Steiff edition of Otto`s comic figure The enduring appeal of Disney

The magazine for Steiff Club members –
NEWS
PASSIONS
VENUES
Steiff edition of Otto’s comic figure
The enduring appeal of Disney
Steiff Sommer 2014
Spring 2014
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EDITORIAL
Dear Steiff friends,
Steiff Teddy bears and animals inspire the imagination! This applies equally to children
and adults. whereas younger fans express their imagination at play, adults delight, for
instance, in creating seasonal decorations with Steiff animals. Some aficionados even
combine a passion for collecting with a talent for penmanship, and write whole books
with Steiff animals as all the characters. we met an author in the USA who told us how her
enthusiasm for Steiff animals gave rise to the desire to write a book for children. Find out
more on pages 14 and 15.
However, not only do Steiff animals inspire the imagination, but they are always perfect
for amazing stories. “Black Jack”, as the name implies a black Steiff Teddy bear of the
early 20th century, is one of those bears whose story will appeal to any collector. Looking
forward to hearing it? Then head for page 18.
This issue also features the fabulous collections of two Club members, and there are
marvellous opportunities to make new Steiff friends such as German comedian Otto
Waalkes and his “Ottifants” at this year’s Steiff Sommer from 27 to 29 June or acquire one
or the other plush companion at the special auction. You are very cordially invited!
But for now, it remains for me to wish you
happy reading and – hopefully – happy
inspiration.
IMPRINT
PUBLISHER: Margarete Steiff GmbH
Richard-Steiff-Straße 4,
89537 Giengen an der Brenz, Germany
tel.: + 49 (0) 7322 131555
EDITORS: Rick Emerson, Inge Zinnecker
COnTRIBUTOR: Rebekah Kaufman
DESIGn AnD PRInT:
Hess GmbH - Medien, www.hess-medien.de
FREQUEnCY OF PUBLICATIOn: four times a year
www.steiff.com
Subject to changes. Reprinting and copying, even in
part, only with the express permission of the publisher.
By submitting manuscripts you consent to their
publication in the Club magazine. We must reserve
the right to edit or abridge letters or articles.
Printed colours may deviate from the original.
All rights reserved.
Printed in Germany 04/2014 e – Item no. 913525
wITH BeST wISHeS,
InGE ZInnECKER
Steiff Club Manager
CO N T ENTS
NEWS
Special items
4 PASSIONS
His own magic kingdom
16
NEWS
110 years “Button in ear”
7 STORIES
The suprising story of Black Jack
18
COMPET I T ION
win a trip to Steiff
8 V ENUES
The Steiff Sommer 2014
21
R ARIT IES
Less than cuddly ...
10 CLUB MAIL
Readers’ Service
24
PAS S IONS
The enduring appeal of Disney
12 FAVOURIT E
waldi Dachshund
26
D IS COV ER IES
Sassafrass Jones
14
3
NewS
Special items
Germany
I S A R 12 T E D D Y
BEAR
Retro is in. What’s popular in fashion, furniture or interior
design can, of course, also be interpreted in Teddy bears.
For instance, someone had the idea (in Munich, of course)
of creating something as a tribute to “Funkstreife Isar 12”,
or “Patrol Car Isar 12”, a very popular German TV series in
the early 1960’s. The main characters were police officers
Huber and Dambrowski, and the cases they had to deal
with were decidedly “soft” - especially when considered in
the light of today’s equivalents. The patrol car in question
was a BMw 501, also known as the “Baroque Angel” for its
rounded lines.
Embark on a trip down memory lane with the 30 cm Steiff
Teddy bear Isar 12 with true-to-the-original accessories
and a charmingly reproduced BMw 501 police car made
by Schuco.
The charming set is
available for € 199
exclusively
from Oberpollinger,
Neuhauser Strasse 18,
in 80331 Munich:
tel. +49 (0) 89 2902 5968,
fax: +49 (0) 89 2902 5768,
email:
[email protected]
(Item No. 673825,
Limited Edition of 750 pieces)
Good to know
LO Y A LT Y TE D D Y
BEAR
GIF T
This Teddy bear is available
exclusively to members who
have been with the
Steiff Club for at least
5 years.
The bear is available
until 31.12.2015. Members can download a
PDF with the order form at
GIFT CERTIFICAT
— for membership of
the Steiff Club
E
for
The membership
includes a valuable
welcoming gift,
the quarterly Club
magazine,
the opportunity to
purchase exclusive
Club products
and much more besides.
of fun in the Steiff
Club
909412
Wishing you lots
www.steiffusa.com/steiff-club-magazines/
Order forms are in the autumn 2013 magazine.
Number of time-limited items 2012
421242
Event Teddy bear Flo
421235
Club Edition Louis
673368
Museum bear
MEMBERSHIP
If you would like to give
someone the gift of membership
of the Steiff Club and there
isn’t enough time between
submission of the application
and the mailing of the Club
documents by the Club office, you can also download a
2,450 pieces
2,850 pieces
980 pieces
printable gift receipt at
www.steiffusa.com/about-steiff-club-usa/
and 2013
421280
421259
673641
Event Teddy bear Flo
Club Edition Louise
Museum bear 2013
1,950 pieces
2,150 pieces
700 pieces
It‘s worth being assigned to a Club store
Would you like to take part in Club events and have local support? Then be assigned to a Club store!
The arrangement is non-binding and can be amended at any time. All you have to do is email the Club office at [email protected]
and let us know which Club store will be your contact.
4
NewS
UK/USA
C O WA R D L Y L I O N T E D D Y
Our journey down the yellow brick road continues in
2014 as we present the lovable Cowardly Lion from “The
Wizard of Oz”. Following in the glittering footsteps of
Dorothy, Toto, and the wicked witch of the west, this is
a special edition for both Oz fans and Steiff collectors
alike. Our “King of the Jungle” is sewn from finest
blond mohair and has hand-stitched features. He’s
five-way jointed, has a floppy felt tail, and wears a red
silk ribbon in his mane. Of course, the Cowardly Lion
wouldn’t be complete without his medal of courage
– a replica of the one used in the film. Come along
with the Cowardly Lion as we go off to see the wizard
once again!
(Item No. 682674, 28 cm, Limited Edition of 1,939 pieces)
USA
BUTCH, THE COVER DOG
In the 1940’s, The Saturday Evening Post introduced a
character that would capture the hearts of the nation
– a black and white cocker spaniel named “Butch”.
Created by artist Albert Staehle, Butch appeared on
the magazine’s cover more than two dozen times.
So it was only natural that Steiff would produce a
toy version of the character. First manufactured
in 1958 only, Butch makes his return in 2014. He’s
made from the finest mohair plush using archival
patterns. Like the original, Butch features brown
“googly” eyes and a hand painted coat. whether
you remember his first appearance or are a brand new
fan, Butch is sure to bring you years of happiness.
(Item No. 682759, 20 cm, Limited Edition of 1,500 pieces)
HOW TO REACH THE STEIFF CLUB IN NORTH AMERICA:
Steiff north America, Carolyn Smith, Club Administrator tel.: +1 401 312-0080, e-mail: [email protected]
HOW TO REACH THE STEIFF CLUB IN THE UK:
Leyla Maniera, Margarete Steiff UK, Astra House, The Common, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8RZ,
tel.: +44 (0) 1483 266643, fax: +44 (0) 1483 266650, e-mail: [email protected]
5
News
Steiff edition of Otto’s comic figure
First 100 copies available in advance at Steiff Sommer.
Inseparable:
Comedian
Otto Waalkes never
wants to let go of his
Steiff Ottifant.
(Note: Button and
ear tag are oversized
in the picture.)
The “Ottifants” may be pretty old now,
but they’re undeniably young at heart.
And that’s why they can now get piercings:
Otto Waalkes’ famous cuddly toy is getting
a button in its ear - and it’s a Steiff one, too!
Essential for anyone, young or as old as the
pachyderm itself, who has ever been made
to smile by the amusing cartoon elephant.
Otto is delighted. “The Ottifants have
had to wait almost four decades to get a
‘button in their ears’. And now the time
has come - and it looks great! I think I’ll
get one myself,” said Otto. He won’t even
let go of his new Steiff mascot. In fact, the
two are also almost impossible to tell apart.
When he tried to draw a self portrait, Otto
scribbled something that somehow had his
facial features, but at the same time also
looked something like an elephant.
Otto, who hails from East Friesia, worked
closely with Steiff on the development after all, we’re dealing with his likeness here
- and the new Ottifants by Steiff should
be at least as much fun as the originals that have accompanied Otto for
decades on album and CD covers, on his stage performances, in their own
TV series - and even a movie.
This lovingly made edition stands about 24 cm tall, and is a genuine Otto
original. The premiere collection of 1,400 pieces is to be completed this
year. The recommended retail price is € 39.90 (plus national/international
shipping costs).
The first 100 Ottifants will be available exclusively at the Steiff Sommer
from 27 to 29 June in Giengen a. d. Brenz. If you’re lucky at the tombola
there, you could take your Steiff Ottifant straight home with you complete with a birth certificate hand-signed by Otto. Furthermore, the
Ottifant daddy will be there in person on Saturday, 28 June to meet fans of
all ages and sign autographs.
For delivery dates from September, collectors will be able to reserve their
Ottifant at the Steiff Sommer (on the Ottifant stand) or order it in advance
at www.ottifantenwelt.de.
6
NewS
110 years of “Button in the ear”
Special benefits for collectors.
Word has got round that the Steiff trademark “Button
in the ear” is turning 110 years of age, and that is why all
limited items (except replicas) will have an elephant button
in the ear in 2014.
Now all Steiff fans can look forward to an additional offer
that Steiff is carrying out in co-operation with retailers
from May until December. The offer will give purchasers
of a Limited Edition of the Spring/Summer novelties a
fabulous gift.
The following items are available:
a key holder
a tie pin
a lapel pin
(value of each approx. € 14.90)
Please note: Participation in the campaign by
retailers and department store toy departments
is optional, and the offer is therefore without
guarantee. The offer does not apply to online or
direct orders.
7
CO M P E T I T I O n
Win a trip to Steiff *
And celebrate the 25th anniversary of the British Collectors’ Teddy bear.
For twenty five years the British Collectors’ Teddy bear has quite
rightly ruled as the most coveted “Jewel in the crown” of the
collectors’ world. And for these twenty five years an exquisite array
of stunning bears has reigned supreme.
Our beautiful UK Jubilee Teddy bear was inspired by our very first
“jewel”. He is made of finest mohair and pays tribute to
the British Collectors’ Teddy bear from 1989.
Slighter in stature, but every inch proud
and excited, as are we, to share with you
this wonderful anniversary.
The British Collectors’ Teddy bear is the
longest running series of limited edition
Teddy bears offered by Steiff. It is
the first series to reach this unique
anniversary and all of us at Steiff
consider it worthy of a very
special double celebration:
a fabulous Jubilee Teddy
bear and a competition of a
lifetime – 1st Prize – a trip
to Steiff, Germany!
The winner of the 1st Prize will
be gifted an unforgettable journey for two persons with
transport to and from Steiff via economy flight from London
British Collectors’
Teddy bear from Heathrow on British Airways and one night accommodation in
1989
Giengen with evening meal. The lucky prizewinner will experience
an exclusive tour of the birthplace of Margarete Steiff and also the
Steiff Museum. In addition, there will be many surprises along the
way!
We will also have a wonderful 2nd Prize – the UK Jubilee Teddy bear,
which is limited to 1,000 pieces. RRP £325.
3rd Prize - is the British Collectors’ Teddy bear 2014. RRP £165.
To enter you simply need to visit a participating UK Club Store
between May and June 2014 and complete a competition form.
we look forward to seeing you soon at our Club stores and we wish
you all
Good Luck!
8
Exclusive Prizes are waiting for you
1 ST P R I Z E :
VISIT TO ST EIFF GERMANY
For 2 persons: Exclusive tour of the
birthplace of Margarete Steiff, the Steiff
Museum, flights and accommodations.
2 ND P R I Z E :
JUBILEE TEDDY
BEAR
Limited to 1,000 pieces. RRP £325
3 RD P R I Z E :
BRIT ISH COLLECTORS’
T E D D Y B E A R 2014
Limited to 2,000 pieces. RRP £165
* Conditions of participation:
Any correctly filled out competition postcard
participates in the draw. Competition is open
to private individuals only. Prizes cannot be
exchanged for cash. Persons younger than 18 may
only participate with the consent of their parent
or legal guardian. Employees of Margarete Steiff
GmbH and Steiff Retail GmbH are not permitted
to take part. The organiser’s decision is final.
By taking part in this competition, participants
agree to their personal data being processed and
used within the constraints of German data
protection legislation. This data will be used
by Margarete Steiff GmbH and Steiff
Retail GmbH for marketing purposes and
for communicating product information
via post or e-mail. Participants provide
their personal data on a voluntary basis.
This data will not be made available to
third parties. Participants are entitled to
withdraw their consent from Margarete Steiff
GmbH or Steiff Retail GmbH at any time.
The closing date for entries is 30 June 2014.
CO MNP Ee T
wIST I O n
:
1st Prize rmany
e
Steiff G
Visit to
2nd Prize:
Jubilee Teddy bear
2014
3rd Prize:
British Collectors’
Teddy bear 2014
9
RARITIES
Less than cuddly but still adorable
A look at some memorable Steiff creatures from the 1950’s and 1960’s.
Not every toy Steiff has made has been as adorable and
heartwarming as the company’s traditional Teddy bears
and animals. In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, Steiff
launched a whole series of innovative but unconventional
designs that can best be described as “creepy crawlers”.
Most were from the field and forest product categories,
and many were produced from unexpected materials.
These items - in real life - would be the last animals most
people would want to keep and cuddle as “friends for life”.
But given the Steiff magic touch, today these half-century
Spidy spider was old oddities are often the crown jewels in the collections of
manufactured for vintage Steiff enthusiasts around the world.
His tiny, mouse-like body was constructed from graybrown mohair. His thin wings were made from plastic-like
sheeting. His ears were made from felt. Small eric had arms
and legs made from gray pipe cleaners, while the larger size
had thin mohair arms and legs. needless to say, he was very
labour intensive to manufacturer, which may explain why
he only appeared in the catalogue from 1960 through 1962.
That, in conjunction with his relative fragility, is one of the
reasons that an eric in good condition is considered such
only two years.
Lizzy Lizard in
cotton velvet was
produced from 1959
through 1961.
Eric the bat appeared
in the Steiff catalogue
from 1960
through 1962.
10
Steiff’s first creepy crawler to hit the marketplace was
Lizzy eidechse, or Lizzy Lizard, who, despite her name
and breed, was a beautiful
work of fine art. Lizzy was
made from yellow velvet
that was carefully and
intricately airbrushed with
green, back, brown, and
white details by hand. She
had little black eyes and
double thick felt hands and
feet. Her fingers and toes
were also detailed with a
vibrant green blush.
a treasure for most vintage
She was stuffed with
Steiff collectors. Due to his
excelsior, which is a
popularity, Steiff produced
remarkable feat given her
Given the Steiff magic touch,
a replica set of a large and
today these half-century old oddities
size, shape, and delicate
small Eric in 1990 and 1991
are often the crown jewels ...
skin material. Lizzy was
in an edition size of 4,000
produced in 4 and 6 cm
pieces. Steiff debuted another unusually configured creepy
from 1959 through 1961.
Right after Lizzy’s successful launch, Steiff introduced its crawler duo around the same time as Eric - a small and
now beloved Eric Fledermaus, or Eric the Bat. Despite his large sized spider pair. They were called Spidy Spinne or
diminutive size - he was produced Spidy Spider and made in 12 and 22 cm. Both had black
in 10 and 17 cm - Eric’s body glass eyes and were manufactured from light beige mohair,
composition was amongst which was gloriously hand airbrushed in brown, red, and
the most varied and green. Small Spidy had legs and feelers made from gray
intricate of any pipe cleaners, while the larger size had thin mohair legs and
Steiff
creation, feelers. Both large and small Spidy spiders were produced
even to this in 1960 and 1961 only, making them quite collectible. And,
day.
like with eric, Steiff made a replica set of a large and small
Spidy in 1991 and 1992, also in an edition size of 4,000
pieces.
RARITIES
Steiff enthusiasts
interested in these
half-century old unusual
rarities. However, nelly
was never replicated for a
collector’s edition.
Steiff didn’t slow down a bit to introduce its next creepy
crawler to the world. In 1961, nelly Schnecke, or nelly Snail,
debuted in the Steiff catalogue. Like eric, Nelly was made
from a variety of materials not usually seen on Steiff animals.
nelly had a velvet body in either brown or green. Her
underside was made from a synthetic material. She had tall,
plastic antennae (which had a tendency to snap off during
normal play), black bead eyes, and a large, swirled plastic
shell to match her body colour. She was only produced
for a limited time, from 1961 through 1963. Like an Eric
or Spidy, a nelly in good condition is a fantastic find for
The next two early 1960-era Steiff creepy crawlers truly go
hand in hand, or in this case, paw in paw. In 1962, Steiff
introduced the world to wiggy the ermine and waggy the
weasel. Both were 12 cm, unjointed, made from dralon,
and standing on all fours. They had pipe cleaner style tails,
and their faces were detailed with felt ears, black button
eyes, pink hand embroidered noses and mouths, and clear
monofilament whiskers. They were all but identical except
for their colouring: Waggy was brown all over except for
his chest area, while Wiggy was white all over except for
her black tail. Both were produced in this size only and
for one year in 1962. Today, it is extremely rare to see a
Wiggy or Waggy in very good or better condition on the
secondary market; their dralon material tends to get dirty
and ratty looking, and often times their pipe cleaner tails
simply snap off with age and wear.
Above left:
A Nelly snail in mint
condition is today
considered a rarity.
Above:
Like many treasured
Steiff creations, Crabby
lobster was intricately
airbrushed.
Wigg y the Ermine
and Wagg y the
Weasel were virtually
identical except for
their colouring.
Unlike the other creepy crawlers discussed today, this
last one might just make you a little hungry! Please feast
your eyes on Steiff’s Crabby Hummer or Crabby Lobster.
Crabby was produced overall from 1963 through 1965 in
three sizes: 10, 17, and 28 cm. All three had black bead eyes,
long thin string antennae, and were gloriously airbrushed
with all the lines and shell marks you would expect to find
on a lobster. The small and medium versions had thin
pipe cleaner legs and were made from felt, while the large
version, which was practically life sized, was made entirely
from mohair and had thick pipe cleaner legs.
11
Passions
The enduring appeal of Disney
A lifelong collector with a special love for Steiff’s Walt Disney editions.
Above:
The collection of
Mr. Helmut Brossmann
includes more than
1,500 items.
Above right:
Mr. Brossmann with
a one-of-a-kind
diorama from The
Jungle Book, his
favourite Disney film.
Helmut Brossmann has treasured Steiff items since childhood and now as an adult has a
collection of about 1,500 pieces. His first Steiff animal, a cuddly bedtime poodle named
“Ninni”, still resides besides his bed. This dear friend is now quite worn but is truly the
catalyst for Mr. Brossmann’s lifelong love of the brand.
Today Mr. Brossmann has a special passion for Steiff items created as exclusives for Walt
Disney. He feels that Steiff interprets and manufactures these items so accurately - really
capturing the look and essence of all the distinct and different Disney characters. As a
child, like so many others, he was enthralled by Mickey Mouse comic books. These would
transport him to a fascinating world that helped him to forget his troubles of the day.
His favourite characters were Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Uncle Scrooge. Today, he still
enjoys reading through these comics as a way to relax and touch back to simpler times.
His favourite Disney film, both as a youngster and today, is The Jungle Book. It is no
surprise to learn that Baloo is his favourite character from the movie. Mr. Brossmann is
fascinated by his aplomb and equanimity, and feels that Baloo most closely approximates
his character – something that he’s actually quite proud of.
Mr. Brossmann’s first Disney item from Steiff was the Geppetto & Pinocchio set, which
was produced in 1996 exclusively for the 9th annual Walt Disney World Teddy Bear and
Doll Convention. Before this purchase, he did not know of the wonderful Disney themed
limited editions produced for this annual event in the United States. Because of Geppetto
& Pinocchio, and how strongly he felt about the pieces, he began to take a closer look at
this area of collecting. He soon discovered that these beautiful editions were also available
in the special sizes of 60 cm and 80 cm, but were each limited worldwide to only 25 and
5 pieces, respectively. He then started to concentrate on these larger and more exclusive
rarities, and began looking for them all over the world. To date, he has a full Steiff Disney
collection in the smaller standard and in 60 cm sizes, and is only missing a few figures from
the 80 cm range.
12
Passions
When asked which character is most noticeably absent
from the Steiff and Disney partnership, Mr. Brossmann
gives a hearty endorsement to Uncle Scrooge. He feels this
“thrifty” character, who fits into our times like no other,
should absolutely be made as a special Steiff edition for
Disney.
Unfortunately, Walt Disney stopped hosting their annual
Teddy Bear and Doll Convention in 2008. As a result,
Mr. Brossmann is quite understandably disappointed that
Steiff is no longer creating new Walt Disney exclusives
specifically for this series. He states, “In my opinion, there
was such great interest in these editions because they were
an interface between two different areas of collecting: the
Steiff collectors on the one hand, and the Disney fans
on the other. Because of their limited time and scope of
production, I believe all existing Steiff Disney characters
will appreciate in terms of value and recognition.”
Believe it or not, Mr. Brossmann has been able to share his
love of Steiff directly with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI!
The Pope’s brother, the prelate Prof. Georg Ratzinger, is
Mr. Brossmann’s confirmation Godfather. Mr. Brossmann
presented Prof. Ratzinger with Steiff’s Leuthold Bear
in a Swiss Guard’s costume, which was produced in an
edition size of 1,500 pieces in 2005. This was a symbolic
gift to his godfather because the Papal Swiss Guard has
always guarded the Popes. On a regular visit to Georg
Ratzinger, who lives in the same town as Mr. Brossmann,
Mr. Brossmann raised the idea of presenting His Holiness
with Steiff’s Leuthold Bear as well. Georg Ratzinger
thought that was a very good idea, and arranged for such
a gift transfer to take place. Apparently, it wasn’t only His
Holiness who was pleased about this special gift, but also
the Swiss Guards and the Vatican police in attendance!
Professionally, Mr. Brossmann today has been able to
weave in projects with the Steiff Company as part of his
own business - but the path to that was in no way straight
or obvious. He was the son of refugees and grew up poor.
Academically, he was a late bloomer. He had always loved
folk music - he still plays the accordion - and that interest
helped to launch his professional career. He joined a music
fan club, then became its manager, and then opened up
his own music agency. Over the course of his career, he
has managed some of the most successful European folk
music groups of the post-war era. Today, he works to
promote Regensburger Domspatzen, the
official choir for St. Peter’s Cathedral in
Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany; German
TV programmes such as Inspector REX;
and the Augsburger Puppenkiste, a
marionette theatre in Augsburg, Germany,
along with its movie A Rat’s Tale. As part
of his agency work, he has collaborated
on a great number of Steiff special edition
items such as the traditionally costumed bears for the
Kastelruther Spatzen, a Musical Group from South Tyrol;
the St. Bernard doll with a St. Bernard dog set for the
Barry Foundation; and a special white donkey for the Björn
Schulz Foundation, an organization that helps critically
and terminally ill children, amongst many other projects.
Mr. Brossmann has
even been able to
share his love of
Steiff with The Pope!
Steiff products have accompanied Mr. Brossmann
throughout his life, from babyhood to the present day.
He is fascinated with not only the products themselves,
but also the emotion that accompanies them. He, like all
of us, is truly touched by the magic of Steiff, and is guided
by the company’s promise of “A Steiff Animal – Forever
Yours”.
13
D iscoveries
Sassafrass Jones
Announcing the publication of a book starring Steiff creations!
collection - the small red “Flossy” mohair fish (produced
in 13, 28, and 66 cm from 1960 - 1981.) I still have this
precious item today. I lived in New York City as a child and
FAO Schwarz was my second home, a place I truly loved,
and still do. I would go there to visit the Steiff department,
and spend hours staring at the store’s delightful dressed
Pieps mice. Looking back, the time that I spent there is
probably my most beloved memory of all. Today I have
over 400 vintage Steiff items in my collection, most from
the 1950 - 1970 time frame.
What are a few of your favourite things in your collection?
Cathleen Smith
Bresciani, author
of “Sassafrass Jones
and the Search for a
Forever Home”.
Steiff bears and animals are favourites the world over - not
just for collectors, but for people who write and illustrate
books! Our friends from Giengen have been featured in
children’s literature for over a century. Perhaps the first
book that specifically used Steiff bears as part of its tale
was Mr. Cinnamon Bear by Sara Tawney Lefferts, who
published her work in 1907. Since then, Steiff animals have
taken center stage in many children’s stories, including
Elanor Farjeon’s The Perfect Zoo, Lost Bear, by Ann
Durell, and a series of Lonely Doll books by Dare Wright.
Today, there’s a new children’s book, available in English,
that features a whole community of vintage Steiff animals
to tell its uplifting tale. And, its co-author is a huge Steiff
fan and collector! Let’s meet her and learn more about this
exciting project.
Steiff:
Welcome! Please tell us a little about yourself.
Cathleen:
My name is Cathleen Smith Bresciani, and I am from the
Atlanta, Georgia, USA area. Professionally, I design and
sell specialty pet clothing.
Could share some of your earliest memories of Steiff?
I started collecting in the late 1960’s as a young girl. My
best friend gave me my first Steiff animal from her own
14
I love dressed Steiff animals - they have a charming human
quality to them, and they have made me smile since
childhood. So of course, my collection of dressed Pieps
mice from FAO Schwarz probably tops that list. I also
cherish my Helen Ratkai Steiff animals. Helen was an artist
who lived in New York City. She dressed Steiff items from
the 1950’s and 1960’s in outfits made from fine fabrics and
laces; these treasures were then sold at high-end stores
like Lord & Taylor and FAO Schwarz. I especially love my
Ratkai elephant and giraffe. These elegantly attired Steiff
animals are really hard to find today.
As a lifelong collector, have your tastes and preferences changed over
the years?
I used to collect everything Steiff. But today, I focus more
on the hard to find FAO Schwarz exclusive items. I just
purchased several FAO Exclusive Dalmatians, including
the original “Royal Dally”, (produced in 14 cm in 1963
only) and I am over the moon about that.
How do you display your collection of over 400 pieces?
Do you update your display seasonally?
It’s always Steiff time around my home! I tend to group
my items by type, and put them on shelves, in armoires,
on the fireplace mantel, and other visible spaces.
They are truly integrated into the decor. During the
winter holidays, I put Santa hats and costumes on some
items, while at Easter, my bunnies get baskets and lots of
colourful eggs!
Discoveries
You have taken your passion for Steiff and created a book for children.
Tell us how that came about, and a little bit about the story.
Tell us about the sets for the book
pages.
The book is titled “Sassafrass Jones And The Search For
A Forever Home”. It is the story of a Pekingese dog and
how the right environment and friends, combined with
kindness and compassion, can make all the difference.
The idea for the book came from a friend, who suggested I
create a book with my collection. Originally, it was going
to be a book of Steiff photos, but then as we started taking
pictures, the story kept evolving. Before we knew it, we had
the entire tale written from start to finish. I worked with
a fantastic team on this project, including my friend Fred
Schneider of the legendary band the B-52’s, who narrated
the audio book version of the story.
I come up with the look and
feel for each set. They are
then built by Christopher
McClellan, who worked as a
professional set coordinator
and carpenter for television.
He has a great eye for size,
proportion, and angles.
The average set is about 45
cm long and wide, and 30
cm tall. It takes him up to
two weeks to build the shell
for any given set. The sets
are “furnished” and detailed
with miniatures from my
dollhouse collection. If we
need something for a set
that I don’t already own, we
go out and find it. But this
happens quite infrequently.
The book stars many beloved Steiff animals from the 1950’s and
1960’s. How did you decide which animals to use for which roles?
This also evolved organically, and most were natural
fits. Wittie owl (produced in 10, 14, 22, and 35 cm from
1954 - 1977) was a great selection for the wise adoption
center manager. Nightcap rabbits (produced 15 cm from
1968 - 1973) seem thoughtful, so they were perfect as the
competition judges. Nagy Beavers (produced in 10, 17,
and 25 cm from 1958 - 1978) with their buckteeth and spiky
fur seemed ideal to play the story’s antagonists. And who
better than the snail (produced in 10 cm from 1961 - 1963)
to be the slow and steady porter?
Can you describe the process for designing and making the clothing
that the Steiff animals wear in the book?
In some cases, the outfits are original to the animals,
like many of the dressed Pieps mice. Other outfits were
authentic vintage doll clothing; for example the beaver
sisters wear dresses made many years ago by the Vogue
doll company. I worked very closely with an expert
dressmaker in the Atlanta area to create other dresses;
these were hand made using period materials from Hyman
Hendler & Sons, a store in New York City that has been
supplying high end ribbons and trims since 1900. The hats
featured in the story were also designed and made by a
world-class milliner.
What’s next for Sassafrass Jones?
Will we be seeing more of her and
her Steiff friends in the future?
Yes, we are working on the
next story! The next book
is all about Sassafrass’
adventures in New York
City. There she befriends
all sorts of wonderful and exotic creatures – Steiff, of
course! I do hope this story, and future Sassafrass tales, will
help children of all ages develop an interest in Steiff and
the wonderful role these treasures can have in fantasy and
make-believe play. I think the world would be a far better
place if each of us had a little more whimsy in our lives!
Dressed mice, many
from legendary toy
store FAO Schwarz in
New York, are a
favourite of the author.
The elaborate settings
for Sassafrass Jones
sometimes took two
weeks or more to build.
Thank you for your time and for helping to make the world a bit more
playful through Steiff!
15
Passions
His own magic kingdom
Life at home with a Disney animator who’s also a Steiff enthusiast.
As an animator,
Denis is surrounded by
lovable Disney­
creatures by day and
Steiff ­creations
by night!
The familiar saying, “all the whole world is a stage” is also true for Steiff collectors. Steiff Teddy bears, animals, and
dolls are particularly playful, as well as photogenic, and have always been willing to play a starring role in large window
displays, store vignettes, and event venues. On a smaller scale, many Steiff enthusiasts also like to decorate their homes
with their collections, especially in themes related to the holidays or seasons. Let’s meet a collector with a special talent
for creating “over the top” displays with his extensive Steiff collection.
Mr. Morella has
been collecting Steiff
for more than 20 years.
Steiff:
Please share a little about yourself with us.
Denis:
My name is Denis Morella, and I live in California. I am
an animation director by profession, and create TV shows.
My latest show is a Disney program called Sheriff Callie’s
Wild West. This is very exciting for me, as Steiff and Disney
have been partners for a very long time. It’s my dream that
one of my Disney characters will someday be made by
Steiff!
16
Tell us about your interest in Steiff and your collection.
I started seriously collecting Steiff around 20 years ago.
When I was a kid, I had a Pieps mouse, a kangaroo, and
Jocko. Today, I’d say I have anywhere from 500 to 700 in
my collection, give or take a few hundred... it’s hard to
keep track with all the selling, trading, buying, and moving
that has gone on over the years. Friends of mine joke that I
don’t just have one of something, I have to have at least 5 of
them. But, that’s what makes a collection! I have multiples
of Molly the puppy, black cats, squirrels, early goats, and
lizards. My top three favourite things in my collection
today are an FAO Schwarz Xorry studio fox, a mint original
and early Minnie Mouse, and a pre-war lying fawn.
PA S S I O n S
It’s something I’ve always loved to do. Many of my
inspirations come from my childhood and watching
stopmotion animation films. I have always made a big
deal around Halloween, Christmas, and Easter. For these
holidays, I could use up to 75 Steiff items to create a
display, and it could take me 2 or 3 evenings after work to
assemble it. But the displays aren’t always on this scale.
For Thanksgiving, I use Tucky turkeys and other seasonal
items to create an interesting dinner table centerpiece. I
once did a Groundhog Day display that was really simple
- just some gravel, a half a log, some moss, and a vintage
Steiff Murmy.
Left:
Steiff treasures from
all eras play a role in
the displays of Denis
Morella.
What is your advice for putting together a great Steiff display?
There are three key things. The first is lights. These should
be the first things to put in a display. Little white twinkle
lights work great, but don’t use older Christmas lights as
they get too hot and can burn your items. Sheets of cotton
that look like snow look amazing over white twinkle lights.
The second is props. Dollhouse furniture works great for
the Pieps mice family. Just about anything that’s miniature
and to scale will work. Old circus toys such as wooden
blocks, ladders, stools, metal trains, and old circus cages
also make great props. The third is risers. You want to be
sure the characters in the back can be seen as well as the
ones in the front. You can use wooden or old fashioned
metal ones, but spice rack shelves work especially well.
What are your favourite Steiff displays of all?
And what would be your dream display to design?
Most of my collection is with me in a few antique store
display cases. The studio animals are clustered together in
what would be a small office in a normal person’s house.
The cases are mostly in the living room and the guest
room. I can’t display everything I have, so I store items in
large, sealed plastic containers.
I once did an elaborate sea-themed display with stacks of
miniature vintage aquariums, fishing nets, seashells, and
other ocean-inspired props. That was really fun to do,
and more original than holiday displays that can become
routine. From the historical perspective, I especially love the
early Steiff circus displays by designer Albert Schlopsnies.
I have this fantasy of having a museum to display my
studio animals in big dioramas like the Museum of Natural
History. How great would that be?
You create fabulous holiday themed tableaux and
displays using your collection.
That would be absolutely marvellous!
We so appreciate your time today!
How do you display your Steiff collection?
17
STORIES
The surprising story of Black Jack
How one collector discovered an ultra-rare 1910s-era black Steiff Teddy.
Have you ever watched a TV show where an ordinary person has literally “hit the jackpot”
with an amazing boot sale, flea market, or auction find? Well, this doesn’t occur in reality
very often! However, it did happen in the most Steiff-like way to a terrific and lucky lady
recently, who just happened to place the right bid at the right time on the right auction lot.
Here is her story, in her own words:
Steiff:
Josie, thank you so much for speaking with us today! Could you please tell us a bit about yourself?
Josie:
My name is Josie Rockett, and I live with my family in Rye, in the South East of England.
I am a full time Mummy to my three young children and most of my time is spent looking
after them, our two dogs, and running our home. I call my spare time “Teddy time”. This
is my time for tending to our Teddy bears, reading about bears, making Teddy bears, and
restoring antique teddy bears that are in need of love and attention.
18
S tories
Are you a Steiff collector?
I am a collector of vintage and antique Teddy bears. I am
fascinated by the history of Steiff and marvel at the beauty
of all Steiff pieces. When it comes to Teddy bears there can
be no doubt that they are in a league of their own.
You had a very exciting find at auction recently.
Can you give us some background on that?
expression led me to feel that he could be a Steiff. After
an excited sleepless night, I got up the next morning, took
some photographs, and sent them to Rebekah Kaufman,
the Consultant Steiff Archivist for North America. She
had helped me a few times in the past and I knew that I
had to contact her with this find as well. She confirmed
that she too thought he was an early black Steiff bear after
reviewing the materials I sent to her. Based on where I was,
and what I had found, she suggested I contact Mr. Carsten
Esser at Teddy Dorado auction house about the bear.
I wasn’t at the auction when I won the lot; it was an
incredibly lucky twist of fate. I spotted a lot at a general
auction being held at an auction house; there was no
photograph, only a description. I liked the sound of it,
took my chances, and placed a bid remotely. I often place
bids like this. I like the fun and excitement of not really
knowing what I am going to find. I was very happy to win
the lot and my Father, who lives close to the auction house,
went to collect it for me.
Your auction win turned out to be much more than you expected.
Tell us about opening up the old trunk and what you were thinking
as you were going through its contents.
Nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to
find. A week after the auction my Father came to visit us.
On arrival he handed me a tatty red suitcase. As I opened
the case, the first thing I saw were some dolls, some doll
clothes, and some lovely Teddies. I was very happy with all
of them. Then I saw something wrapped in a blanket at the
bottom of the case. I picked it up and started to unravel the
blanket. The first thing I saw was a black mohair paw. At
that point, I stopped and took a deep breath…it couldn’t
be! I then very slowly lifted the blanket off completely
to find a beautiful black antique Teddy! My heart was
pounding, I cannot tell you the excitement and joy that
then erupted in our house! Had I just found an antique
black Steiff bear?
That is a fantasy situation that every Steiff collector dreams of!
How did you know you might have a special treasure?
My first feeling was that he may be a Steiff bear from
the moment I saw him. His shape and line and beautiful
You did take the bear Germany to meet Mr. Esser.
Tell us about this trip.
The trip to Germany was amazing! My Father came
with me and we had such an adventure. It felt so special
to be taking the bear back home to Germany. I feel
so honoured to be a part of this special cub’s journey.
Meeting with Carsten was wonderful; I was quite nervous
but very excited. It was a little nail-biting watching him
examine the bear, but he did it with a smile and it wasn’t
long before we were all very excited! The next step was for
the bear to go to Giengen for authentication, as he didn’t
have any Steiff IDs on him. It felt good to leaving the bear
with Carsten. Up until that point I felt like I had been his
guardian. There was a little sadness but an overwhelming
feeling of relief and happiness that he was in such safe
hands.
Josie and Black Jack
meet with Mr. Carsten
Esser of auction house
TeddyDorado.
...
19
Stories
Jack went through a rigorous
process by Mrs. Manuela Fustig, head of the Steiff Archives
in Germany, in order to be authenticated as Steiff. What went
through your head when you
learned that he received this certification?
I can’t tell you how amazing
it was to hear that news. It
was so great to be able to say
“Black Jack is a Steiff bear!”
From the day I found him
up until that moment, it all
felt like a dream. It all still
does in a way! I think the
news just made the whole
situation more real for me.
Will you be going to the Steiff
2014 Summer auction to watch
his sale?
You named the bear „Black Jack“.
Can you tell us how that name came about?
The name Black Jack was really given to him because he
is a black Teddy bear. It is also quite lovely that my late
Grandfather was called Jack. Both my brother and I were
given names that started with a “J” as a tribute to him, so it
is very special for him to have the name Jack.
Yes! I really want to be there. It will be so lovely to say
good-bye to Jack and wish him well for the next part of
his journey. I think there is something magical about him
coming back to his place of birth to find his new home.
What an adventure he has been on! I have never been to
Giengen and I am so looking forward to going. And, if
I could tell his new owner one thing, it would be pretty
simple. Just love him!
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing story with us!
How did you decide whether to keep the bear or sell him at auction?
This was a very difficult decision. We did consider keeping
Jack but after giving it a lot of thought we decided that
he would be most at home in a fine Steiff collection or
museum where he could be properly enjoyed. Our house
is full of children and pets and in the short time I had him,
he was wrapped up and hidden away for safety. If he were
to stay with us, he would remain this way. I don’t believe
he wants to be hidden away anymore.
20
Information for collectors:
Steiff will market a replica of “Black Jack” in spring 2015.
You can already look forward to an exceptional Teddy bear!
V e n ues
Steiff Sommer 2014
The magical family event at the Steiff Museum from 27-29 June, 2014.
This year, Margarete Steiff GmbH is inviting guests to the
ninth STEIFF SOMMER in Giengen an der Brenz from
27-29 June. And this year’s traditional summer event is
all about magic. There will be plenty for children, adults,
friends and collectors to see and do from 10:00 until 19:00.
Food and drink will also be provided, and admission is
free.
As in recent years, visitors will find an exciting and
comprehensive programme on the show stage and all over
the company’s premises. There will be plenty to rummage
through in the Steiff tent and Steiff Flea Market - with finds
ranging from rare collector’s items to excellent bargains.
Retailers and exhibitors from all over the world gather at
the international exchange in the historic glass building of
1903, where they can exchange, sell and purchase valuable
replicas and antique Steiff rarities. And on Saturday
afternoon, German comedian Otto Waalkes will be signing
autographs. The Steiff Club will have its own stand with
limited items in the Autumn/Winter range. Various
craftspeople and partners of the Steiff Museum will be at
the Summer Market providing an insight into their skills.
The house where the world-famous company founder
Margarete Steiff was born will be open, exclusively, during
the event. And of course, it will also be possible to visit the
Steiff Museum at any time over the weekend. The highlight
of the Steiff Sommer 2014 will be the big Steiff special
auction on Saturday, 28 June at 18:00 in the “Schranne”
under the management of auctioneers TeddyDorado
GmbH of Wachtberg. Veritable treasures have gone under
the hammer at this auction
in recent years. Apart from
“Black Jack”, this year’s
attractions include a unique
18 cm Teddy Maid of
1933/34. Afterwards, guests
are invited to a “Magic
Night” from 19:00 until
midnight on the square
outside the Steiff Museum,
where a fabulous fireworks
display with music will be the perfect finish to a memorable
day. Steiff has come up with some very special attractions
to ensure that children have the greatest fun! Outside the
Steiff Museum, they will be welcomed by a petting zoo
and various rides. The team of the 1st FC Heidenheim
1846 football club will be there to sign merchandise for
fans. Also, visitors can watch, live, as a replica of a Steiff
“Zottelbär” - shaggy bear - of 1914 is made by hand. They
can then try it for themselves in the Teddy bear workshop
on Friday and Saturday, between 9:30 and 12:30 and 14:00
and 17:00 hrs. Registered participants will be shown
how to make their own personal, Limited Edition Steiff
Teddy bear stuffed with wood shavings. Late-comers are
requested to contact the company at teddyworkshop@
steiff.de to check availability. The cost of the workshop is
€ 269 per participant.
And as in previous years, once again this year Margarete
Steiff GmbH will be presenting a 2014 STEIFF SOMMER
Teddy bear.
Who’s coming along?
Let‘s visit the magical world of Teddy bears.
Margarete Steiff GmbH is delighted to invite Club
members in France and other interested parties on a trip
to Giengen an der Brenz. Exceptionally, the visit - which
is planned for 16/17 October - will include a tour of the
production facilities. The planned agenda is as follows:
In order to optimise our arrangements, it would be helpful
to know as soon as possible how many Club members
are interested in coming along. We would therefore be
extremely grateful if you could book your place as soon as
possible. There are only 20 places available.
• Tour of the Steiff production facilities in Giengen
• Visit to the Steiff Museum
• Visit to Margarete Steiff‘s birthplace
• Club Event
• Guided tour of Giengen an der Brenz
Although the final price of the trip has not yet been established, we estimate
it will be in the region of approx. € 380 per person. The price will include
the return train journey from Paris, two meals (drinks not included) and
one night‘s accommodation (single room) at a hotel in Giengen. To reserve
yourself a place on this trip, please send an email to: [email protected].
21
V en ues
Enchanting start to 2014
Lots of applause at Club events in Munich, Esslingen and Stuttgart.
This year’s opening to the Club events in mid-January was
undertaken, as tradition has it, by the Steiff Club stores
“bruno bär” in Esslingen and Oberpollinger in Munich.
In the photo (l to r):
Sabine Schötz
(Steiff team of speakers),
Roland Higelin
(Steiff Regional
Sales ­Manager),
Angela Hunscheidt
(the happy winner),
Bruno Weber
(also known
as “Bruno Bär”),
Petra May
(Steiff Club Speaker),
Carsten Esser
(auctioneer and
managing director of
TeddyDorado GmbH).
Some 80 Steiff fans from near and far attended the event
at “bruno bär” and looked forward to what 2014 had to
bring, presented by “fairy” Petra May and her assistant
Sabine Schötz. Other highlights were taken straight from
the Esslingen store to the friendly “Waldheim” pub in
Esslingen, where they were then presented to admire and
purchase. Auctioneer and managing director of the famous
“TeddyDorado” auctioneers Carsten Esser welcomed the
guests with an exciting talk on the subject of “110 Years of
Button in the Ear”.
Along with the winners of the raffle with valuable
Steiff animals as prizes, the Steiff Team was also able to
congratulate another happy winner: Angela Hunscheidt
of Ehrenkirchen was the winner of the second prize in
the “BonBon-Aktionswochen” in September 2013: an
invitation to the Steiff Sommer 2014, including 2 nights
accommodation, for 2 people!
Top right: In line with the motto of “Magic” for Steiff’s spring
Looking good: collection with characters from “Alice in Wonderland”,
The room for the Club
event at Oberpollinger. guests at Oberpollinger in Munich were welcomed to
the traditional exclusive setting for the Club event. The
room and tables were decorated accordingly, and the
refreshments were superlative. Club speaker Bettina
22
Heinrich hosted the event supported by the friendly team
from the toy department. Carsten Esser, managing director
of TeddyDorado GmbH, was among those present, and
shared lots of interesting facts about Steiff and about his
activities as an auctioneer and on determining the value
of Steiff animals. The right rub-off ticket (a Steiff button
with an elephant motif) brought many a guest the prize of
a pretty Steiff animal. There was another presentation at
Oberpollinger: Bärbel Fechter of Unterschleissheim was the
winner of the first prize of the “BonBon-Aktionswochen”
of September 2013: an exclusive guided tour of the Steiff
archives and the birthplace of Margarete Steiff, including
2 nights’ accommodation for two people. Our warmest
congratulations!
V e n ues
“Fairy” Petra May welcomed around 70 guests to the
Kaufhof on the Königstrasse in Stuttgart, and introduced
the 2014 new items in an enchanting programme. The
store’s decorating department had transformed the
canteen into a magical world where guests could have their
photos taken and then take them home with them. And the
winners of the raffle of valuable Steiff animals could also
have a “say” in their prize: the right “magic words” could
help them to find a new “friend for life”!
Left:
Club speaker Bettina
Heinrich presenting a
“large” novelty.
Right:
The Steiff novelties
were lovingly decorated
for the Club event at
Kaufhof, Stuttgart.
Big in Japan
Steiff Japan sponsors BMW Team at the Super GT Championship.
This BMW Z4 GT3 will be
competing in the annual
Super GT Championship in
Japan in eight weekend races.
The vehicle is appearing for
the BMW Sports Trophy
Team Study, and is being
driven by the well-known,
successful racing driver Jörg
Müller.
The racing season lasts
from early April until the
middle of November.
Steiff is keeping its fingers
crossed!
In our picture,
from l to r:
Racing driver
Seiji Ara,
Steiff managing
director Daniel Barth,
the CEO of
BMW Japan,
Alan Harris and racing
driver Jörg Müller.
23
Club M ail
Readers’ service
Do you have a question about a Steiff item in your collection? Find out more here!
Question:
I have had the “little dwarves”
in the picture for a long time.
I‘ve never seen them anywhere
else and, despite my best efforts,
have not been able to find out
more about them.
I would like to know when they
were made and whether there are
any other dwarves in different
sizes.
E. K. Vienna
Answer:
The Steiff Shepherd figure
with a rubber head was
offered for the first time in
1954, initially only in the 35
cm version. It was made in
this version until 1974. The
smaller shepherd of 19 cm
was in the range between
1969 and 1974, and is much
more difficult to find today.
The shepherd was also made
as a 170-cm display model
in the late 1960s.
These shepherds do not have their own particular names,
and so only have the chest tags with the words “Original
Steiff” printed on them. The original equipment of every
single shepherd includes a wooden staff; the two larger
versions have a so-called shepherd’s crook.
The figures shown here are no longer quite complete, but
are in a good condition. They date back to around 1970.
The shepherd’s extensive clothing is sewn from coloured
felt; only his shirt is made of fabric. The felt waistcoat of
the 19-cm version is fastened by a white thread rather than
press studs. This type of fastening is a works original, but
is often described as a repair on recorded examples.
The shepherds, and especially the ones with rubber heads,
are particularly popular with collectors of historic Steiff
toys, and are often displayed in a group with sheep and a
dog in the matching sizes.
24
Catalogue entry:
A particularly interesting picture of the two little shepherds from the
1969 main retailers‘ catalogue. The original accessories can all clearly
be seen.
Expert info:
The crook is still in use in the Schwäbische Alb in Germany today as
an all-purpose tool. The municipality of Amstetten, only 35 km east
of Giengen, even has this tool in its crest.
Question:
This Teddy bear was left to me
many years ago by a friend of my
grandmother when she died. At a
rough estimate, he could be over
100 years old. Could you possibly
tell me more about this marvellous item?
D. W., Munich
Answer:
Steiff Petsy of between
1928 and 1930 is one of the
most popular Teddy bears
in the collector‘s world.
The trademark of this
cheerful young bear is the centre seam on his head. Steiff
Petsy of between 1928 and 1930 is one of the most popular
Teddy bears in the collector’s world.
Club Mail
The “novelties” sheet of 1928 speaks thus of Petsy: “Petsy.
A cheerful young bear, jointed, soft, long mohair
plush, brown tipped, large movable ears, red nose, blue
eyes.”
Petsys from size 15 cm (22 cm upright) have a press growler,
while the larger ones from 28 cm (42 cm upright) have an
automatic growler.
Petsy was made in 12 different versions, including in a plain
colour or tipped, with cross eyes, as a handbag, racing
driver and glove puppet. The best-known version in serial
production is the standard version shown here of a jointed
Teddy bear with blue eyes, movable ears with an integrated
wire, and the red embellishments of nose and claws. This
particular version was produced in eleven different sizes.
The small and medium versions are especially popular with
collectors, since they show the cheerful young bear’s facial
expression at its very best. Your particular version is one of
the highly sought-after medium-sized Petsy bears, and is in
excellent condition. It probably dates back to 1928, the first
year of production. The lightly bleached tips, especially on
the front side of the bear, are absolutely typical and due to
the material, but have no particular effect on its popularity
and collectability. Congratulations on this complete rarity!
Expert info:
There are also several ­slightly
different versions of the standard Petsy with blue eyes. Most of
the original Petsy bears available
today have a slightly melonshaped nose embroidered in red.
The embroidered nose with two
additional stitches on the outer
sides as “nostrils” is much rarer.
Catalogue entry:
Extract from the 1928 Spring
catalogue, where Petsy had one
of his first official appearances.
Question:
These wooden dice with the bell have been in the family for years, and
we are very proud of them. Unfortunately, though, we don‘t know
exactly how old they are. Can you help us?
D.R., Mülheim
Answer:
This set of three dice is a complete set of three so-called
Baby-Bimblocks, which were produced in these colours
from 1939. The three Bimblocks were originally provided
in a matching cardboard box. They were in our range as
item 8005 from 1939 until 1943, and then again from 1949
until 1956.
From 1957 they were available, also in slightly different
colours, until 1966, and from 1959 also as individual dice
in clear packaging.
Your Baby-Bimblocks were made between 1939 and 1956.
Unfortunately, we can’t say more about this item without
the packaging, since they were all identical in construction
during this period.
Expert info:
Some wooden toys, such as various cube dice, the Multiform peg
game and the Baby-Bimblocks were sold in the identical construction
and packaging during the time before and after W W II. In order
to provide more precise information on dates, we would have to
compare the original retail
prices, which is often written on
the boxes. So the Baby-Bimblocks
cost RM 2.50 after 1939, but
DM 4.50 after 1949.
Catalogue entry:
Extract from the public
catalogue of July 1939 with the
new Baby-Bimblocks.
25
Favourite
Waldi Dachshund
Steiff’s most wonderful dog.
Above:
Waldi has been made
in various sizes and
styles since 1933.
Above center:
A wooden Waldi
puzzle was made for
the 1972 Olympics in
Munich.
Above right:
Olympic Waldi was
also made in a synthetic
plush material called
“Dralon”.
Steiff’s dogs have always been second only to the company’s
bears as favourites among collectors. And, for cultural and
legacy reasons, Steiff has had Dachshunds continuously in
their product offering since before the turn of last century!
Dachshunds are a distinctly Germanic type of dog that
was bred in the 18th century specifically to hunt and catch
wild boar and to go into badger dens. So it should be no
surprise to English speakers that “Dachshund” translates
to “Badger Dog” in German! Perhaps the most beloved
vintage Steiff Dachshund of all is “Waldi the long haired
Dachshund”.
The original “Waldi” design was introduced to the world
in 1933. He was the first Steiff Dachshund to be given a
proper name. The earliest Waldi dogs were manufactured
standing on all fours or in a sitting up, begging position.
All were made from brilliant copper coloured mohair, with
shiny black eyes, black hand-embroidered noses, black
airbrushed mouths, and delightfully large, floppy ears.
The standing Waldi dogs were unjointed and had longer
mohair on their bodies, tails, and ears, and shorter mohair
on their arms, legs, and faces. The sitting Waldi dogs were
made from short mohair only.
Waldi appeared continuously and practically unchanged in
the line for almost half a century.
Because of his popularity and adorable looks, Waldi’s
general pattern was used to create two additional pre-war
novelties. The first was a 10 cm “Tumbling Waldi”. This
toy was made of mohair, sitting up, and perched upon a
green wooden hemisphere. This tumbler was produced
from 1937 through 1941. The second was “Pupp-Waldi” or
Waldi Doll. This item was a standing, head jointed dog
doll dressed as a hunter; he wore a little green felt suit,
26
plaid vest, and a green hat. Pupp-Waldi’s head and the
tops of his hands and feet were mohair, while his body and
limbs were made from peach colored felt-like material. He
was detailed with a little wooden gun with a leather strap as
an accessory. Post war, a practically identical 26 cm Waldi
hunting dog appeared in the line from 1950 through 1974.
Given Germany’s affinity for Dachshunds, it is not
surprisingly that a Dachshund was chosen as the logo
mascot for the 1972 Olympics in Munich. Much to the
Steiff community’s delight, this world symbol of the
games was aptly named “Olympic Waldi”.
Steiff produced two “official” items for these global
games. Both had a resemblance to the company’s original
Waldi the long haired Dachshund design. The first was a 25
cm “Olympic Waldi” in dralon, a synthetic plush material
that was very common on Steiff play animals of the time.
The second was a 15 cm, 17 piece standing Dachshund
puzzle. He was made from solid wood; His colour scheme
matched that of the dralon Olympic Waldi.
And Waldi continues to be a favourite. A 35 cm version,
made of high-quality Alpaca is available in the current
range.
FAV O U R I T E
Waldi dachshund
Item No. 078712
27
Margarete Steiff GmbH, Richard-Steiff-Straße 4, 89537 Giengen an der Brenz
913525
www.steiff.com