Steiff's Dombaer “helps” with Cologne Cathedral Restoration

Highlight
ZOTTY TURNS 60
True Values PERSONALITY & PURPOSE
Favourite RHAPSODY IN BLUE
FEBRUARY 2011
The official magazine for Steiff Club members

A mohair masterpiece.
Dante is a perfect example of
Steiff Schulte’s innovators at work.
Dante’s unusual green mohair
is a work of art within itself. It’s
an extremely short pile dyed to
a most appealing colour.
But Dante’s mohair is just the
beginning of his wonders. He has
a classical look, but is yet somehow
modern. He bridges the gap between
traditional Steiff and today’s
artist teddies.

Dear Steiff friends,
Which New Year’s resolutions did you make?
Whatever it was, I hope that they are not forgotten during
everyday life or that they don’t seem impossible to implement.
If we are honest, we often – but not always – lack the
necessary discipline and the real will to change things. Maybe
it’s because we allow ourselves to get too involved?
I admire people who show us what real willpower can do
out of necessity, when it’s not just a matter of smoking or
drinking less alcohol, but about returning some sense into
life. Take sport for the disabled, for instance, where people
who have experienced real suffering, motivate themselves
to maximum performance, while others who have lost everything
in (environmental) catastrophes can find the courage
to continue with their life and to start from scratch.
Margarete Steiff’s life is another remarkable example. From
an early age, she came to terms with her illness and developed
further into an extraordinary entrepreneur with a
large significance for the entire toy industry. The commonly
used phrase “necessity proved the mother of invention” has
a far deeper meaning in all these cases.
There are plenty of positive examples, we only have to be
aware of them and tell the world about them. We need
encouragement, rays of hope and possible solutions such as
examples which make us hopeful, so that we are able to implement
our resolutions.
At the start of a new (Club) year I would like to wish you
health and many positive thoughts, which will in turn create
something positive.
BEST REGARDS,
YOURS
INGE ZINNECKER
Steiff Club Manager
CONTENTS
CLUB NEWS
The heaviest Teddy bear in the world 4
HIGHLIGHT
Zotty turns 60 10
PASSIONS
Another famous family in Steiff history 14
TRUE VALUES
Personality & purpose 16
RARITIES
Functional & fun 18
CLUB MAIL
Questions and answers 21
VENUES
Events around the world 22
FAVOURITE
“Rhapsody in blue” 26
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
CONCEPT, DESIGN AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT:
Werbewelt GmbH, www.werbewelt.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 01/2011 e – EAN 912580

CLUB NEWS
THE WORLD’S HEAVIEST
TEDDY BEAR FOR GIENGEN
— Marble Teddy bear in place
Since the beginning of November, a 2.6 m large marble Teddy
bear greets the city’s visitors at the first traffic circle after the
freeway turnoff. On 8 November 2010 the companies involved
in this project positioned what is probably the heaviest
Teddy bear in the world in the presence of the city’s mayor
Gerrit Elser.
About 2 years ago, the idea to create a landmark for the capital
city of the teddy bear began to ripen in the minds of the
members of the “Verein für Stadtmarketing und Tourismus
Giengen e.V.“ (Town Marketing and Tourism Association
of Giengen). By positioning this outsized Teddy bear at the
A CORDIAL INVITATION
— to the Steiff Summer of 2011!
We cordially invite you to the Steiff Summer from 1 to 3 July 2011 in Giengen/Brenz. You can look forward to the
following highlights:
International sales market
Rarity exhibition
Signing sessions
Steiff animal evaluations
Club information booth
Steiff showpieces in motion
Teddy bear workshop
Steiff Summer teddy bear
— 4 —
new traffic circle, the people of Giengen put this idea into
practise in close cooperation with Simone Färber, the
Managing Director of the Steiff Museum.
During 200 working hours, a stone mason from the workshop
of the Giengen company Fliesen Mack carved the bear,
which weighs four tons, out of a block of stone. Steiff
designer Dietmar Simon created the draft. The marble was
mined in from Spain and is reddish brown, reminiscent of the
coat of a real Teddy bear. The project was made possible by
the support of numerous companies from the region.
Auction in the “Schranne” (Saturday, 2 July at 6 p.m.)
Illuminated hot-air balloons
(Saturday, 2 July, after sunset)
Craft market
Attractions for the entire family and all Steiff friends
Production show
Sales street with flea market

— 5 —

CLUB NEWS
COUNTRY EXCLUSIVES
United Kingdom
© Cadells Ltd 2010.
“SOOTY TM ”
Sooty was discovered in Blackpool on July 19, 1948.
Harry Corbett, an engineer from Guisley, was on holiday
with his wife, Marjorie, and their children, David and Matthew.
While walking on the North Pier Harry spotted a Teddy bear
puppet in a gift shop. For the princely sum of 7s 6d Harry
purchased the little bear …. and the lives of the Corbett
family were about to change forever!
Harry introduced his new partner into his amateur magic
act; his name was simply “Teddy”. The silent little
bear assisted with the tricks – immortalizing the spell
“Izzy Wizzy let’s get busy”!
In 1952 Harry and Teddy were spotted by a television
producer who invited them to appear on BBC North’s
“Talent Night”. It was decided at the last minute to alter
Teddy’s appearance so he would stand out on Black and White
TV. Harry’s wife hastily sewed on a black mouth and nose.
His ears were blackened with soot … and it was this moment
he was renamed … Sooty.
The nation became captivated by Sooty’s naughty antics and
soon Harry and Sooty were regulars on “Saturday Special”.
Such was his success, the BBC decided to make Sooty the
star of his own weekly TV programme. The first Sooty Show
was aired in 1955. Two years later Harry decided to introduce
a best friend for Sooty, a little grey dog with long floppy
ears. His name was Sweep. They hit it off instantly and have
been inseparable ever since.
— 6 —
Richard Cadell
& Sooty
Harry & Sooty
Sooty and Sweep were to meet many friends along the way;
however, it was the little Panda, Soo, who was to become the
next full time family member, joining the gang in 1964.
The BBC famously frowned on Sooty having a girlfriend in
Soo, so the gang moved to a new home at Thames Television.
Sooty has remained with ITV ever since.
Sooty’s popularity kept on growing, with millions of children
watching The Sooty Show both on TV and in theatres across
the country. In 1976 Harry’s son Matthew took over as Sooty’s
right hand man. Harry Corbett received an OBE in
recognition of his work. Sooty responded by squirting Prince
Phillip with his water pistol!
Sadly in 1989 Harry Corbett passed away. Matthew Corbett
decided to retire in 2000. The hunt was on to find a new
Partner for Sooty. Matthew recalled that in 1985 a young
magician had been a guest on the TV Show. His name was
Richard Cadell. Matthew Corbett said “Sooty couldn’t be on
better hands”.
A brand new series of Sooty will be seen on ITV in 2011,
making The Sooty Show the longest running Children’s TV
show in the World. Please give a very warm welcome to the
very magical Steiff “Sooty.”
Only available in the UK!
(EAN 663932, limited edition of 2,000 pieces, 30 cm)

United Kingdom
“BRITISH COLLECTORS’ BEAR 2011”
Born out of pure inspiration from the original Steiff Teddy
bears from the early 1920’s, Steiff have captured every
ounce of magic, spirit, nostalgia and romance that
Richard Steiff gave to bears in the wonderfully lively
swinging twenties. His stunning black mohair is exceptionally
luscious and skillfully produced. And his deep-set eyes bring
a wealth of warmth and overflow with expression.
Only available in the UK!
(EAN 663901, limited edition of 2,000 pieces, 36 cm)
USA
HOW TO REACH THE
STEIFF CLUB IN NORTH AMERICA:
Steiff North America, Carolyn Smith,
Club Administrator, tel.: +1 5 08 8282377,
e-mail: carolyn@steiffusa.com
CLUB NEWS
— 7 —
United Kingdom
“TOFFEE TED”
Do you love chocolate?
Are you craving something sweet?
If the answer is yes,
We have the finest treat!
Once you’ve seen our “Toffee”
His charm you simply cannot beat
Take him home why don’t you
And give yourself a real big sweet!
He’s Confection Perfection all wrapped up in a bear –
that’s our “Toffee Ted”.
Only available in the UK!
(EAN 663918, limited edition of 1,500 pieces, 37 cm)
United Kingdom
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) 14 83 266643, fax: +44 (0) 14 83 266650,
e-mail: leyla.maniera@steiff.com

USA
ANOTHER STEIFF SUPERSTAR IS BORN
“Why do movie stars have so many fans? Give up?
Because they’re so HOT!” – Fozzie Bear. Everyone’s
favourite jokester and prankster is coming to life from Steiff
and the Walt Disney Studios. Presenting Fozzie, “America’s
favourite bear,” according to People magazine. And with
“clever” jokes like the one above, is it any wonder the entire
country is in love with this affable character and his catchphrase
“Waka Waka”? Star of nine feature films, not to mention
countless TV specials and series, Fozzie is one of the “hottest”
stars around and definitely has more than his share of “fans.”
Fozzie was originally voiced by Frank Oz. In fact, many
people believe that Fozzie was named for Oz (F.Oz.). In
reality, however, Fozzie was named for the man who developed
the mechanism that allowed the puppet to move his ears.
Steiff’s version of Fozzie was developed in very close
partnership with Walt Disney Studios. It took months of
collaboration between the two parties to get a mutually
acceptable version – but we’re sure you’ll agree that the
CLUB NEWS
— 8 —
attention to detail was worth it. Fozzie is made from an
orange/brown alpaca and wears his signature hat and pink
polka-dotted scarf. He features many hand airbrushed
accents.
Whether you’re a Muppet fan, a Steiff collector, or a pop
culture aficionado, you’ll want to own Fozzie bear. Like his
predecessor Kermit, he’s certain to be a superstar success.
Only available in the U.S.
(EAN 681707, limited edition of 1,500 pieces, 38 cm)

USA
CHRISTOPHER,
THE FAO SAILOR BEAR
The partnership between Steiff and FAO Schwarz goes
back more than a century. Through the decades, we’ve
produced dozens of pieces that have delighted both children
and adult collectors alike. In the grand tradition of Steiff/FAO
exclusives, we are pleased to present Christopher, the FAO
Sailor bear. Made of golden blond mohair, Christopher is
softly stuffed to be extra huggable. In his arms, he holds a
sailboat made from genuine wool felt – a traditional Steiff
material. Made in Germany, Christopher epitomizes the
quality you expect from Steiff. He wears a red and white ear
tag signifying his special status as a limited edition and
also a gold-plated Button in Ear. Whether you’re buying
Christopher as a gift for a child or for your personal Steiff
collection, we’re sure you’ll be thrilled with this most
charming Teddy bear. Edition strictly limited to 1,500 pieces.
Available only at www.fao.com as part of the company’s
Legendary Collection. (EAN 681783, 25 cm)
CLUB NEWS
— 9 —
USA
MEMORIES BEAR
– SPECIAL 25 PIECE XL FAO EDITION
Teddy bear enthusiasts know that Richard Steiff invented
their favourite toy in 1902. But few know the story of his
amazingly talented daughter – a prize-winning author and
artist. Now 98 years old, this remarkable woman continues
to paint and draw daily. She is the inspiration for a very
special, ultra-limited edition from Steiff – the Marianne Steiff
Meisel Memories bear. Destined to be one of the most soughtafter
Steiff limited editions ever, this XL version of the North
American Exclusive is limited to just 25 pieces. Designed with
Mrs. Steiff Meisel’s inquisitive and optimistic personality in
mind, this happy bear has an enchanting face with a charming
smile. On her paw pad, Marianne Steiff Meisel’s
signature is lovingly embroidered. Every bear comes with a
hardbound book featuring Mrs. Steiff Meisel’s artwork and
photographs. Each book has been hand signed by Mrs. Steiff
Meisel. Available only at www.fao.com as part of the
company’s Legendary Collection. (EAN 681851, 65 cm)

HIGHLIGHT
ZOTTY TURNS 60 IN 2011
— The history and legacy behind this beloved
Steiff Teddy bear design
Despite the enormous number of innovative Teddy bear
designs Steiff has produced, a few truly outstanding ones
have become household names to collectors around the
world. “Friends for life” in this category include “Teddy Baby,”
“Petsy,” “Jackie,” and “Dicky.” But perhaps the most well
known of them all just might be “Zotty.” This fuzzy friend is
celebrating a very special anniversary in 2011, his 60th year
in the Steiff line, for good reasons: his universal appeal, happygo-lucky
looks, and joyful personality that shine through
in whatever size and configuration he is produced.
— 10 —
For non-German speakers and collectors, it is interesting to
note that the word “Zotty” is derived from the German word
“zottelig,” which means “shaggy,” which describes this bear
perfectly.
Zotty has a very rich and interesting history to him.
His pattern was one of the first new bear designs introduced
after the Second World War, in 1951. He has appeared in the
range, in one form or another, almost continuously since then.

HIGHLIGHT
— 11 —

RIGHT: Zotty was the star of
this 1950's catalogue, as his
prominent place on the cover
proudly indicates. Note other
items of interest: the riding
ladybird and the ever-popular
Steiff football/soccer ball.
HIGHLIGHT
ABOVE LEFT & LEFT: Zotty interacts with some of
his co-stars from vintage catalogues: the Mecki children,
an original Teddy, a dralon pony, and more.
— 12 —
LEFT: Lovable Zotty was
originally produced in nine
sizes, 17 to 100 centimetres.
Here's a selection of four sizes
from a 1950's catalogue.

The early 1950s were an amazingly busy time at Steiff, as the
company looked to rebuild its pre-war reputation for quality,
while at the same time introducing new, innovative, contemporary
designs to an expanding global marketplace. Zotty’s
debut was one of the most significant efforts towards those
goals. The original, mid-century Zotty was primarily made
from brown tipped mohair and was five-ways jointed. He was
produced in nine sizes, ranging from 17 through 100 centimetres.
To “qualify” as a Zotty, a Steiff Teddy bear needed
these three things: an open felt lined mouth; a front insert bib
made of a complementary coloured mohair to his body; and
of course, be made from very shaggy material.
Zotty was an overnight success, and became an extremely
popular Teddy bear amongst European youngsters from the
mid 1950s onward. His design and endearing facial expression
proved irresistible and comforting; many European toy
manufacturers introduced copycat Zotty-looking Teddy bears
as a result of his sales success. As Zotty’s popularity grew, so
did the variety of designs on the Steiff range. Steiff seized on
his appeal and created him in many forms over the next 20
years. He has appeared as a small bedtime sleeping bear,
called a Floppy Zotty; a playful floor friend, called a Racker
Zotty Bear; a pyjama bag, called a Zipper Animal; a hand
puppet; and a long legged lulac animal, called Zolac, among
other items.
In 1960, a white mohair version in 28 and 35 cm was introduced,
but only stayed in the line for one year. This Steiff rarity
is quite desirable with collectors due to its short
appearance.
HIGHLIGHT
— 13 —
It is interesting from a collector’s perspective that Zotty was
never produced in the consumer range as a hand puppet. It
is not uncommon for collectors to find vintage Zottys in need
of a little “oral hygiene”! Because of their open mouth feature,
many children tried to “feed” their Zotty bears, often
resulting in discoloration on the felt in the mouth area.
Although Zotty didn’t make his “official” debut to the world
until the early 1950s, his legacy and perhaps namesake go
back to almost the turn of the 20th century.
In 1914, Steiff introduced their “Zottelbär” or “Shaggy Bear.”
He was in the range through 1927 and was best known for
his exceptionally shaggy coat, sweet face, and soft texture.
Since his introduction over a half-century ago, Zotty has been
one of the most recognized and beloved Steiff Teddy bear
designs. Between his solid construction and durable
mohair coverings, he was designed and manufactured to be
a “friend for life” and a companion, not a keepsake to be
stored on a bedroom shelf. This helps to explain why many
Zottys that appear on the secondary market have a gently
loved appearance to them. However, because of their
popularity and longevity in the Steiff range, collectors at all
levels should be able to find and afford a Zotty to add to their
Steiff Teddy bear hugs – including a special Anniversary
Limited Edition as part of the 2011 collection.
“Since his introduction over
a HALF-CENTURY ago, Zotty has been one of
the MOST RECOGNIZED and BELOVED
Steiff Teddy bear models.”

PASSIONS
ANOTHER FAMOUS
FAMILY IN STEIFF HISTORY
— Interview with FAO Schwarz’s great-granddaughter
“... having the store has given us a broad appreciation
of the ROLE THAT TOYS PLAY in our society and
in the LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS.”
— 14 —

For many Steiff enthusiasts, especially in the USA, FAO
Schwarz and Steiff are synonymous. Why is this? For many
years this play emporium was one of the few places where
Steiff could be purchased in North America. So imagine our
delight when the great-granddaughter of FAO Schwarz, a
Steiff collector herself, agreed to be interviewed for this
magazine to share her memories of growing up in this famous
toy family and with Steiff.
STEIFF: I understand you worked in the New York City
store, can you tell us what that was like?
MS. SCHWARZ: Yes, I worked there for two summers in
the 1950’s between school terms. I was one of nine Schwarz
children in my generation, and all of us were involved in the
store in one way or another growing up. I was the one most
interested in working with customers on the sales floor. My
brother worked in the warehouse, which was located a few
miles away from the store. He helped to make some of the
outdoor toys, many which were constructed out of recycled
shipping boxes and containers! Overall, the store was a great
place to work and the other employees were very loyal and
knowledgeable. Many had been there for decades.
“... that was my favourite
assignment as I have always
LOVED THE BRAND”
Did you work in the Steiff department?
Oh yes! I did work in the Steiff department, that was my
favourite assignment as I have always loved the brand. What
is very interesting is that the Steiff items would be merchandised
on displays and shelves, but those were just samples. If
someone wanted to purchase one of these larger items,
the store had dumbwaiters to and from a large basement
storage area. The actual items that people would buy would
be hoisted up on these mini-elevators to the sales area.
That is really interesting, did FAO Schwarz have any
other distinctive ways of doing business at that time?
Yes, a few, as a matter of fact. No products, including the
Steiff items, had a price tag on them in the store. Only the
printed catalogue listed prices. If you wanted to know the
cost of something on the sales floor, a customer would have
to ask a sales associate to interpret the pricing code on the
item’s tag. The store also never ran sales. Prices were what they
were. In addition, the stores did not have cash registers. All
financial transactions were centralized in a cash office; the store
had an elaborate system of pneumatic tubes to transport
payments and receipts practically anywhere in the store.
PASSIONS
— 15 —
FAO Schwarz was known for its exceptional customers
– as well as customer service. Can you tell us about a
really special day in the Steiff department?
Perhaps the most memorable customer I helped was a
gentleman from Texas. He had travelled to our New York
store to purchase a series of studio (i.e., life-sized) Steiff
items. His goal was to bring a “white Christmas” to the
children in his southern neighbourhood, so he bought
several large white Steiff polar bears, penguins, and other
animals usually found in a polar climate!
“HIS GOAL was to bring
a WHITE CHRISTMAS
to the children ...”
As a Schwarz family member, did you receive any special
treatment in the store?
Absolutely not! There was the common assumption that we
could just walk around the store and pick out what we wanted
for free. Nothing could be farther from the truth… we didn’t
even get a family discount! When I worked at the store, I
did purchase a few small Steiff Teddy bears, but I paid for
them like any other customer. I really wanted a lovely Steiff
roebuck that was featured in my Steiff department but it
was beyond my means at the time. So I put it on my Christmas
wish list, and thankfully Santa came through for me! This
piece is still part of my collection and a wonderful source of
happy memories.
Your great-grandfather FAO Schwarz once said, “I have
made toys my life study. There is more solid satisfaction
in dealing with children’s playthings, and in knowing of
the job one is sending out into the hearts of the little ones,
than in selling any other commodity in the world.”
Although your family is not longer involved in the retail
business, you are still very much involved in the well being
of children. Can you tell us about this?
Yes, my family has established the FAO Schwarz Family
Foundation, which is an organization which provides grants
to organizations that benefit children’s educational and
emotional development programmes. The experience of
having the store in the family over the years has given us a
broad appreciation of the role that toys play in our society
and in the lives of individuals. Our foundation strives to give
back to the community in ways that really make a difference
today.
Thank you very much for talking to us.

TRUE VALUES
— 16 —
The Dombaer has the EAN code 657214
and is exclusively available from
GALERIA KAUFHOF WARENHAUS
GmbH, Branch 010 Cologne,
Hohe Straße 41-53, 50667 Cologne,
tel.: +49(0)221 2234501
(Limited edition of 1,500 pieces, 22 cm)

TRUE VALUES
PERSONALITY&PURPOSE
— Steiff’s Dombaer “helps”
with Cologne Cathedral Restoration
Imagine a Steiff Teddy bear as rich in purpose as
personality. As admired for his cultural contribution as he
is adorable. As dedicated as he is desirable.
Introducing—Steiff Dombaer! The bright idea of Juergen
Wirtz at the Kaufhof department store in Cologne, Germany,
and created in close cooperation with Steiff and Professor
Barbara Schock-Werner, Master Builder at the Cologne
Cathedral. Ten Euro from the sale of each Dombaer will be
donated for the preservation of the historic Cathedral.
Like all people of Cologne, Wirtz loves the Cologne
Cathedral. This historic monument was built over a period
of more than six hundred years, between the thirteenth
century and 1880, when it was finally completed. With its
towering spires, it’s also one of the largest churches in the
world. It’s also a treasure house of stained glass, woodcarving,
stonework, and brass bells. Understandably, for its
size, age, and riches, the Cathedral requires expensive,
special care.
“As the restoration of such a project devours many millions
of Euros,” Wirtz says, “we wanted to make a contribution
towards preserving our Cathedral.” Dombaer was his inspiration
for supplying this cultural community need.
Like all Steiff Teddy bears, Dombaer is crafted from the
finest natural materials. He is the handiwork of expert
artisans, from the original design of his appearance, down to
the lush fibres of his fur and the stitching of his mouth and
nose.
“Dombaer’s sash represents the three wise men, whose bones
have rested in Cologne Cathedral for many hundreds of years,”
Wirtz says. “The Cathedral stone hidden in the leather pouch
is over four hundred years old and was taken from the top of
the Cathedral spire.”
Dombaer is mindful of his comparative diminutive scale. In
magnificence of design and craftsmanship, however, he likes
to think he has much in common with the Cathedral and the
treasures it contains for visitors to behold. The Cathedral’s
— 17 —
most illustrious work of art is the Shrine of the Three Kings,
an ornate golden coffin crafted in the 13th century, traditionally
believed to hold the bones of the Three Wise Men.
As Dombaer funds come in, they will be applied to the
current, most costly restorations. “At this moment, we are
restoring the paintings and the statues in the inner choir,”
Schock-Werner says.
It’s her job to make sure that the Cathedral and its works of
art are preserved for future generations, and that funds are
employed as effectively as possible. She decides what is
restored, and when. “If there are sufficient donations,” she
adds, “we might be able to begin with the restoration of a
mural in one of the choir chapels.”
Schock-Werner studied to be an architect, with a special
interest in the conservation of architectural monuments. Her
PhD thesis was on the Strasbourg cathedral and the organization
of its construction in the middle ages. After a few years
in a teaching position at the University of Erlangen, she was
invited to be the Master Builder at Cologne Cathedral. She’s
been enthusiastic about the Dombaer partnership from
the start. Cathedral restoration challenges appear daily. One
in particular is overarching. “The greatest challenge,”
Schock-Werner says, “lies in balancing the diverging needs
of something that is a living church with its liturgy, an
architectural monument of worldwide significance, and
a magnet for visitors.”
Dombaer takes great pride in his role with Wirtz and
Schock-Werner in bringing it all together. “Many Cologne
people, as well as international friends of our Cathedral,
can lend their support,” Wirtz says. “I have never enjoyed
developing a project as much. For me, this is a labour of love.”
By the look on Dombaer’s face, he agrees.

CONTINUED
In our November issue, we took you on a room-by-room
tour of a home filled with Steiff's non-toy, functional items.
Now this tour continues and concludes in this issue.
Our last stop was in the master bedroom and Mama's boudoir.
In this room we may also find one of Steiff’s character purses,
a fine example of a truly functional item. In the 1920’s through
1940’s, Steiff designed a series of petite handbags based on
their most popular characters of the day. Starting in 1927,
well known patterns including Jocko, Petsy, Bully, Molly,
and Charly were produced as hollow, silk lined clutches,
designed to hold all a lady would need for a night out on the
town. These purses ranged in size from 17 to 29 cm and each
closed with a zipper, usually along the back of the animal.
A contemporary replica of the adorable Charly purse was
created in 2005 as a 28 cm North American Limited edition.
More Steiff Style: This Charly purse was just big enough to hold
a few of a lady's essentials for the evening.
More modern Steiff functional items in the boudoir include
a collection of Steiff china plates, a Steiff Teddy bear watch
(produced in various models from 1991 onward) and a Steiff
Teddy or animal head pin (part of the line from 1909 through
1919 and then again on and off through the 1980’s and 1990’s.)
The tour is now taking a rest stop. And yes, it is possible to
find functional Steiff in the water closet! This bathroom has
RARITIES
FUNCTIONAL & FUN
— Some Steiff items were more than just toys
— 18 —
a little Steiff vanity mirror on the wall. Steiff produced this
21 cm red, yellow, white, and blue doll-themed mirror in 1987
through 1989. The company also manufactured a 50 cm solid
wood wall mounted peg rack, complete with a Teddy face,
in 1988 through 1990 – a perfect place for hanging towels
and washcloths. And finally, what’s a bath without a little
splashing fun? For that very purpose, Steiff designed a
waterproof oilcloth elephant to entertain the little ones
during their daily bath. He was produced in 10 and 14 cm
from 1938 through 1942.
The last destination on the house tour is in the living room,
a space designed for family togetherness and relaxation.
Starting at the floor boards, it is interesting to note that the
first item featured on the back cover of the debut catalogue
of 1892 was a brightly coloured wool rug – which would be
right at home in this living room! A few years later in 1911,
the company produced a series of large and colourful throw
pillows. They are described as…”wool, with artistic hand
made embroidery and gutapercha filling, ingenious motifs in
magnificent colours, size 60 x 60 cm.” It is easy to image these
on a well-loved living room couch.
This wonderful, whimsical article is a very early Steiff creation
and features the company's elephant mascot.

Tiny Teddy head pins were a
great way for Steiff lovers
to express their love and
enthusiasm for the brand.
RARITIES
This Ladybird footstool
brought not only comfort but style
to the home of a Steiff lover.
Just look at the amazing
airbrushing on this turtle footstool.
It’s truly a work of art!
— 19 —
What could be more
functional than a watch?
These Steiff watches had
the added touch of style
by being shaped like Teddy
bear heads.
Steiff tea sets were popular with
little girls (and collectors) all
the way up through the 1990s.

Yes, it is ok to put your feet up and enjoy the beauty of
Steiff in this living room. Steiff designed a series of durable,
metal-framed and mohair footrests from 1957 through 1974.
Models included a starfish, turtle, ladybug, may beetle, frog,
and a kneeling elephant; each was finished with rubber footing
to keep it in place and prevent floor scratching. Other
Children had no
excuses not to keep their
rooms neat and tidy
– not with this Steiff coat
rack hanging nearby.
A brightly coloured felt
rug featured on the
back cover of the 1892
catalogue.
RARITIES
— 20 —
decorative Steiff items in this room include the 2007 Teddy
bear and elephant bookend set and a series of Steiff’s wall
mounted hunting trophies. These handsome rarities were
produced exclusively for the US market as elephants, bears,
rhinos, leopards, lions, and tigers in 28 and 60 cm in 1958 and
1959.
Made just for the U.S. market,
Steiff created a series of trophy
heads for would-be safari hunters.
This small mirror
represented a popular
accessory in the 1980s.

A SERVICE JUST FOR
STEIFF CLUB MEMBERS
—Do you have a question about something in your collection? Learn more here!
Do you have a new or vintage Steiff treasure that you would like to learn
more about? The Steiff Club is here to help! Just send along a brief
description of the item, its article number (from the back of the ear tag),
a clear, high-resolution photo, your name and your home town to the
following address:
Margarete Steiff GmbH, Attention: “Club-Post”, Postfach 1560, 89537
Giengen an der Brenz, Germany, Or e-mail to carolyn@steiffusa.com,
or info@steiff.de
QUESTION: What can you tell me about the
two photos attached? The first is a monkey
about 4inches tall with a white tag under its
arm. The second is a teddy bear about six
inches tall with a silver script button in the
ear. When were they made? K.S.; Internet
CLUB MAIL
ANSWER: Both of these pieces were from
the post WWII period. The monkey, called
Jocko, was back in production in 1949. He
was made in a similar fashion till 1965. The
white tag under his arm is a “US Zone “tag that was sewn into Steiff
products between 1947 and 1953. Therefore your Jocko was produced
between 1949 and 1953. This was the smallest size in which he was ever
produced. Because of the vertically stitched nose, teddy is the 15 cm
produced from 1950 till 1965. Because of the lack of a US Zone tag and he
has the script button, I would date it between 1954 and 1965. Both items
appear to be in excellent condition and are an asset to your collection.
QUESTION: I received her in January 1957. Her
head is wobbling and she hasn’t stood unsupported in
years. I don’t remember her ever standing alone, but it
looks like she did at one time. But many of us at her age
have this difficulty! J; Internet
ANSWER: I loved seeing these photos. You must have
been the envy of all your young friends with this wonderful
mother and baby Joey for companions. Steiff produced
an entire menagerie of these near life size “Studio pieces”.
Everything from wild boars to reindeer, birds to
elephants. They were meant to create traffic stopping
attention to Steiff products in Department stores and
toy stores. They were very successful in doing this.
Many were sold from the displays and found their way
into homes as the ultimate house guest. Because of the
difficulty and time required, which led to the very high price, only small
quantities of these were manufactured each year. I have only seen a couple
of these Studio Kangaroos. They were made from the mid 1950s to mid 1960s.
— 21 —
QUESTION: The next question comes
from a Steiff retailer in the Detroit area.
“A movie director came in today and
purchased two Steiff teddy bears for a
period movie being shot in the area. He
wants to know what year the growler
device was invented or first used in teddy
bears. Can you help me out on this?“
ANSWER: It is nice to see he is trying to
get every historic detail correct in his
movie. I don’t know if anyone would care
if a teddy growled one year or the one after
but for some of us detail people the
automatic growler was first used in 1908.
Steiff used squeakers, which made a similar
noise to what you find today in dog
toys or baby toys, as far back as the 1890s.
The revolutionary automatic growler
was invented and inserted into bears
whose body cavity was large enough to
handle the larger apparatus. Early on
Steiff tried to produce different growlers
that would create a variety of animal
sounds. Today we have the old familiar
GRRRRRRRowl.

United Kingdom
It is quite possible to say that the Steiff world experienced
the “sale of the century” when Christie’s in London
auctioned off close to 1,200 vintage Steiff collectibles last
fall! Held on October 13, 2010, the auction lasted nearly
9 hours and involved the services of four separate auctioneers
to handle the workload. An entire Noah’s ark of treasures
found new homes, including the auction’s main draw, a 34
cm, one-of-a-kind red and blue mohair harlequin Teddy bear
that realized £46,850 / $74,164. The auction also featured
many early rarities, one of a kind items, and salesmen’s samples,
all which also generated a lot of interest. But besides
these big ticket items, there really was something there for
every collector’s taste and pocket, and many people in the
salesroom were there to bid on one or two lots that really
caught their eye. From a Steiff enthusiast’s perspective, just
being in the room was an experience of a lifetime. According
to Christie's, the entire sale "realized a total of £1,082,356 /
$1.713.370 / €1.226.309 and was 89% sold by lot and 94% by
value."
Overall, 652 lots were auctioned off; 641 of these were
published in the catalogue with an additional "bonus" eleven
lots added in after the catalogue went to print.
One of the interesting things about the auction was how it
really brought the Steiff collectors community together in
so many ways. The first way was electronically. With the availability
and ease of social media tools such as email,
Facebook, blogs, forums, and Twitter, news of the auction
spread quickly after it was announced mid-summer. Within
days of the “official” press release dated July 28, 2010,
collectors were all-abuzz online about the event, speculating
on the origins of the collection, what may be up for auction,
and if any sales records would be broken. As the weeks moved
forward, and the Christie’s team released more details about
the auction and the lots available, collectors started connec-
VENUES
AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER
— Christie’s auction brings collectors
together from around the world
— 22 —
ting online about bidding and even meeting in person at the
event. Clearly, people from all four corners of the world felt
strongly about these delightful items, and today’s online tools
really helped accelerate that passion and energy.
The second way the auction brought collectors together was
physically. In addition to acting as a rallying point for
collectors online, this auction brought Steiff collectors from
all over the planet to the same location. Like moths to a flame,
many Steiff enthusiasts felt the need to attend
the auction in person. And did they ever! Being in the
salesroom, both for the preview days and the auction, was
like being at a United Nations event, with all the different
languages and cultures in the room at any given time! And
to make the international audience comfortable during the
auction, flat screen televisions on the walls of the salesroom
would feature each lot and its bidding price in Pounds,
Dollars, Euros, and Japanese Yen.
The third way the auction brought collectors together was
emotionally. It was absolutely heartwarming to see old friends
unexpectedly bump into each other at the viewing, and watch
new friendships being formed over glass vitrenes filled with
“Friends for Life.” This writer had the incredible fortune of
spending time with six world-class Steiff experts who had,
like me, made a long pilgrimage from their home countries
for the sole reason of attending this auction. By the strangest
coincidence – or maybe not – we all happened to be staying
at the same very small hotel a few blocks away from
Christie’s. We were only strangers for a moment; the
universal love and appeal of Steiff immediately sealed our
friendship and trust! We spent hours over meals tossing about
words like “Teddy baby”, “Steiff Sortiment”, and
“nomotta wool”. Clearly, regardless of a collector’s native
tongue, the language of Steiff is truly international as well
as unifying.

USA
STEIFF NORTH AMERICA
HOSTS COAST TO COAST EVENTS
It is 2,937 miles from West Palm Beach, Florida, to Livermore,
California, but Steiff North America bridged the gap with
events in these cities and a host of others in between. SNA
staged 18 major events at retailers across the country in Fall
2010, welcoming more than a thousand participants.
“Despite the U.S. economy, we had a successful event season,”
said Jim Pitocco, Steiff North America President.
“This is a testament to the loyalty that people feel for our brand
and our products. And it’s a good sign for our future.”
Many retailers went all-out with decorations, centerpieces, and
catering to make Steiff guests feel welcome. Each retailer also
made sure there were plenty of Steiff collectibles and toys on
hand to give their customers the widest possible selection.
“Our retailers really stock up to make sure collectors have plenty
from which to choose,” said Carolyn Smith, Event Coordinator.
“We work with them for weeks in advance to get all the details
just right.”
Getting it “just right” is important for our collectors, according
to Pitocco. “We want everything to go smoothly, for our guests
to have a good time, and for collectors to bring home new
treasures,” he said. “A successful event offers all those things.”
By that measuring stick, 2010 will truly be a season to remember.
Congratulations to all those retailers who participated.
2010 EVENT PARTICIPANTS
Hugging Bear Inn & Shoppe Chester, VT
Cynthia's Country Store W. Palm Beach, FL
Susan's Storeroom San Anselmo, CA
Atherton House on the Boulevard Adel, IA
Talbot's Toys San Mateo, CA
Judy's Dolls Longwood, FL
Wolfe Den Garden Shop Greenburg, PA
Doll Hospital/Toy Soldier Berkley, MI
Bearly a Memory Galax, VA
The Toy Shoppe Richmond, VA
The Toy Store Toledo, OH
(at Bristol, CT)
Piccolo Mondo Toys Portland, OR
Bears & More Glendale, AZ
Toni's Collectibles Pleasant Hill, CA
VENUES
— 23 —
There's nothing quite like the thrill of finding just the right
"Friend for Life," as this friend discovered at a show in
Winston-Salem, NC.
Gepeto's Workshop Steven's Point, WI
Bear Bottom Toys Delafield, WI
Bears 'N Friends LaConner, WA
Bear Attack Livermore, CA
My Friend's & Me Leesburg, VA
Groves Bears Bluffton, OH
Pat 'N Lou's Quakertown, PA
Toys in the Attic Joplin, MO
Toy Village Lansing, MI
Collin's Gifts Portsmouth, NH
Lladro NY New York City, NY
Hartville Collectibles Hartville, OH
Kaboodle Carmel, IN
Ruthie's Tee Company Bird-in-Hand, PA
Mostly Bears Tucson, AZ

Germany
FAREWELL
TO BERND METZNER
Bernd Metzner, Divisional Manager of KaDeWe’s toy
department, officially retired in October of 2010. For many
years Bernd Metzner was a “well liked guest” at the Steiff
company, as his enthusiasm for Teddy bears was renowned.
Bernd Metzner worked in the toy industry for 48 years; he
began an apprenticeship in Wertheim/Cologne, then moved
to Troisdorf, Bad Homburg, Berlin and finally to the
KaDeWe from the year 2000. During the 90s of the previous
century and in cooperation with Steiff, he developed the
Bernd Metzner and “his” Steiff Teddy bears
VENUES
— 24 —
series of the“Berlin Ambience Bears”, still very popular
articles in the KaDeWe programme today. Even “Knut”,
probably the most popular polar bear cub, was initiated by
Bernd Metzner. “A lovely, successful and turbulent period
with tens of thousands of Teddy bears is at an end,” says Metzner.
These words are filled with melancholy, as were those
who worked with him over many years. Margarete Steiff
GmbH says “thank you” for this extraordinarily long and
good cooperation.

Germany
TEDDY BEAR EXHIBITION
IN UNTERKOCHEN
He is District Mayor, passionate Steiff animal collector and
a long-term Steiff Club member: Karl Maier from
Unterkochen issued an invitation to the third Steiff Bear
Exhibition at the Unterkochen Town Hall from 29.10. to
19.11.2010. More than 400 Teddy bears – mainly rarities
and limited editions from Karl Maier’s collection – could be
admired. The backdrop in which Karl Maier presented his
treasures, stemmed from his own hand, and he enjoyed
imparting his knowledge on Steiff history and on the
products to the visitors. So it’s no small wonder that the
third exhibition of this kind once again stirred broad regional
interest. The prominent guests included Regional District
Administrator Klaus Pavel as well as the former mayor and
honourable citizen of Aalen, Ulrich Pfeifle with his wife and
his two grandchildren.
Netherlands
BERELIJN IN DORDRECHT,
NETHERLANDS
On 6 November 2010, 110 Dutch, Belgian and even German
Steiff collectors were anxiously waiting to get to the 18th
Club event at Berelijn in Dordrecht. Because the shop on
Voorstraat 269 was not big enough to host all those collectors,
Nelleke and David found a wonderful antique building
within walking distance. Here the new Steiff fall editions 2010
were brushed and displayed and were ready to make a glamorous
appearance. Welcomed with a cup of coffee or tea, every
collector took a seat and then Ralf Fahrig, Club Event
Manager started telling all the ins and outs of the collection.
He showed the items and explained with extra pictures how
they are made in the factory. This way each piece really came
alive. The highlight of the show was the wonderful Teddy
bear Christmas Rose with her legend.
All those wonderful bears and animals made people hungry,
so after an hour, lunch was served. This time there were soup
and small sandwiches with different type of fillings. Because
the motto of Steiff is: “Only the best is good enough for our
children”, Ralf presented a video how the safety of Steiff bears
and animals is tested in the laboratory. This gave many
customers an even bigger appreciation of all the loving handwork
that is necessary to produce a Steiff animal. After all
the listening it became time to get active. Everybody got a
red and green paper and had to stand up. This was the big
test if people really had paid attention and wonderful prizes
could be won by giving the right answer. All the questions
could only be answered with yes (green paper up) or no (red
paper up). When you made a mistake you had to sit down. It
was amazing to see how much Steiff collectors know about
VENUES
— 25 —
Karl Maier, left and Regional
District Administrator Klaus
Pavel exchange Teddy bears.
A view of the Unterkochen
exhibition
Steiff. After many questions we had 3 happy winners. As
a thank you on behalf of the Steiff Club Ralf presented a
wonderful Steiff kitten keyring to all the faithful Club members.
That was the end of the official part of the event. In the shop
the “after party” went on with lots of drinks, snacks and
laughter.
If you want to join those collectors feel free to ask for
information on the next Club event at Berelijn on 5 March
2011. We, the team of Berelijn, would like to thank Ralf Fahrig
and Steiff for their contribution to this wonderful event and
we are looking forward to hosting the next Club Event.
The colour “green” stands for “yes” and all participants show
their enthusiasm about the quiz.

FAVOURITE
— 26 —

FAVOURITE
“RHAPSODY IN BLUE”
— A luxurious blue silk Teddy that’s something
totally new
Real sapphires are found in some of the world’s most exotic and remote places. To get the highest quality stones, gemologists
mine locations in Eastern Australia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, East Africa and isolated parts of North America.
A high quality sapphire is known for its breathtaking brilliance. The same could be said of our Sapphire Teddy bear,
new for 2011.
Sapphire brings together luxurious materials, sophisticated design, and the world of fashion for a bear that’s simply unlike
any other. Even the Teddy’s coat is something extraordinary. It’s an exclusive plush woven from 100% silk strands for a
sumptuous feel that you’ll have to touch to believe. It feels nothing like mohair at all. This silk material has been carefully
dyed to a deep blue – just like the rich hues of the most coveted real sapphires.
The bear’s paw pads are encrusted with Swarovski crystals for a dramatic effect, reflecting secondary tones of purple, light
blue, green, and even pink. Around her neck, she wears a strand of Swarovski element stones that bring added brilliance.
In the bear’s ear, a stunning Swarovski element Xilion stone takes the place of a button as a fabulous finishing touch.
SAPPHIRE TEDDY BEAR
with Swarovski crystal "Button in Ear"
Limited edition of 2,000 pieces worldwide
(EAN 036934, 25 cm)
— 27 —

www.steiff.com
Margarete Steiff GmbH, Richard-Steiff-Straße 4, 89537 Giengen an der Brenz 912580