Check Out This Bearded Beauty From The Steiff Archives!

It's easy to be all smiles over this next Steiff mystery. Check out this note from a friend in Germany, who has just added a very special bearded beauty to his collection. But who exactly is this rarity, and what might be the back story behind him? Orlando writes:

"I bought a sitting Schnauzer from the Steiff archive, which I can't find in any book. He has the number 3530, which is written on the archive tag. He has a leather collar, his breastplate, and his ear flag with a button. The pressure voice, works. Maybe you can tell me something about the dog. Was it perhaps intended for the American market? Thank you for your efforts. I'm looking forward to your reply."

This darling doggie is an unusual version of the Steiff's popular and legacy Tessie Schnauzer design. These pretty pooches were made in 10, 14, 22, and 28 cm from 1954 through 1976. Tessie dogs produced for the standard line were standing and made from long, light grey mohair. They had irresistible faces that came to life with black and brown pupil eyes, a black hand embroidered mouth, a happy pink tongue, and pert triangular shaped ears. Their accessory was a red leather collar.

Orlando's version has the same general look and feel as the standard line issue Tessie dogs, with a few key differences:

• 1. Standard line Tessie was standing and Orlando's is sitting. 

• 2. Standard line Tessie was made from mohair and Orlando's appears to be made from a different sort of fabric. 

• 3. Standard line Tessie has a closed mouth and Orlando's has an open, smiling mouth lined in velvet - sort of like those seen on Steiff's early 1950s Cockie Cocker Spaniels. 

• 4. Standard line Tessie came in sizes up to 28 cm and Orlando's appears to be larger.

So what does this all mean? The Steiff archive tag, with the numbers 3530 and 1955 on it, does help to shed some light on the dog. These numbers translate to 3=sitting, 5=wool plush, and 30=30 cm tall. So his fabric is in part wool plush, he is 30 cm tall, and he was made in 1955.

Now let's talk about his unusual form - sitting instead of standing. The sitting version was sampled in 1955, one year after standing Tessie's introduction. Steiffgal has two plausible ideas why Steiff tried out a version of their Tessie Schnauzer dog in sitting form.  

The first has to do with growing the company's overseas presence and market position. It was not uncommon for Steiff to make design tweaks to its standard line, postwar dogs and present them as exclusives to F.A.O. Schwarz and other high end stores in the USA in the 1950s and 1960s. For example, Steiff produced a standing Dally Dalmatian (the standard line version was sitting), a sitting black and white Cockie (the standard line version was standing), and an open mouthed Biggie Beagle (the standard line version had a closed mouth) as specials for F.A.O. Schwarz. This sitting Tessie might have been proposed for an exclusive for the USA, but never put into production for one reason or another.

The second has to do with regular business product line extension. If a design is great and selling well - why not make it in a theme and variation form? The best analogy Steiffgal can come up with here is Steiff's foray into creating a postwar sitting Arco German Shepherd. Postwar, Arco has always appeared in the catalog standing. Steiffgal has seen just a few of the sitting versions here and there, but has never seen them documented in any reference book as a standard line item. In 2020, a 25 cm sitting Arco with all IDs sold at auction; it generated 12 bids and hammered at €2,300 / $2,481. His cataloging read, in part... 

"Arco, button, chest label and cloth tag label, cloth tag label is worn, sitting 25 cm, flat STEIFF button with embossed cursive writing in ear, item-No. 3325, cloth tag label on ear isn't readable, neck mark, Arco, mohair stuffed with wood wool , brown/black glass eyes, black nose/ mouth decoration, always 3 claws, press voice is faulty, red leather collar, this Alsatian Arco in sitting version was planned by the company STEIFF 1963 as novelty in different sizes , but wasn't put into the assortment, it were probably only a few sample items produced, very nice, unused original condition, extremely rare STEIFF rarity, expertise by the company STEIFF GmbH Giengen is enclosed." Here on the left you can see this sitting version of Arco, the image is from LiveAuctioneers. 

It is not clear why these sitting versions of Tessie and Arco never went into full blown production. Steiffgal suspects it has to do with production and labor costs, and/or market share or other business factors. These kinds of production decisions almost always have an economic element to them. But only they know for sure - and their lips are sealed!

Steiffgal hopes this discussion on Orlando's archival Tessie has been one for the books!

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

Sit And Stay And Check Out This Amazing Postwar Steiff Rarity!

What a good boy! That's exactly what you are going to say after seeing today's special blog guest. Here we have a familiar face, sort of, in an unfamiliar form. Check out this amazing Steiff dog and see where it fits into Steiff's German Shepherd post war deign timeline.

Here we have a Steiff's unusual sitting Arco German Shepherd. He is about 45 cm tall, head jointed, and made from tannish colored mohair. His sideburns, chest, and tail are made from longer mohair. His back and sides are airbrushed with black, grey, and tan highlights, much like the real dog. He has black embroidered claws on his paws. Arco's face is detailed with brown and black pupil eyes, a black hand embroidered nose, and a friendly peach felt lined open mouth. Of course, his red felt tongue really adds to his smile! His red collar may be original to him. He retains his raised script button and traces of his yellow ear tag as his Steiff IDs.

Steiff produced sitting German Shepherd dogs on a commercial scale prewar, but not postwar. Prewar, Arco was made sitting in 17, 22, and 28 cm from 1937 to 1943. During this time, this beloved pattern was sometimes also referred to as "The Police Dog." Steiffgal has seen just a few sitting postwar versions of Arco, and it is her best guess that this pattern was produced as a sample or prototype and based on Steiff's 1960s-era standard line Arco pattern. A 25 cm sitting version with all IDs sold at auction in 2020; it generated 12 bids and hammered at €2,300 / $2,481. He is pictured below on the left. His cataloging, which seems to back up the prototype theory, reads in part:

"Arco, button, chest label and cloth tag label, cloth tag label is worn, sitting 25 cm, flat STEIFF button with embossed cursive writing in ear, item-No. 3325, cloth tag label on ear isn't readable, neck mark, Arco, mohair stuffed with wood wool , brown/black glass eyes, black nose/ mouth decoration, always 3 claws, press voice is faulty, red leather collar, this Alsatian Arco in sitting version was planned by the company STEIFF 1963 as novelty in different sizes , but wasn't put into the assortment, it were probably only a few sample items produced, very nice, unused original condition, extremely rare STEIFF rarity, expertise by the company STEIFF GmbH Giengen is enclosed."

Steiffgal has really enjoyed shepherding you through the details and history of this rare and wonderful Arco.

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

Sit and Stay and Check Out This Tiny Steiff Mechanical Marvel!

Now who is a good dog? Those are every puppy's favorite words, and in some ways, Steiffgal's as well! Check out this happy handful of a Steiff 'herd... German Shepherd, that is! This prewar treasure packs a lot of features and design elements into a very small body. He'll have you smiling ear to ear for sure.

This blue ribbon buddy is Steiff's tail-turns-head German Shepherd dog. He is 15 cm tall, sitting, and made from wool plush (that has practically been entirely loved off.) His cheerful face comes alive with pert triangular ears; brown and black glass pupil eyes; a black hand embroidered nose; and an open, felt lined, smiling mouth. He is solidly stuffed with excelsior, which is a manufacturing feat in itself, given how small he is, and how narrow his limbs are. The excelsior stuffing holds his metal tail-moves-head apparatus in place; it would tend to shift or settle if it was packed in kapok or other lighter filling. This mechanism enables his head to move in a circle when his sweet little tail is twisted. This little lovely was made in 15, 18, 23, 29, and 36 cm from 1931-1935 overall. 

One of the most astonishing things about this example is his IDs. They are great in themselves, but it is sort of a miracle that they even exist at all, given how much love and use this guy clearly has had over the years. He wears his all original brown leather collar. It is held together with two long trailing "F" Steiff buttons. He also retains his original, red imprinted, watermelon shaped named chest tag. It is interesting that on the back of the chest tag, it is stamped "Int. pat. app. for" meaning "International Patent Applied For". Steiff was very proud of its tail-moves-head technology, and other companies were starting to copy it starting in the early 1930s. It really is amazing that he still has his collar and tag, given how ephemeral they really are, relative to his sturdy overall construction.

This pretty puppy has a great place in Steiff's prewar and early midcentury German Shepherd production history. German Shepherds have been featured almost continuously in the line since 1923. Perhaps the best known Steiff German Shepherd design is Arco, who was introduced in 1935 but got his name in 1937. Pre-war Arco was made from mohair and had prominent, felt lined ears and a smiling, open, felt lined mouth. He was made standing on wheels (in 35, 43, 50, 60, and 70 cm), standing (in 14, 22, 28, 35, 43, 50, and 60 cm), and sitting (in 17, 22, and 28 cm) from 1937 to 1943. During this time, Arco was sometimes also referred to as "The Police Dog." As one of Steiff's most beloved late pre-war dog designs, early Arco again graced the line from 1951-1956 in the form of a 10, 17, and 22 cm standing version. These guys strongly resembled their pre-war pattern. A 43 and 50 cm standing version on wheels was also manufactured from 1949-1956.

Steiffgal hopes this discussion on this tiny Steiff treasure has brought a big slice of joy to your day.

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

Coming To Your Rescue With This Amazing Lifesized Steiff Saint Bernard Dog

It's the dog days of summer - in a big and Steiffy way - around these parts lately! Check out this note from a reader in North Carolina who asks about a very large, and equally unusual, Steiff "friend for life." Over a series of conversations, Jack writes...
 

"Steiffgal:  I came across your site, and I thought that I would see if you happened to know anything about a St. Bernard dog that I have had since I was 2 years old, I am 45 now! So he has been in the family with me for 43 years.  

The dimensions are as follows: length from nose to rump - 52"; height at head - 33"; and height at rump - 29". 

He weighs in at about 20 pounds and is standing. He does not have a squeaker or make noises of any kind. He was never on wheels. As for the fur, the entire head is made of a soft fur (maybe a polyester), while the entire body seems to be made of a hair-like material with the feel of wool. His nose is made of a vinyl-like black material. The keg around his neck is made of real wood, but it is missing the spigot piece.

You wanted to know if the piece is really a Steiff.  Yes, this is a Steiff, but one of the problems with the piece is that when I was 10, after learning about tools, I removed the ear tag so the dog would not be in any pain. Funny, now is when I am feeling pain thinking of any lost value. 

As for his history, my father bought him for me at FAO Schwarz in New York City in December, 1971. I asked him recently for more information and he said... 

"I bought it off the floor, it was an FAO Schwarz Christmas exhibit centerpiece. It was big money then. It took a ride with me on the Long Island Railroad home to you, which of course generated many strange looks. It is life size – the Steiff is the same size as Sock." 

Sock was our family's real live Saint Bernard at the time.
 

I also sending along a few more pictures from 1971; these are from scans of old negatives from the Christmas when the dog was given to me. For some reason the wooden keg is not showing in these pictures, but I think my parents turned the collar around so they could hang my stocking from the giant Steiff dog.

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide about my big buddy.  I have looked for many years for information on him, without success.

Best,
Jack" 

Jack, here's some very big news - your life sized St. Bernard is indeed a Steiff, and a rare one at that.  He is not cataloged in standard Steiff reference books, which explains why it was difficult to find information on him specifically.  And it is not surprising that he was purchased at FAO Schwarz, as this store had a tradition of selling exclusive life sized dogs in the 1960's, including a 40 cm standing Beagle (available 1965 through 1966) and a lying 135 cm Collie (available in 1966 only.) Although it is not clear if the St. Bernard is an FAO Exclusive, it is certain that very few were made and that they would have only been sold at very high end stores in the USA like FAO Schwarz.  Above please find the single sales sheet that was printed about him, dated June, 1970.  His specific Steiff article number is 4049/10. 

 

Here's what makes this big boy "best of show." He is standing, unjointed, and  "officially" sized at 100 cm (which equals about 40 inches).  According to the sheet, his head and legs are made from dralon (an artificial plush) while his body is made from mohair, which is wool.  Jack's dog appears to have a dralon head and an all mohair body, but it is impossible to tell from the photos alone.  The Saint Bernard has great airbrushing, especially on his face, which really gives him a lifelike appearance and an authentic texture.  In the catalog picture, he is shown without his wooden barrel - but the one on Jack's dog looks to be original, and sometimes catalog pictures do not exactly resemble the final item which is shipped to stores.  

 

It is interesting to note that because of its date of production, Jack's dog is called a "Schautiere" or display animal - not a "studio animal." Steiff only launched the name "Studiotiere" or "Studio animal" in 1979/1980.  So technically, any life sized items produced before that time period are actually "Schautiere."

   

Steiff was certainly barking up the right tree in the 1960's and early 1970's when it came to creating these life-sized canine creations.  And, for some reason, many of them, like Jack's St. Bernard, do not appear in standard Steiff reference books.  So for all of you out there experiencing a little "puppy love" over these collectibles, here are a doggy dozen for your viewing pleasure!  

 

Here we have Steiff's Schautier or display Basset Hound.  He is 75 cm, sitting, and made from mohair plush.  He appeared officially in the line in 1960 and then again in 1967; this document was printed in July, 1967.

Here we have Steiff's Schautier or display Peky Pekingese.  She is 40 cm, standing, and made from Crylor artificial plush.  A very similar model appeared in the line from 1973 through 1975; this document was printed in June, 1970.

Here we have Steiff's Schautier or display Tibetan Terrier.  She is 80 cm, sitting, and made artificial plush.  She does not appear in the standard Steiff reference books.  This document was printed in June, 1970.

Here we have Steiff's Schautier or display Collie.  She is 90 cm, standing, and seems to be made from both mohair and artificial plush.  She does not appear in the standard Steiff reference books.  This document was printed in June, 1970.

Here we have Steiff's Schautier or display Cockie Cocker Spaniel.  He is 75 cm, sitting, and made from mohair plush.  He appeared officially in the line in 1960 and then again in 1967; this document was printed in October, 1967. 

Here we have Steiff's Schautier or display Tessie Schnauzer.  She is 50 cm, standing, and made from Dralon.  A very similar model appeared in the line from 1973 through 1975; this document was printed in June, 1970. 

Here we have Steiff's Schautier or display German Shepherd.  He is 90 cm, standing, and made from mohair plush.  He appeared officially in the line from 1966 through 1967; this document was printed in June, 1967. 

Here we have Steiff's Schautier or display Arco German Shepherd.  She is 100 cm, sitting, and made from mohair plush.  She does not appear in the standard Steiff reference books.  This document was printed in June, 1970. 
 

 

Here we have Steiff's Schautier or display "House Dog."  She is 90 cm, sitting, and made from long grey artificial plush.  She does not appear in the standard Steiff reference books.  This document was printed in November, 1969.

Here we have Steiff's Schautier or display Snobby Poodle.  She is 80 cm, begging, and made from mohair plush.  She appeared officially in the line in 1967 only; this document was printed in October, 1967.

Here we have Steiff's Schautier or display Polar Pomeranian.  She is 60 cm, standing, and made from mohair plush.  She appeared officially in the line in 1960 and then again in 1967; this document was printed in October, 1967. 

Here we have Steiff's Schautier or display Newfoundland Dog.  She is 100 cm, standing, and seems to be made from both mohair and artificial plush.  She does not appear in the standard Steiff reference books.  This document was printed in October, 1967.

Steiffgal sends lots of Teddy hugs and thanks to Carsten Esser at Teddy Dorado Auctioneers for sharing these marvelous photos from their Steiff archives with us today!

Steiffgal hopes this discussion on rare 1960 and 1970-era life sized Steiff dogs has got your tails - and tongues - all awagging! 

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

Using A Little Steiff ESP To Identify A Vintage Dog Friend

Mind you, Steiffgal is no psychic when it comes to Steiff.  The company has made thousands and thousands of different products since the late 1800's when it first started producing playthings for children.  And photos are so important when assessing subtle differences between similar products.  However, in the case of this reader's question, Steiffgal was able to use a little ESP (Essential Steiff Powers) to help identify an old friend simply by description.  Hazel writes:

"Steiffgal:

I don't know if you can assist me. I stumbled upon your website recently whilst trying to find some history re: my little Steiff item.

I have a Steiff German Shepherd measuring 10" or 26 cm from paw to tail. He has a red velvet tongue and he is lying down slightly on one side. He has a yellow Steiff label in his ear with a worn silver looking stud. He has some wear to him and is a lovely shabby shade of browns and darker on his back.

I am sorry I do not know how to add photos to my email so any information you could offer would be great.

Many thanks I look forward to your reply.

Kind regards, Hazel" 

Unless she's in a "dog-daze" Steiffgal is all but certain that Hazel's pooch is Steiff's lying Arco German Shepherd.  This precious pooch is unjointed, lying to one side, and made from tan mohair that has been gloriously and realistically airbrushed with patches of black, brown, and tan.  He has pert ears, large and floppy paws, and an impressive tail.  His face is detailed with black and brown pupil eyes, a well defined muzzle, and a happy open mouth with a large red felt tongue.  Lying Arco was produced in 22, 35, and 50 cm from 1957 through 1976.  Steiff usually doesn't count the tail in measurements, so it is Steiffgal's best guess that Hazel's dog is the 22 cm size.  

Steiffgal is unable to fetch details about Arco's button from Hazel's note.  However, if his button is the raised script version, he would have been produced approximately in the 1957 through 1968 time frame.  If he has the domed lentil style button, he would have been produced approximately in the 1969 through 1976 time frame. 

German Shepherds are one of Steiff's beloved "Best in Show" dogs that have been in the line almost continuously in one form or the other since 1923.   They have appeared over time in mohair and wool plush and standing, sitting, lying, on wheels, as studio (life sized) models, and even as dog-dolls in the late 1930's through early 1940's.  The photo on the left of the Pupp-Arco or Arco Doll is from Pfeiffer's 1892-1943 Steiff Sortiment book.  Pupp-Arco is extremely rare; Steiffgal has never actually seen one in person.  Overall, the presence - or absence - of a tongue on Arco is one of the key clues collectors use to date Steiff's German Shepherds! Those produced before 1957 did not have tongues while those produced from 1957 onward did.

Steiffgal hopes this Arco identification has been an ESP (Exciting, Surprising, and Phenomenal) experience for you!

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

All Ears Over This Wonderful And Early Steiff German Shepherd

Listen up!  Steiffgal just got back from a visit with collectors from the Orlando area, at a wonderful Steiff event sponsored by Judy's Dolls of Longwood, Florida.  And guess what just "rolled" into the appraisal clinic?  This fabulous but somewhat mysterious Steiff dog with large floppy ears, perched upon wooden wheels.   When Steiffgal saw him, he sort of rang a bell with her - but something wasn't exactly lining up.  After a few minutes of noodling, she finally figured him out.  So, just who is this delightful doggie?

Hear, hear... what we have here is Steiff's early Arco German Shepherd on wheels.  He is 43 cm standing, made of mohair, and unjointed.  He has an open, felt lined mouth and felt lined ears.  His body is detailed with brown, tan, and black airbrushing, giving his fur and coat nice texture and a realistic appearance.  His face is detailed with brown and black glass pupil eyes and a black hand embroidered nose.  His claws are indicated by black stitches, and he has a thick and impressive tail.  He rides upon a black metal carriage and four red wooden wheels.  Arco has his original red and white pull cord and red wooden handle.  Overall, Arco on wheels was made in 35, 43, 50, 60, and 70 cm from 1937 through 1943.  This design was also called "Police Dog" and some models had this name imprinted on their chest tags.

This blue ribbon beauty is clearly "man's best friend" as well as a "friend for life."  As a result, he has suffered a bit of wear that in some ways made his exact identity a bit challenging initially.  Much of this focuses around his facial area.  One of the details that makes the early Arco design so particularly life-life and irresistible is his ears.  They were made to stand straight up, much like the real dog.  (You can see this here on the left, in a photo from the Steiff Sortiment book, which shows what this example looked like when new.) This was done by lining the ears in a metal wire, much like Steiff's ear construction on their beloved Petsy bears.  However, in this example, the ears were extremely floppy and positioned high up on the dog's head.   It was apparent that over time, the ears had come loose and someone tried to sew them back on, albeit in a somewhat sloppy way.  It is Steiffgal's best guess that when the ears were sewn back on, someone removed the wires so they would not stick out on the ends of repair.  When she felt along the perimeter of the ears, she did feel small pieces of wire; it is also possible that the wire broke over time and when the ears were replaced, the seamstress took out as much of the wire as possible.  

Arco's other facial issue, was, well, easy to see.  His eyes just didn't look right.  One was much larger and rounder than the other.  Steiff traditionally attaches eyes to their products by sewing them securely through the head (yes, this requires a mighty big needle, great skill, and strength!) and tying the two threads in a large knot at the the back base of the neck. You can usually feel this as a significant bump or indent on an item.  However, Steiffgal could not find this feature on this Arco.  She also noticed that when she ran her finger around the perimeter of the eyes, she felt a hard glue-like residue.  It is Steiffgal's best guess that the original eyes had fallen out, and over time, someone had found replacement eyes and glued them back into place. 

To repair, or not to repair, that is the question.  Steiffgal realizes that every collector and enthusiast has their own feelings about this question.  Issues of authenticity, value, cost, and personal preference all come into play here.  However, in this case, Steiffgal recommended to Arco's owners that they consider having him professionally restored, given that the dog is in otherwise really nice condition, is relatively rare in this size and configuration,  and appears to be completely structurally sound.  No surprise here, but they were all ears over this suggestion!  This relatively simple two step facial restoration, if done professionally by an expert, would bring back his absolute charm and help draw attention to his most impressive features.

Steiffgal hopes this discussion on this vintage Steiff Arco has shepherded you into a new way of thinking about restoration.  

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

Yapping All About A Very Special Steiff Companion Dog

Good friends are those who follow you around, wherever you may end up.  And it is not surprising to learn about Steiff companions that do the same.  After all, Steiff pals are truly "Friends for Life!"  And such is the case of this little canine... Check out this question from Peter, who writes from Poland:

"Hello Steiffgal,

I'm writing to you from Poland about my little dog. I think he is an Airedale terrier? He is in a sitting position and is about 4.5 inches or 11cm high. He is made from soft mohair (I think!) He has a brass Steiff badge in his ear, but no yellow tag. He has amber coloured glass eyes and what appears to be a black glass or black hard nose. He has a red original collar and is brown with black markings. 

I have had him for some years now and think he originated from Germany. I would be grateful if you could tell me anything about my little companion.

With kind regards Peter from Poland, an Ex Pat from the UK"

What Peter has here is a little dog with a very big name... Klaeff Schaeferhund, or Klaeff German Shepherd.   Yup, a German Shepherd, not an Airedale.  Klaeff is is sitting, made from brownish grey plush, and unjointed.  His face is detailed with little brown and black pupil eyes and a simple black button nose.  He was made only in 11 cm from 1978 through 1981.  Steiffgal has a particular affinity to Klaeff as he was the very first Steiff item she bought from eBay way back in 2003. 

It is interesting to note that the word "Klaeff" in German roughly translates to the word "yap" in English - a noisy term that many dog owners are quite familiar with!

German Shepherds have a long and prominent place in the history of Steiff dog production.  They have been featured almost continuously in the line since 1923.  An early model of the breed is pictured here above on the left.  Perhaps the best known Steiff German Shepherd is Arco, who was introduced in 1937.  Pre-war Arco was made from mohair and had prominent, felt lined ears. He was made standing on wheels (in 35, 43, 50, 60, and 70 cm), standing (in 14, 22, 28, 35, 43, 50, and 60 cm), and sitting (in 17, 22, and 28 cm) from 1937 to 1943.  During this time, Arco was sometimes also referred to as "The Police Dog."   A sitting late 1930's Arco is pictured above on the right.  Early post war, Steiff produced a standing version of Arco in 10, 17, and 22 cm from 1951 through 1956 which strongly resembled the pre-war version.  A 43 and 50 cm standing version on wheels was also manufactured from 1949 through 1956. 

In 1957, classic Arco had his final "makeover" designed to modernize his appearance.  The most noteworthy changes included an overall lightening of his mohair and airbrushing, and the addition of a pink-red felt tongue on larger models. The presence - or absence - of a tongue on Arco is one of the key clues collectors use to date Steiff's German Shepherds!  The "newest" classic mohair Arco was produced standing (in 10, 17, 22, and 35 cm), lying (in 22, 35, and 50 cm), and on wheels (in 43 and 50 cm) and appeared in one form or another in the line from 1957 through 1976.  A 35 cm standing Arco from the mid-1960's is pictured here on the left.  Klaeff quickly followed in 1978, but clearly did not have the staying power as his forefather Arco. Post Klaeff, Steiff has represented the breed in the line through a series of various soft plush models through the present day. 

Steiffgal hopes this discussion about Klaeff and his legacy has shepherded your opinion about this piece in the most positive direction possible!

PS:  Peter sent along another photo of his Klaeff along with his real-life counterpart Sheba!  It is posted here below... of course you can see the "familial resemblance!"  Enjoy!

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