The Wonderful History Of The Teddy Bear
We all had a most favorite stuffed animal when we were young, and as adults, this fondness of our stuffed toys has prompted us to become collectors of them, especially those made by Steiff.
They are in high demand by collectors when available at fairs and auctions, namely stuffed bears.
The story begins in the German town of Giengen an der Brenz in 1880.
A wheelchair bound seamstress called Margarete Steiff started a hobby and made toy animals from her own designs.
They were mostly of dogs, cats, pigs and elephants.
The world famous stuffed animals of Steiff that we know of today began with the idea of adding jointed limbs to a toy bear by Richard Steiff, Margarete's nephew.
The bear quickly became popular in the United States and then, across the world, winning the first prize at the World Exhibition in St.Louis in 1904.
It was later named after President Teddy Roosevelt and became known as the teddy bear.
The company is known for its high quality Steiff stuffed animals, which are still made in the town of Giengen.
The town of Giengen is considered a mecca for lovers of stuffed animals, and visitors can experience an Adventure Museum as well as the Steiff factory.
The museum tells the history of the products and a gift shop sells bears, replicas of past animal products, historic catalogues and porcelain.
The Steiff Classic range is the line that is most sought after by collectors, featuring a wide variety of animals that are all hand made.
Some designs date back to teddy bears from 1906, 1909 and 1920.
There is also a bear with a stitched on Valentine's heart, which makes a romantic gift.
Steiff creations include a wide range of popular characters such as Peter Rabbit, Mrs. Tiggy Winkle hedgehog and characters from Beatrix Potter.
One of the most popular designs for kids is the Paddington Bear, wearing his trademark blue hat and red duffel coat.
The majority of Steiff baby animals are created with babies and toddlers in mind.
Teddy bears, kittens and puppies are included in this collection that is designed from durable, high quality materials.
The Cosy Animal collection features animals that are machine washable along with clothing, keyrings, bags and gift sets for children.
Another great collection is the Steiff Limited Edition selection that showcases a pink and grey replica of the world famous 1908 teddy bear.
This selection also includes a Pierrot Bear, a Moon Bear and a fantastic Grizzly Bear.
This range also has a stuffed Rupert Bear, another favorite character from story books.
However, the teddy bear will continue to be the toy that is most associated with the Steiff Company.
Looking for Steiff Stuffed Animals? Visit our site for more information.
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 STEIFF BUNNY PLUSH 8 STUFFED ANIMAL  US $43.99
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 Lot of 4 Steiff Stuffed Animals w Tags Boxes US $79.00
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 Steiff Vintage Nelly Snail Stuffed Animal Toy US $349.00
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 Steiff stuffed animal baby owl original US $5.00
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For more collectable bears visit Collectible Bears?
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