Good golly! Everyone needs a best friend, and that's just what the Golliwogs - storybook characters invented by author Florence Kate Upton in the late 19th century - were invented for. Steiff has a long tradition of bringing favorite fictional friends to life. One of the first examples of this was in 1904 when Steiff worked with author Beatrix Potter to produce her beloved Peter Rabbit as a soft toy for children. Take a look at this incredibly rare and early Steiff Golliwog based on Upton's tales and see what makes him so interesting from the design and historical perspectives.
You can't help but smile when it comes to this simply charming early felt Golliwog doll. He is 43 cm, standing, and fully jointed. His head and oversized hands are made from black felt. His legs, under his pants, are made from a linen type of material. His clothes are primarily integral to his body. He wears black oilcloth shoes with black felt soles, red felt pants, a white felt shirt detailed with black buttons, and a blue felt top coat - which also is decorated with a few buttons on the back and front. His red neck ribbon is all original to him. His jolly face comes to life with black button eyes backed in red and white felt circles, a sewn-on, dimentional red and white felt smile, a prominent horizontal seam, and a head full of black curly mohair. He retains his tiny long trailing f button as his Steiff ID. This classic design was produced in 28, 35, 43, 50, 60, 80, and 100 cm from 1909-1919 overall.
This period design was so popular at the time it was produced in two little known novelty forms. The first, a roly poly Golliwog, appeared in the line in 29 cm from 1909-1912. This very rotund fellow had the typical Golly head and red, white, and blue outfit, as well as arms and oversized hands, but no legs. He wobbled about but always came to rest upright. And the second was a “snap apart” Golly from around 1909. This doll looked just like the standard line, full bodied Golly but was jointed with metal snaps (not regular cardboard disks and pins) and designed to be taken apart and reassembled as a toy for children. Although there is reference to this unusual toy in reference books and the Steiff archives, it was probably not put into full line production.
It's also fun to take a look at the design elements of Steiff's early 20th century Golliwogs. Besides their really distinctive facial presentation, they do indeed have many of the same details as the company's felt farmers, who were also produced around the same period.
For example, Steiff's Dachau Farmer has nearly the same proportions, horizontal face construction, body shape, oversized hands, and simple footwear pattern as this Golliwog. This farmer doll is pictured here on the left. Even the clothing looks like they may have been borrowed from the same closet! Such streamlining adds production efficiencies to the manufacturing process, as well as gives the product line a somewhat standard "look and feel" which is important for branding, quality control, and marketing purposes.
And speaking of marketing... you can see a super sweet print ad from around 1912 or so featuring Steiff's goofy Golliwogs here on the left. You can click on the image to make it bigger. The photo is from Dottie Ayers and Donna Harrison's Advertising Art of Steiff, Teddy Bears and Playthings.
Steiffgal hopes this discussion on early Steiff Golliwog dolls has gotten you into a playful mood!
Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.
Steiffgal does not like to miss a beat when it comes to Steiff, but unfortunately last week she missed posting a new blog post for her beloved readers. But, as always, good things come to those who wait, and this week's entry hopefully will make up for lost time. So here's the reason for the Steiff radio silence - Steiffgal was traveling across the country and meeting with collectors on the West Coast. And boy did she see some amazing Steiff treasures. Here are a few highlights from a mind blowing Steiff collection in Northern California. Prepare to be amazed!
Life's just a pajama party when it comes to these first vintage Steiff rarities. Here we have a set of two Steiff PJ bags. The one on the left is a brown and white Molly the Puppy, and the one on the right a white Sealyham. These were the first style of pajama bags that Steiff launched to the world; pajama bags appeared in the line on and off through the mid-1970's. Overall, these square sweeties were produced from
1930 through 1937 and were formally called "night dress bags." These bags
measured 30 cm x 30 cm, were made of mohair, had a zipper, and were lined in velvet. In addition to the Molly and Sealyham versions pictured here, other bags featured the head of a famous (at
the time) Steiff character sewn onto the corner of the piece. These
included Teddy Baby, Bully the Bulldog, Charly the King Charles Spaniel, a Scotty, and Siamy the Siamese cat.
How about a peck on the cheek for this next amazing Steiff item? Here we have a great example of Peck, made for the pharmaceutical company Merck. Any idea who or what this little guy may be? Well, believe it or not, he is actually supposed to be a germ - yes, those pesky little microorganisms that cause sickness and disease! Peck is 12 cm tall and made mostly from green mohair. He has a green felt body and red felt feet and hands. He has prominent black felt eyebrows (or is it a funny hair cowlick?) on his forehead. His black button eyes are backed in white felt. He wears little black rubber shorts and holds what appears to be a large wooden matchstick tipped in rubber. He has a little loop on his back so he can be hung from the rear view mirror of a car. This wonderful and strange collectible was produced in 1959 only. Peck was most likely made as a Steiff "customer special," i.e. an item that was manufactured exclusively to the specifications of another company that would have been used by that company as a internal business gift or promotional item.
This next seldom seen treasure is rarer than water in the desert! Here we have Steiff's bath time elephant. This jungle gem was specifically designed as a tub toy, and is completely waterproof. He is 14 cm and made from colorfully painted oil cloth. He has a simple design and construction and black button eyes. He is stuffed with kapok and floats in water. This excellent elephant was produced in 10 and 14 cm from 1938 through 1941. Other Steiff oil cloth bath time creations produced during this same time frame include a 12 cm bear on all fours; a 10 and 12 cm Fox terrier on all fours; a 10 and 12 cm cat on all fours; and a 12 cm rabbit on all fours.
Whooo's a smarty pants and can identify this next precious Steiff treasure? Head of the class to you if you said Steiff's woolen miniature Eule or owl. Owl is 8 cm, standing on metal legs, and made from grey, tan, white, and brown Nomotta wool. He has brown and black glass pupil eyes eyes and a tiny tan felt beak. Despite his diminutive size, owl has a swivel head and a very endearing expression. This brainy bird was made by Steiff in this size only, and in 1934 through 1939. Other birds with this somewhat elongated body shape produced by Steiff around the same time frame include a green and yellow budgie (who was also available on a swinging perch); and a red and yellow parrot with great long red tail feathers.
It's no joke that Steiffgal saved her most favorite discovery for last here! Let's monkey around and take a look at this most outstanding Steiff Affe or monkey. This wonderful and playful primate stands about 35 cm tall. His head, torso
and lanky arms and legs are made from brown short-pile plush while his
simple face, hands and feet are made from brown felt. He has black shoe
button eyes and a folksy, pleasant expression. Unlike other Steiff primates - Jocko the Chimp in particular - this pattern does indeed have a tail. This basic model was
produced in 28, 35, 43, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 120 cm over the
1903-through-1928 time frame in a few colors and materials. Although his darling felt harliquin outfit is not original to him, he was produced in an identical costume from 1904 through 1918. It is Steiffgal's best guess, given this monkey's 8mm long trailing "f" button, that he was made in the mid-1920's. These early
long-limbed Steiff primates remain the “Holy Grail” for many vintage
Steiff enthusiasts.
Steiffgal hopes this discussion of exceptional Steiff rarieties has been worth your waiting time!
Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures, found on an adventure or otherwise? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.
Posts
