The Earliest Steiff Bears
The earliest Steiff bears were manufactured in 1902, and were string-jointed, excelsior-stuffed, and made from dark cinnamon-colored mohair. This very chunky-clunky toddler had black shoe-button eyes but did not have any Steiff ID. This model is so rare that he has only been seen in photos. If you think you may have an example, contact an expert immediately!
Steiff’s next teddy innovation happened around 1903-1904, when it produced a metal rod-jointed teddy. This pattern was produced in a number of different colors of mohair; I have handled examples in white, apricot, and blond. These cubs were all solidly stuffed with excelsior, had gutta percha noses, shoe-button eyes, and a simple embroidered mouth. Many had a distinctively puppylike appearance. Most rod-jointed bears left the factory in Giengen with a metal button embossed with an elephant. Used only briefly in 1904 and 1905, the elephant button is the earliest and most desirable Steiff button of all.
Through the mid 1920s
In 1905, Steiff made updates to its core bear design that would last through the mid-1920s. All Steiff bears now had a much lighter, play-friendly jointing system consisting of cardboard discs and metal pins. Their faces came to life with embroidered features and lightly shaved muzzles. Steiff generally used black shoe-button eyes on its bears through the early 19-teens. Brown and black glass pupil eyes appeared on some models as early as 1908 or 1909; they became standard around 1913. The earliest Steiff bears had five claws on each of their felt paws; from 1906 onward most had four per paw. Steiff bears from the early turn of last century were stuffed with excelsior, kapok, or a combination of both, depending on the size of the bear. Over time, these teds would appear in white, blond, brown, cinnamon, and apricot mohair.
Steiff’s bears from around 1905 through the mid-1920s had standard body measurements. The measurement from a bear’s chin to crotch was twice the measurement from the top of his head to his chin. His total height was five times the measurement of his footpad, from toe to heel. And in a standing position, his “fingertips” would brush where his knees would be. They also had physical features that have always had great appeal. These include pronounced back humps, hand-sewn mid-torso seams, and spoon-shaped paws.
Steiff bears from 1905 had blank buttons, and those from 1906 through the mid-1920s had buttons embossed with “Steiff,” with the vertical line of the second “f” turning into a tail that trailed back under the name, extending as far as the “e.” These “long trailing f” early examples also had white ear tags that changed slightly in size and imprint over their two decades of appearances.
Steiff Mid-’20s to Mid-’30s
Many collectors love Steiff’s bears from this period, and it’s easy to understand why. Steiff’s traditional bears from this era tend to appear quite playful and charming. They often have very youthful appearances, with longer mohair, unshaven muzzles, and oversized pupil eyes.
The 1920s were a period of great experimentation in terms of Steiff bear design and many novelties were introduced at that time. They include Teddy Rose, Teddy Clown, Teddy Baby, and Petsy. These patterns integrated colorful or tipped mohair, child-like proportions and expressions, and new details, including accessories as well as non-traditional stitching and eye colors.
Though 1925, Steiff’s bears were branded with a tiny long trailing “f” button and a white ear tag. In the 1925-1926 timeframe, Steiff’s branding was updated to include a larger long trailing “f” Steiff button, red ear tag, and a white circular metal-rimmed chest tag. In 1928, the metal-rimmed chest tag was replaced with a colorful, bear faced chest tag with red lettering.
Steiff Mid-’30s to Early ’40s
This period of time was difficult in Germany, and some collectors say that this hardship is reflected in the look of Steiff bears produced then. It is not unusual for bears from this period to have leaner proportions and more moody facial expressions.
Because of material rationing, mohair and felt were at a premium and not readily available to toy companies. As such, Steiff started using wool plush instead of mohair and linen material instead of felt on some of its bears. For the most part, Steiff’s items from this period were branded with a red-lettered chest tag, a larger, long trailing “f” button, and a red ear tag through 1935, followed by a red-lettered chest tag, a short trailing “f” button, and a yellow ear tag through 1943.
Steiff Late ’40s-Very Early ’50s
Bears from this period are wonderful finds, but can be hard to date. This is because some patterns were made pre-war, put away in storage, and buttoned and distributed post-war. Others were made, buttoned, and sold when the factory reopened for toy production in the late 1940s.
Staring in the late 1940s, the company worked tirelessly to rebuild its infrastructure as well as global reputation for toy-making excellence. It used all inventory and supplies on hand to help accelerate that process. In terms of materials, mohair and felt were still in short supply, so Steiff started producing some high-volume pre-war favorites, including its 1930s-era moody bear in artificial silk plush, a lesser quality substitute material.
In terms of identification, items from this time period were distributed to the marketplace with a variety of buttons, including the pre-war long and short trailing “f” buttons, a button with the word “Steiff” in block capital letters, and a blank button. Ear tags for the most part were yellow, but in some cases a white linen one was used. Many items were distributed without chest tags; others had pre-war-style named chest tags. As Steiff was located in the U.S. Zone in Germany, all items leaving the factory for a few years after the war had to have a linen “US Zone” tag sewn into a seam. These are generally noted on items though 1953 or so.
Steiff Early ’50s-Mid-’60s
By the early 1950s Steiff was well on its way to regaining its rightful place at the head of the teddy bear industry. In 1951, the company updated its legacy bear to reflect the trends of the day. Its Original Teddy Bear pattern now featured shorter, more compact limbs; rounded paws; a far less prominent back hump; a fuller face; and a new shield-shaped nose on larger versions.
Steiff introduced two distinctive bear models in the early 1950s. One was Jackie, a teddy designed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the teddy bear in 1953. This sweet girl featured a portly body, pink nose stitch, and an airbrushed belly button. She appeared in the line in four sizes, ranging from 17 cm to 75 cm (about 6 ¾ to 29 ½ inches), through 1955.
Because of material rationing, mohair and felt were at a premium and not readily available to toy companies. As such, Steiff started using wool plush instead of mohair and linen material instead of felt on some of its bears. For the most part, Steiff’s items from this period were branded with a red-lettered chest tag, a larger, long trailing “f” button, and a red ear tag through 1935, followed by a red-lettered chest tag, a short trailing “f” button, and a yellow ear tag through 1943.
Steiff Late ’60s-Early ’80s
Steiff updated its Original Teddy Bear pattern once again in the late 1960s. Steiff’s standard cub now featured a distinctive, masked-shaped facial area, quickly earning him the Mask Teddy nickname. This prolific design was made from 1968 through 1990 and came in white, tan, caramel, and brown in sizes ranging from 11 cm (about 4 ¼ inches) through 100 cm.
Except for the introduction of the Mask Teddy design, Steiff’s teddy bear innovations were minimal during this period. A few models were produced in Dralon, a durable, synthetic plush, during the 1960s and ’70s. Popular Steiff models at the time included a Dralon Petsy and Cosy Teddy.
Steiff did make a number of changes to its tags and buttons that today help collectors more accurately date items from the late 1960s through the early 1980s. These included:
Buttons: In 1969, Steiff replaced its raised-script button pattern with a domed rivet button, aptly nicknamed the lentil button by collectors. It was used through 1978. In 1978, the lentil button was replaced with a riveted 8 mm and then 9 mm brass button design. Interestingly, a gold version of Steiff’s earlier raised-script button
made a brief appearance in the line from 1978 through 1980.
Chest tags: Steiff replaced its blue-imprinted bear-faced chest tag with a half-gold, half-red chest tag in 1972. This design was used through the early 2000s.
Ear tags: The company continued using its yellow linen ear tags though 1980. In 1981, Steiff introduced a woven-cloth ribbon-style ear tag. Slight variations were used through the mid-1980s and later replaced with a printed tape-style tag. Versions of the printed tape-style tags are still in use today.
FAQs
How can you tell how old a Steiff bear is? ›
Steiff bears from 1905 had blank buttons, and those from 1906 through the mid-1920s had buttons embossed with “Steiff,” with the vertical line of the second “f” turning into a tail that trailed back under the name, extending as far as the “e.” These “long trailing f” early examples also had white ear tags that changed ...
How can I tell how old my teddy bear is? ›Feel the fur
The texture of the fur gives you a good indication of a teddy bear's age. The first bears were made from mohair, which is soft and comes from Angora goats. Felt was used on the bears' pads. In the 1920s, silk plush came in - then sheepskin in the 30s and 40s.
Tag Description
Every original Steiff animal proudly wears a yellow ear tag with red writing as a clearly recognisable identification. It shows that this is one of the many, wonderful animals and Teddy Bears from the wide, unlimited Steiff assortment.
These steiff bears and animals come with a white label with either red or black writing. They have the famous Steiff tag and a gold plated button in the ear - a sign of quality and authenticity.
Is my Steiff bear worth anything? ›A Steiff teddy bear of excellent condition from the same era may go for up to $500 per inch of bear, with some twenty-inch bears selling for around $10,000 at auction. Original 1904 Steiff Bear 28 PBs can sell for up to $40,000.
Do all Steiff bears have button in ear? ›An identification that makes our brand a legend.
Every original Steiff animal shows with the world-famous product branding, the Steiff "Button in Ear", that it originates from the very best house - and full of pride, every Steiff Teddy bear and every Steiff animal wears an ear flag as a distinctive mark.
A yellow tag attached to the Button indicates the toy is part of the current range. A white tag with red writing attached to the button is gifted to all the Steiff limited editions. And a white tag with black writing attached to the button is gifted to all the Steiff limited edition replica designs. Original Collection.
Why do Steiff bears have a button in the ear? ›The "Button in Ear" - a worldwide trademark of unmistakable quality. In 1904 Franz Steiff, Margarete's nephew was looking for a way to protect Steiff products from imitation. His great idea later became the epitome of quality and handiwork: a metal button in the ear as a protection label.
Are all Steiff made in Germany? ›The bears became extremely popular in the USA and from 1906 on were known as Teddy Bears after President Theodore Roosevelt. The Steiff tradition continues to this day. Manufacturing is still done by hand in Steiff's 100-year-old factory in Giengen, Germany.
Do all Steiff bears come with a certificate? ›They will have a certificate of authenticity and will arrive in an original Steiff box.
How can you tell if a bear is tagged? ›
While a bear is immobilized during a capture, ear tags are inserted in each of the bear's ears. Unique color combinations of ear tags allow researchers to identify individual bears from photos or sightings. The bear is also given a tattoo on its inner lip of an assigned research name, such as B001.
How much is a 1990 Steiff bear worth? ›Steiff Alfonzo Teddy Bear - ~$16,000
After that, the bear was released again in a limited edition run in 1990.
- Step 1: Fill a sink or basin with lukewarm water and detergent.
- Step 2: Wash using a pumping motion.
- Step 3: Let it soak for 30-60 minutes depending on its condition.
- Step 4: Rinse until free of suds.
- Step 5: Squeeze out any water and let it dry on a towel, using a hair dryer to fluff up the fur.
Want more videos? Did you know that the Teddy Bear was invented in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt? It all began when Theodore Roosevelt was on a bear hunting trip near Onward, Mississippi on November 14, 1902.
What are the oldest teddy bear brands? ›Margarete Steiff GmbH is the oldest and most famous teddy bear and soft toy manufacturer in the world. The history of the company sometimes reads like a fairytale! Margarete Steiff contracted polio when she was just 18 months old, which meant that she would spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair.
How to sell a Steiff bear? ›- Direct, discreet sales to private clients.
- Exclusive placements at invitation only collector's sales events.
- Listings on vintage Steiff retail websites, including My Steifflife.
- Start to finish auction house selection, logistics, and management.
- Antique store merchandising and management.
- Other online options.
One of the most valuable Care Bear is the super rare Nobleheart Horse Care Bears Cousin - a highly-coveted vintage piece which can fetch around the $800 mark. Also in demand is the Proudheart Cat Care Bear Cousin, which is worth more than $500.
Why are Steiff bears so valuable? ›Steiff toys last so long because they are extremely well-made and vigorously tested – surpassing all U.S. and international toy safety standards. Vintage Steiff toys from the company's earlier years have sold at auction for more than $100,000.
Can you remove Steiff tag? ›Q: Are you supposed to remove the tag on the chest before use or let it be? Never remove any tags on Steiff items unless you want to devalue the product. Sometimes, w… Q: where is this item made from?
What is the smallest Steiff bear? ›The 2021 Steiff Spring Collection includes a 9 cm, 5-way-jointed Mini Teddy bear made of top-quality, dark brown mohair. He comes with big, expressive eyes, a stitched nose, felt soles and a “Button in Ear” made of brass.
Can you wash Steiff bears? ›
Some Steiff bears can be machine washed, to wash your bear in the washing machine it is recommended that your place your bear in a mesh laundry bag or pillowcase. You can wash your bear at 30°C using a gentle laundry detergent. To protect your bear from staining it's best to machine wash the bear on it's own.
When did Steiff start putting buttons in ears? ›Since 1 November 1904, therefore, every Steiff animal has sported the characteristic button in the left ear, which makes the products unmistakeable and unique. To prevent imitation, the term "Button in Ear" was also registered as an official trademark on 20 December 1904, and was given legal protection on 13 May 1905.
Do Steiff bears have names? ›Steiff Plush Teddy Bears
Some dangle and some are fully jointed. You can even choose your favourite style and size. Steiff have chosen some delightful names that include Fynn, Elmar, Charly and Bobby, now all you have to do is decide.
Steiff button in the ear mohair Teddy Bear manufactured in the mid to late 1970's in Austria.
Why does Ralph Lauren use teddy bear? ›The bear was introduced in 1991 after Ralph Lauren employees gave their boss and his brother Jerry teddy bears (made by famous German toy maker Steiff) dressed like them. Lauren was taken with the gift and thought the brand should start selling the plush toys in stores.
Are Steiff bears made of mohair? ›Most Teddy bears and animals in our current Classic range are made of mohair material. Cuddly, velvety and versatile Amazingly soft and natural-feeling, this beautiful fabric is quite valuable.
What was the first Steiff bear ever made? ›In 1902 Richard Steiff, Margarete's nephew, designed a toy bear made of mohair called Bear 55PB. Inspired by American President Theodore Roosevelt, the initially nameless bear received its name Teddy, which is still known today.
Are there fake Steiff bears? ›To an experienced collector there should be no difficulty recognising they are not original Steiff. They are usually made in a cotton or artificial plush material not mohair, If they have felt paws the felt is usually a modern nylon mixture felt, not the wool felt as on the originals.
What is a Steiff replica? ›Replica's are copies of pre-exisiting pieces found or recently recovered, some within the Steiff archives themselves! Here at the World of Bears, we are exceptionally lucky to have a fabulous back catalogue of Replica Bears that are / were available at Steiff retailers throughout the world.
How do you authenticate a Steiff? ›The well-known metal button has been found in the ear of most Steiff toys since 1904. Note: the button was not used during World War II when metal was in short supply. Early on, the button had an image of an elephant on them. More recently, most buttons were marked “Steiff” and accompanied by a yellow ribbon.
How do you clean a Steiff? ›
Wash your Steiff article in a pillowcase or laundry net at 30° C. Then dry the article at normal room temperature. After the Steiff article has dried, it is a good idea to shake and comb it several times. Steiff articles cannot be placed in the dryer and the articles should be protected from moisture, heat and light.
What are the most collectable teddy bears? ›- Steiff and Louis Vuitton Bear. Sold: 2000.
- Steiff Bear 'Teddy Girl' Sold: 1994. ...
- Steiff Titanic Mourning Bear. Sold: 2000. ...
- Steiff Teddy Bear. Sold: 2000. ...
- Steiff Happy Anniversary Teddy Bear. Sold: 1989. ...
- Steiff Diamond Eyes Bear. Sold: 2008. ...
- Steiff Harlequin Teddy Bear. ...
- Steiff Elliot Teddy Bear. ...
The best indicators are the size of the shoulders, the profile of the face and the length of the claws. The grizzly bear has a pronounced shoulder hump, which the black bear lacks. Grizzlies have a concave or “dished” facial profile, smaller ears and much larger claws than the black bear.
How do you tell if a bear is a yearling? ›Yearling bears (those between 1 and 2 years old) often will look tall and slender with very little belly fat, making their legs appear long for their body, much like a young deer. If you can see a lot of daylight under the bear's belly as it walks, it is likely a young bear.
Do bears recognize faces? ›Because bears don't have spots or stripes, BearID uses facial characteristics like the distance between a bear's eyes, nose tip, and forehead to match a bear's face to its name in the system.
What is the OG price for my teddy bear? ›Trivia. The price of the item was initially 5,000 diamonds when first added, but shortly changed to 6,500. It was later changed to 8,000, presumably around the time the description was updated as a locker decoration [citation needed].
Did Steiff make a Paddington bear? ›Now the artisans at Steiff have paid tribute to this iconic character with this gorgeous, super-soft and snuggly PaddingtonTM who just needs someone to look after him. Crafted from the finest plush, he wears his signature red hat and blue duffle coat and is perfectly designed for cuddles.
What is the history of Steiff ear buttons? ›In 1904 Franz Steiff, Margarete's nephew was looking for a way to protect Steiff products from imitation. His great idea later became the epitome of quality and handiwork: a metal button in the ear as a protection label.
Are all Steiff bears made in Germany? ›The bears became extremely popular in the USA and from 1906 on were known as Teddy Bears after President Theodore Roosevelt. The Steiff tradition continues to this day. Manufacturing is still done by hand in Steiff's 100-year-old factory in Giengen, Germany.
Do Steiff bears come with a certificate? ›They will have a certificate of authenticity and will arrive in an original Steiff box.
Which vintage Care Bear is worth the most? ›
So what are the most valuable Care Bears? Top of the list is the super rare Nobleheart Horse Care Bears Cousin - a highly-coveted vintage piece which can fetch around the $800 mark. The Nobleheart Horse Care Bears Cousin is highly collectable ...
Are Steiff buttons safe? ›Completely safe from a mechanical, chemical, physical, health and hygiene perspective: therefore Steiff products pass strict, internationally renowned tests in order to obtain the Dekra certificate.
What was Richard Steiff famous for? ›Richard Steiff the father of the Teddy bear
In 1902 Richard Steiff, Margarete's nephew, designed a toy bear made of mohair called Bear 55PB. Inspired by American President Theodore Roosevelt, the initially nameless bear received its name Teddy, which is still known today.
Made with the quality and attention to detail expected from Steiff Bears, this baby toy is certified to Oeko-Tex Standard 100, which means it is safe for babies right from birth. Machine washable at 30°C and bearing the Steiff button-in-ear which is also baby-safe.
What is the most valuable part of a bear? ›Paradoxically, the most valuable part of a bear is its gallbladder. Traditional Chinese medicine uses bile of 44 animal species. For more than 3,000 years, bear bile has been used as a cure for many diseases – bile stones, diabetes, high blood pressure, or eye infections.
When were Steiff bears made in Austria? ›Steiff button in the ear mohair Teddy Bear manufactured in the mid to late 1970's in Austria.
What is the most famous teddy bear brand? ›Margarete Steiff GmbH is the oldest and most famous teddy bear and soft toy manufacturer in the world. The history of the company sometimes reads like a fairytale!
How do you clean Steiff bears? ›Wash your Steiff article in a pillowcase or laundry net at 30° C. Then dry the article at normal room temperature. After the Steiff article has dried, it is a good idea to shake and comb it several times. Steiff articles cannot be placed in the dryer and the articles should be protected from moisture, heat and light.