IsHPCA1tzwWEb8hBA30WDMAOpd/s320/IMG_4633.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>So this little doll, who has since been named Little Eddy, stands a mere 22 cm.</i></b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> He is made from felt, fully jointed, and comes to life with a blonde inset wig, blue and black glass pupil eyes, painted eyebrows, prominent dimensional ears, and distinctive horizontal <i>(near his eyes, to give him a youthful, rounded look)</i> and vertical <i>(right down the middle of his face) </i>stitching. His hands are simple and fist style. He wears a red and white sweater and shorts set, with white socks and black felt shoes. This outfit is period appropriate but not original to him. Steiff's 22 cm dolls are few and far between, and this is the first one Steiffgal has ever seen - and now owns! They were produced from 1917-1919 in several boy and girl models over that time frame. You can see Little Eddy standing next to his 28 cm big brother and big sister here on the left - that's the best way to highlight his scale and proportions. </span><br /><br /><b style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Little Eddy is also very interesting from the design perspective for two quirky reasons.</i></b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> First, he has typical early Steiff style fist hands with stitched digits. Steiff's dolls from his late 19-teens era production usually have fingered hands or at least hands with prominent fingers. Perhaps his scale made it difficult to give him more detailed hands. And, second, his amazingly tiny silver button - which looks original to him based on its placement and condition - also appears to be more of a short trailing "f" button than a long trailing "f" button. The long trailing "f" button appeared the line through the mid-1930s, and the short trailing "f" button appeared in the line from the mid-1930s through the early 1950s. So his ID is bit of a mystery there as well.</span><br /><br /><b style="font-family: verdana;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARvgzD8Whbn8mWCzMVGpsukfD3lFK1Ica7kbGVMXJFP6O2z2zvSsn14PVYmTW920Vw9tmyR0VAY7T11NVitPDRCFXpVuOJpTbCJRzEc9PQRMgG_-5noh-GgNayI6RRAKZVQpDN6acvOYlahEQaO71BHjehIxB5U8MSBZUJHU5FiErl6kLFcJElqSHWqHl/s4032/IMG_2028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARvgzD8Whbn8mWCzMVGpsukfD3lFK1Ica7kbGVMXJFP6O2z2zvSsn14PVYmTW920Vw9tmyR0VAY7T11NVitPDRCFXpVuOJpTbCJRzEc9PQRMgG_-5noh-GgNayI6RRAKZVQpDN6acvOYlahEQaO71BHjehIxB5U8MSBZUJHU5FiErl6kLFcJElqSHWqHl/s320/IMG_2028.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>This petite prince is the perfect size to be a special traveling companion.</i></b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> And, he jumped at the opportunity as soon as his adoption was finalized! He fits snugly in a purse or backpack and makes friends wherever he goes. His big first adventure was an eight hour train ride from Heidelberg, Germany to Prague in the Czech Republic. Here you can see him in his "first class" train seat enjoying the scenery as it whizzed by. He looks forward to many more sightseeing trips in the future. </span></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="caret-color: rgb(33, 17, 4); color: #211104; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Steiffgal hopes this story about Little Eddy has brought you big joy!</i></b></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(33, 17, 4); color: #211104; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(33, 17, 4); color: #211104; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! <a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html" style="color: #211104;">Click here</a> to learn more!</span></i></b></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677084625691219131.post-41543709788250587152023-07-26T12:41:00.000-04:002023-07-26T12:41:46.904-04:00Watching Steiff Record Making History In Person!<span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nj7JlwOR0eMyqDmcDLR4xu94Dfg8S4hbCj6hgm0Je_82s2nwst05YuXRjhGui0HBqbsIFbra9WnBPE1yUwiitnxlfDjBvIA5AA83vK3dStwWuNuSglRL0OFyxO8YS3ERKarcrWi6n4lEGpfMvH9iGEsRyhl0-SMnLwJPlad2gsxIDs8o2qiPrPrW_jdS/s1380/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1380" data-original-width="1198" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nj7JlwOR0eMyqDmcDLR4xu94Dfg8S4hbCj6hgm0Je_82s2nwst05YuXRjhGui0HBqbsIFbra9WnBPE1yUwiitnxlfDjBvIA5AA83vK3dStwWuNuSglRL0OFyxO8YS3ERKarcrWi6n4lEGpfMvH9iGEsRyhl0-SMnLwJPlad2gsxIDs8o2qiPrPrW_jdS/s320/1.jpg" width="278" /></a></div>Stop the presses!</i></b> Steiff history has been made again! Check out this article that Steiffgal prepared for the online news source <i>Auction Daily</i> detailing the sale of Mrs. Wiley's all but perfect 1912 black mohair Steiff Titanic Bear! He is pictured here on the left, and the photo is from </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion GmbH. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://auctiondaily.com/news/steiff-titanic-mourning-bear-breaks-records-in-special-steiff-auction/" target="_blank">Here is the story in its entirety - it was originally published on July 23, 2023.</a> Thank you to <i>Auction Daily</i> for allowing Steiffgal to share this fantastic news!</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><b><i>On July 1st, 2023, the auction house Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion GmbH of Ladenburg, Germany presented their Special Steiff Auction in Giengen, Germany - the home of the Margarete Steiff GmbH factory. </i></b>The Steiff Company is best known for designing and producing the fully jointed Teddy bear as we know him today starting in 1902. This signature, annual sale is traditionally held during the Steiff Company's "Steiff Sommer" event, a three day long family-centric fair that includes carnival rides, a petting zoo, food and souvenir vendors, and button-in-ear activities. This year, the auction included the second half of the Susan Kilgore Wiley collection, an outstanding collection of Steiff prewar bears, animals, novelties, and absolute rarities. <a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2023/01/the-top-lot-winners-from-susan-kilgore.html" target="_blank">The first half of this collection was sold in January, 2023 and realized over $475,000. </a><br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9T-oZv5GyCeAHw3a-g1XNAbRdkQDjyg5K6-gQpO5JcFPkCud052qFpoOq7wUnAlY4UfWugCG-e1LY9BbSiQ3u4GXPXhlGXqLN8ZPjdz4y3n-NLKHJVDIt7BrdiqtpiETg-Gb6Lp_1sQ5GJVWZuMZZqlnIy6Hbsr4X2eb1DDBIM_h-Lz66K-9dzbSRk0LL/s3576/licence%20plate%20.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3576" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9T-oZv5GyCeAHw3a-g1XNAbRdkQDjyg5K6-gQpO5JcFPkCud052qFpoOq7wUnAlY4UfWugCG-e1LY9BbSiQ3u4GXPXhlGXqLN8ZPjdz4y3n-NLKHJVDIt7BrdiqtpiETg-Gb6Lp_1sQ5GJVWZuMZZqlnIy6Hbsr4X2eb1DDBIM_h-Lz66K-9dzbSRk0LL/s320/licence%20plate%20.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>The highlight of this midsummer sale was lot #82, an extraordinarily rare, fully jointed 50 cm black mohair Steiff Titanic Mourning Bear.</i></b> This bear was the pride and joy of Mrs. Wiley's collection and was accompanied by photos and ephemera related to it. <i>(As a matter of fact, she named her car's license plate after him as well... as you can see on the photo on the left!)</i> She bought the bear at Sotheby’s in London in 1990 for over $40,000; that purchase made international collecting headlines at the time. Since 2000, original antique Steiff Titanic Mourning Bears have rarely come up for auction. When they do, they usually trade hands in about the $20,000-40,000 range. Mrs. Wiley's Titanic Mourning Bear had a starting bid of 4,500 euro, but there was talk the Steiff collecting community that the bear could easily realize six figure, it was so outstanding. They were right - sort of. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmdyLkqag1JbOIhZuJW0lsQP9-6euOkA8q3jqUHDn9MQZyedfP4k8mbj_RwKN-MoCaLVp65xWBLoLzc8PxLn_73MpErp1LoCzfgJILNF1hzoEiccsydayJ4wCOkYh4--dZL_QUNEf1H_odV07uH2ZRsz1yMr98J3ZnWKhG07gCgTOwjAILCUIKWfC9YQE/s1360/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="1086" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmdyLkqag1JbOIhZuJW0lsQP9-6euOkA8q3jqUHDn9MQZyedfP4k8mbj_RwKN-MoCaLVp65xWBLoLzc8PxLn_73MpErp1LoCzfgJILNF1hzoEiccsydayJ4wCOkYh4--dZL_QUNEf1H_odV07uH2ZRsz1yMr98J3ZnWKhG07gCgTOwjAILCUIKWfC9YQE/s320/2.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><b style="font-family: verdana;"><i>There was great anticipation in the gallery as lot #82 came up for sale. </i></b><span style="font-family: verdana;">The auction house noted that this bear had five international bidders competing for the bear on telephone lines. However, the winning bidder was live in the audience! This is somewhat unusual in the auction world with sales of this magnitude. Auctioneer Pia Fast Seidel was at the podium and skillfully managed the blizzard of bids and interest in this once-in-a-lifetime lot. </span><a href="https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/155019360_steiff-titanic-bear-one-of-the-highlights-of-the-this-year-s-steiff-giengen-auction-2023-a-rare" style="font-family: verdana;">Mrs. Wiley's Titanic Mourning Bear would go on to hammer at 180,000 euro or $202,020, and realize $250,505.</a> </div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><a href="https://youtu.be/rudMjXFRblA" target="_blank">You can watch this sale on YouTube as it happened live by clicking here or watching the embedded video below.</a></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rudMjXFRblA" width="320" youtube-src-id="rudMjXFRblA"></iframe></div><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>So how does this rank in terms of record sale prices for antique Teddy bears? </i></b><a href="https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-expensive-teddy-bear-of-antique-origin" target="_blank">The most expensive Teddy bear of antique origins to date was a Steiff bear owned by Colonel Bob Henderson named Teddy Girl.</a> She was sold by Christie's in London for £110,000 ($171,600) on December 5th, 1994. However, Mrs. Wiley's Teddy bear traded hands at over a quarter million dollars - breaking this previous high mark by over $78,000! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsR6pbphQ7iyBfiY-OuL58iAjiNpF2dH08wtW5OAikAWdX17Gw9nAOut1DhKct5v0xEp33PkPHyb07fSvxl4ZiLSMtn5OyxTaISRaRiDZfvUY68NDuKnQEC9vrbavGN7tf0qefHF-cY75Oe2hBOZaDcDXZHZ5IFnkrD1rpsVgVed11qscsgDdhqRgFQNF/s2016/me%20and%20othello%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsR6pbphQ7iyBfiY-OuL58iAjiNpF2dH08wtW5OAikAWdX17Gw9nAOut1DhKct5v0xEp33PkPHyb07fSvxl4ZiLSMtn5OyxTaISRaRiDZfvUY68NDuKnQEC9vrbavGN7tf0qefHF-cY75Oe2hBOZaDcDXZHZ5IFnkrD1rpsVgVed11qscsgDdhqRgFQNF/s320/me%20and%20othello%20.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><b style="font-family: verdana;"><i>There are many factors that made this 1912 Steiff Titanic Mourning Bear so incredibly special. </i></b><span style="font-family: verdana;">These included a perfect storm of history, rarity, condition, and being at the right place at the right time. It is also possible that the recent spike in interest in all things Titanic, because of the headline making submarine disaster, also further cast the spotlight on Mrs. Wiley's extraordinary bear on offer. (<i>Here on the left you can see Steiffgal in the Steiff museum gallery with Mrs. Wiley's Titanic bear, along with her <a href="https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/155019293_steiff-one-of-the-highlights-of-the-this-year-s-steiff-giengen-auction-petsy-produced" target="_blank">google-eyed Petsy</a>. These two cubs were the stars of the show for sure!)</i><br /><br /><b><i>There are many factors that made this 1912 Steiff Titanic Mourning Bear so incredibly special. </i></b> These included a perfect storm of history, rarity, condition, and being at the right place at the right time. It is also possible that the recent spike in interest in all things Titanic, because of the headline making submarine disaster, also further cast the spotlight on Mrs. Wiley's extraordinary bear on offer. <br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3mMvWo-zbDFjBpRNOWdzo2lX_BXibzOc6-NyPFlqefJeuiLpPoXkw0Ccdx16WE-PHLQetxtUpsXBNswINk5FxgynH9ZFiknhmY7BHWJ-ICL5ojKYWrE3_HvpC2Oh3le3Fm-pKgoHRBXib0ZdaAfaW075jEWsMmql-YwH4Lw8Nal9VonXAixfbf0nEoub/s4032/talking%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3mMvWo-zbDFjBpRNOWdzo2lX_BXibzOc6-NyPFlqefJeuiLpPoXkw0Ccdx16WE-PHLQetxtUpsXBNswINk5FxgynH9ZFiknhmY7BHWJ-ICL5ojKYWrE3_HvpC2Oh3le3Fm-pKgoHRBXib0ZdaAfaW075jEWsMmql-YwH4Lw8Nal9VonXAixfbf0nEoub/s320/talking%20.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>In terms of the bear's place in history, Steiff's Titanic Mourning Bears are tied to one of the most significant worldwide events of the 20th century. </i></b>In the early 1900s, Steiff produced a number of all black mohair bears for the general marketplace. However, these did not sell very well and the thought at the time was that they were scary for children. So the company stopped making them. Then, in 1912, the Titanic disaster struck. At that time, nearly everyone in England was personally touched by this event, or had a friend or relative who was. The entire country was in shock and mourning. In response, Steiff produced a handful of all black mohair bears with red felt behind their eyes - to indicate sadness and crying - for the English market. <i>(Here on this picture on the left you can see members of Mrs. Wiley's family and Steiffgal talking to a photographer sent from the Washington Post to cover this sale. As you can see, this very special bear caught the eye of collectors on nearly every continent!)</i><br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4pEUdMip3QbQTcOfT4ifwJTUW3yqzl2YTIHA6kc9QkDZUY9O99wMUrVp89P93fgfDyn9mdDBUlSipbXSALnt3F2AbW60WTvp8MBRkCDPZ5tuFwqOeE2JHu4xJsZ3QVhwiO1pv8uKndtJgr-p0aH-5I-pnu4Wp80ElJsynlcShZvRmTCBloR9JYEHTvoe/s3592/Outdoors.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3592" data-original-width="2432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4pEUdMip3QbQTcOfT4ifwJTUW3yqzl2YTIHA6kc9QkDZUY9O99wMUrVp89P93fgfDyn9mdDBUlSipbXSALnt3F2AbW60WTvp8MBRkCDPZ5tuFwqOeE2JHu4xJsZ3QVhwiO1pv8uKndtJgr-p0aH-5I-pnu4Wp80ElJsynlcShZvRmTCBloR9JYEHTvoe/s320/Outdoors.jpeg" width="217" /></a></div>This black bear also was in breathtaking shape with a very special feature.</i></b> It retained its Steiff button and featured the company's most desirable "center seam" face construction. In the early 1900's, every seventh bear that Steiff made had a seam down the center of its face to make the most efficient use of the mohair fabric used to create them. The dimensions of the fabric supplied at the time were such that the Steiff could manufacture six full heads from it, but there was some remaining material from this cutting process. As such, Steiff found a way to "patch" these remainders into another head and as such not waste any fabric. This was the first center seamed black mohair Titanic Mourning Bear to come to public auction, as far as this author could unearth. <i>(Here on this picture on the left you can see Mrs. Wiley's bear enjoying some time in her garden. The sunlight on his face makes his center seam especially prominent!)</i></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Steiffgal hopes you've enjoyed witnessing a breathtaking and probably once in a lifetime bit of Steiff history!</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><b style="caret-color: rgb(33, 17, 4); color: #211104; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! <a href="http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/2009/05/announcing-what-do-you-know-new-my.html" style="color: #211104;">Click here</a> to learn more!</span></i></b></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com