Photo: Bunte Auction Services, Inc. Steiff teddy bear, tan mohair, jointed body, sold with modern sweater with "Teddy B" stitched on front, 1907, 14 in., $500. STEIFF 2 bears, around 1920, white mohair, 1 x with button, block letters, long trailing f, 9 cm, Bottom line:In 1907, Steiff created a new kind of teddy that contained a pouch for holding a metal bottle with hot water inside to keep kids warm in cold months. $120.00 + $7.50 shipping. Vintage Steiff Bear and Deer, Lot of 2: Vintage Steiff Bear and Deer, Lot of 2: Vintage 1980's Steiff Mr. Cinnamon Bear and 1960's seated deer. This bear was supposed to come in a set of six different colored toys as an order from a London-based company, Harrods. This biking bear was released to commemorate Harley Davidson's 100th anniversary, in a run of just 5000. It could also be a result of its unique colorway, like the D.C. comic book character. We recently met a collector who found one in the most exciting way possible. Georgievna took the bear with her on a visit to Buckingham Palace in 1914, but she would never return home due to the onset of World War I and the Russian Revolution a few years later. 654701 (with COA), Capricorn bear, no. That included claws and a pronounced face. Bottom line: Not in a laughing mood? Although Steiffs black teddy bears first entered the market in 1912 after the sinking of the Titanic, they gained their highest sales day in 2000. 10. This type of large teddy bear was used as a display toy in old toy shops. Their quality is legendary. Steiff toy company partnered with leading fashion brand Louis Vuitton to create this beautifully adorned teddy bear. However, before you do that, there are a few things to know: How do I identify my Steiff Bear?. One of the most coveted antique teddy bears is the Steiff Titanic Mourning Bear. But once in awhile, the stars do align. In 2000, a branded LV Steiff Bear sold at auction for $182,550 per Guinness Book of World Records. So you think you may have come across a rod bear, or even have one in your collection? If the entire body is crunchy, then it has excelsior stuffing, but if its only the head, then the body is stuffed with kapok. A rare circa 1920s teddy bear called the Steiff harlequin bear sold for nearly $75,000 some time ago. 15-inch Peace Bear, 9-inch Peace, Ringo, and Bones. Steiffs rod bears also share another distinctive feature. 160 (2 bids) Jan 25, 2023 Vintage Accents Auctions. One of the oldest bears, originating from 1904, had white fur and a sturdy body because of the metal rods that moved its arms. In the very beginning, one American buyer ordered 3,000 stuffed bears from a Steiff, a toy-making company founded in Germany in 1903. The first models came and included an elephant sign on the Steiff button, although they evolved to a simple inscription of the companys name. Another collection of Tys, the quartet of 15-inch Peace Bear, 9-inch Peace Bear, Ringo (the raccoon), and Bones (a dog) can be worth up to . Bears have never been sold or seen since 1902, so they remain the most elusive model of Steiff Bears ever produced. She was purchased in 2000 for nearly 2 million euros at a charity auction in Monaco. Harlequin Bear - $74,201 9. Manufacturer: Steiff. HISTORY OF STEIFF German toymaker Margarete Steiff (July 24, 1847 - May 9, 1909), born in Giengen, started creating toy stuffed animals in 1880 in the town of Giengen an der Brenz, Germany. The couple said Happy was their most popular bear. From 1905, the company replaced its metal rods with pins on cardboards. DECORATIVE HOUSE LOT. As for facial stitching, blond bears have black noses and mouths, while white bears have brown noses and mouths. The 12 Days of Christmas as Represented by Steiff Stuffed Animals, These Early Steiff Treasures Have a Presidential Seal of Approval, Its No Joke When it Comes to Steiffs Vintage Teddy Clown Bears, Oh Baby! Steiff Titanic Mourning Bear Black Steiff Titanic Mourning Bear with Button. Things changed after the Titanic sank. Sometimes, their price can be higher when the toy is particularly well kept. German Steiff teddy bears are often sold at auctions, as these bears are among the most collected. At Catawiki, youll be surprised every week with the impressive selection of special objects we have on offer. Bottom line:After the Titanic disaster in 1912, Steiff made 600 black teddy bears to mourn the victims of the shipwreck. This bear has quite a morbid origin. Steiff 13" Beige Bear (Signed by Steiff Family Member) This bear has shoe button eyes, stitched nose, mouth, and claws, felt paw pads, no button in the ear. From November 1904 onwards, every Steiff animal leaving the factory had a "Button in Ear". Diamond Eyes Steiff Bear 5. The reason is Steiff's "Button in Ear", one of the most recognisable trademarks in the world. Steiff Rod Teddy Bear ($101,880) Made in 1904, it is one of the first bears ever produced by the German company. When the ball is wound up, a motor inside it begins to whir, rotating the ball and helping the whimsical bear walk all on its own. 8 Most Valuable Steiff Bears 8. Please note the difference between Mohair and Plush, as many sellers use them interchangeably despite having different meanings. One came to light in 1993 and was sold at auction for an impressive price. Steiff and Steiff Teddy Bears have become synonymous with quality and tradition. The woman who owned this particular bear said she never cared for it all that much. Antique Teddy Bear Rare 1925 Steiff Mask Face on 4 Legs Beige Mohair Straw Stuffed 13" Long. At the time, the bear was the most expensive teddy purchase ever made. It was sold in 2002 in Germany. The expensive teddy bear had the original Steiff button in his ear and a crisp sailor's collar adorned with a Theodore Roosevelt pin. Made with glossy white mohair, a nose stitched in brown and black glass eyes, it's about as close to mint condition as a 100-year-old bear can get. These rods formed a skeleton for the bear, making its body parts moveable like human joints. The company still utilizes traditional materials and proven manufacturing techniques to make the best quality products. However, hiring an accredited appraiser is best to make double assurance. For most vintage button-in-ear collectors, Steiffs turn of last century rod bears are unquestionably the holy grail. These absolute rarities, made with an internal rod-style skeleton for jointing, only appeared in the line from about 1904-1905. Here are some great tips on how to do that from Totally Teddy Bears. Apart from the obvious age difference, other factors that affect the value include; For obvious reasons, finding a Steiff Bear with historical significance would increase the value exponentially. Bid now on Invaluable: A Steiff bears perpetual calendar, height of calender 57cm from Potteries Auctions on March 6, 0123 10:00 AM GMT. It was given to a boy named David Ellender, born in January 1939. Measures 14 inches high. Also, with the evolution of technology and the rise of minimalistic designs, the world is losing the distinct characteristics of age-old brands. Each one required an artisan to place individual drops of this black, sticky, rubbery substance on the tip of the bears muzzle until enough built up to resemble a nose. That also includes the labels on the ears and the buttons. Steiff Bears, Steiff Toys, Steiff Baby, The largest Steiff range in Australia online ready to ship today from Teddy Bear Treasures Adelaide warehouse. Since Steiff bears introduced the stuffed teddy bears into the market over 100 years ago, theyve been trusted companions to children and adults. Gandtiques. Steiff Bears will always be valuable because of their historical significance as the pioneer teddy bears alongside Ideal Toy company bears. The 19.5-inch bear no longer growls, but he was otherwise sold in excellent condition. Their noses are made from gutta percha. Measures 14 inches high. Bottom line: At the time, Teddy Girl was the most expensive teddy bear ever sold. Their rarity gives them the high price achieved at auction in 2010. Luckily, an American company, George Borgfeldt Toy Co., sought to import the Steiff bears and commissioned 3000 teddies to be shipped to the US. Good Bye!" We became fast friends with our mutual Teddy bear interest and she introduced me to Rebekah Kaufman to assist in identifying my old Steiff bear. It determines the availability of the item since many Victorian-age things were lost during the first and second world wars (1919 1918, 1939 1945). The typical earliest nose from 1905 is stitched like a bar, with a few stitches in the middle reaching down to join into a simple V-shaped mouth. Christies soldit in 2004 for 28,680 Pounds which is approximately $37,000 in todays USA market. And at first, Bing simply copied Steiff until a lawsuit changed the company's tune. Bottom line: This valuable teddy bear has flattened fur, a missing label and patches where the mohair is worn away completely, but the seller still thinks it's worth a hefty sum. By World War I, Steiff had sold millions of these toys in the United States, Germany, and England. Many manufacturers have distinctive features in the bears that make them readily identifiable. The one sold at auction in 2006 was in terrific shape for its age and also sported the rare white mohair, which likely boosted the price from an anticipated 15,000 ($29,400) to more than 25,000 ($49,000). Visit our Friends Under $50 collection for affordable plush bears that make the Steiff magic attainable for all. comments powered by For instance, you can notice that Steiff bears contain a typical blonde mohair stuffing made of precious Angora goats wool. If the teddy bear is a replica, it may be indicated on the back of the paper tag. These are some of the oldest manufactured teddies by Steiff. Other manufacturers quickly caught on, but none more so than the Steiff plush toys company from Germany, which quickly became a worldwide brand name due to the quality build of their teddy bears. Bottom line:There are plenty of websites claiming this bear sold for more than $2 million, but we were unable to find a credible source. Unfortunately, that first shipment never came, but that didnt stop people from ordering new ones. Teddy bears came into existence in 1903 thanks to a political cartoon. Gifting a Teddy bear is a blessing for a child and a symbol of compassion and love. 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