Paws And Take A Look At These Unusual Black And White Steiff Cocker Spaniels

Sometimes things are just easier in black and white. For example, the calendar says its April, but it's snowing outside here today around these parts. So is it winter or spring? There is no ambivalence, however, when it comes to Steiff's beloved black and white Cocker Spaniels. These eye-catching dogs are always pretty as a picture! Unlike their brown and white, and all brown cousins, these black and white beauties have been produced in a number of really unusual novelties and exclusives over time. Let's focus on a few of the most interesting examples today!

This first black and white Cockie rarity should be music to your ears. Here we have Steiff's Musik Cockie or Music Cockie. She is 17 cm and sitting. She is made from black and white mohair and is head jointed. She has a large, open, smiling mouth. Her face is detailed with large, friendly brown and black pupil eyes and a black hand embroidered nose. Her music box is activated by turning her black mohair tail. This singing sweetie was produced from 1955 through 1957 only.

Let's raise a toast to our second black and white Cockie novelty. Here we have Steiff's fantastically adorable and unusual Cockie the Cocker Spaniel nightcap animal. She is 15 cm and head jointed. Her arms and face are made from white mohair, while her ears are made from black mohair. Her body, which is designed to be like a hollow tent, is made from orange felt which is decorated with a sweet oversized red, orange, and green tulip. Her face is detailed with very large black and white google eyes, a black hand embroidered nose and mouth, and a touch of airbrushing. Steiff designed a number of "nightcap" animals; Others in this series included cats, bears, foxes, and well attired rabbits. These items were designed to hide a sweet, prize, or coin on the pillow of a child. Nightcap Cockie was produced in 15 cm between 1969 and 1974. 

This third black and white Cocker spaniel pup makes news everywhere he goes. Here we have Steiff's version of The Saturday Evening Post's "Butch the Cover Dog" mascot. Butch is standing, 17 cm, and head jointed. He is hard-stuffed with excelsior. His body and face are made from short white mohair, which has been carefully airbrushed with black highlights on his back and head. His ears, tail, and feet are made from very long black shaggy mohair. It almost appears that Butch is wearing fuzzy slippers, based on his foot construction, and has long white mohair "feathers" on the back seams of each of his front and back legs. His face is detailed with very large round black, brown, and white spherical eyes, a black hand embroidered nose, and a touch of pink highlighting around his lips. He has a special chest tag that has his creator's name, Albert Staehle, featured prominently on it. Technically, Butch was made in this size only in 1958, although Steiffgal knows of several examples that measure about 23 cm tall.

Are you in the doghouse? Well, in the case of our last rare black and white Cocker spaniel, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Here we have a sitting, 12 cm black and white version of Cockie. He is head jointed and has a particularly pouty look to him. Perhaps that is because he is attached to a metal chain, which is original to him. His eartag number is 3312,96, which corresponds to 3=sitting; 3=mohair; 12=12 cm; 9=special edition; and 6=black. This Cockie was part of a special edition made exclusively for FAO Schwarz. The overall playset came with this Cockie, wooden kennel, red bowl, and toy bone. 

Steiffgal hopes this discussion on Steiff's rarer black and white Cocker Spaniels has been a pleasant paws in your day.

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

Playing Hide and Seek With This Rare and Unusual Steiff Collectible

It's always the right time of day - or night - for this wonderful and unusual Steiff collectible!  What we have here today is called a "Betthupferlfuchs" or a "Nightcap Fox." This item, which is both adorable and functional, is not terribly well known outside of Europe.  Let's take a look at him and try and outfox the story behind his design and history. 

This well dressed gentleman fox is 15 cm and head jointed. His head and arms are made from light orange dralon. His muzzle and the insides of his ears are white mohair, while the back of his ears are made from black velvet. His body, which is designed to be like a hollow tent, is made from green felt which is decorated a brown felt collar and "pockets" and brown leather buttons. His face is detailed with brown and black pupil eyes, a black hand embroidered nose and mouth, clear mono-filament whiskers, and a touch of airbrushing.  Nightcap Fox was produced in this size only from 1969 through 1974.

But you are probably asking yourself - where's his nightcap?  Well, in this case, "nightcap" does not refer to either a cozy sleeping hat or a shot of  liqueur or spirits enjoyed before bedtime.  Nightcap Fox was designed to hide a sweet, prize, or coin on the pillow of a child. But there's no reason the same logic couldn't work for an adult as well!  (Steiffgal thinks it would be wonderful if he hid a diamond bauble, keys to a new car, or some marvelous chocolates on her pillow - or yours!)  This function, of course, explains his construction and design. 

It might suit you to a "t" to learn that this very well dressed fox is one of a series of delightful "Nightcap" style animals designed and produced by Steiff almost four decades ago.   All were 15 cm and had practically the identical construction as the fox, including adorable faces, detailed heads, simple arms, and hollow, felt bodies.  Others in this series included a grey and white mohair tabby cat wearing a red felt dress (pictured here on the left); a brown dralon bear wearing a blue and red felt dress; a black and white mohair Cockie Cocker Spaniel dog wearing an orange felt dress; a mohair rabbit in a blue felt dress; a mohair rabbit in a red felt dress; a mohair rabbit in an orange felt dress, and a mohair rabbit in a green felt dress with a little white apron. Fox was the only "boy" in the lineup, all the other pieces were "girls." All appeared overall in the Steiff line from 1968 through 1974.  The original advertising pictures of all of these items are shown below, these are from the 1969-1970 version of the Steiff Dealer's Catalog.  

Nightcap Fox, Cat, and Cockie Cocker Spaniel

 Nightcap Teddy Bear

Nightcap Rabbits

 

As far as Steiffgal can tell through her research, these are the only "Nightcap" style animals Steiff manufactured over the history of the company.  Perhaps its time to bring these "sleepers" back into the line!

Steiffgal hopes this discussion on Steiff's Nightcap animals may encourage you to hide - and seek - a few for your own collection.

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