The exclusive Club editions 2016 A century in the air Happy

The magazine for Steiff Club members – Issue Four 2015
Club news
CooperatIons
Contest
The exclusive Club editions 2016
A century in the air
Happy birthday to us!
Little starlet Teddy bear
Item no. 021312,
Limited Edition
of 1,350 pieces.
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EDITORIAL
Dear Steiff friends,
2015 is drawing to a close, and by the time you read these lines it will not be long
until Christmas. Which means it‘s high time to start thinking about gifts for friends
and family. And, of course, about what you yourself would like, or how you would
like to treat yourself to mark the festive season.
I‘d like to remind those of you who have been a member of the Steiff Club for at
least five years of our Loyalty Teddy bear. There is more about him on page 12. This
Teddy bear has been purchased around 500 times so far, and he is only going to
be available until the end of the year. So the fact that he is a limited edition is as
interesting as the individual design. You are sure to find the right gifts among the
new ideas for autumn/winter that we told you about in August.
„Maple“, our Club edition 2016 (page 5), completes the series of bears dedicated to
trees and nature. The autumn leaves of the maple tree were the inspiration behind
this new creation. The maple leaf is on the Canadian flag, although that was nothing
to do with why we chose this tree – and even less so the fact that according to
legend, the maple protects against witches and other adversities (although we are
sure it can‘t hurt!)
I hope you enjoy your reading,
browsing and hunting for gifts!
Imprint
PUBLISHER: Margarete Steiff GmbH
Richard-Steiff-Straße 4,
89537 Giengen an der Brenz, Germany
tel.: + 49 (0) 7322 131555
EDITORS:
Inge Zinnecker, Rick Emerson
CONTRIBUTORS:
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 10/2015 e – Item No. 914966
With best wishes,
Yours,
INGE ZINNECKER
Steiff Club Manager
CO N T E N T S
CLUB NEWS Exclusively for you4 COOPER AT IONS NEWS
Special items
COOPER AT IONS
CULT URE A destination like no other13
6 CONT EST
Happy birthday to us
16
A century in the air
10 PASSIONS
A special collector...
17
E-Mail from...the heart
12 CLUB MAIL
Readers’ service
21
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CLU B N E W S
Exclusively for you
Presenting the special Club novelities for 2016.
Is there any season more poetic than autumn? The changing colours of the leaves have inspired artists, writers, and
musicians for centuries. This was also our designer’s inspiration for the 2016 Club bear called “Maple” – the third in
our series of tree-themed bears. (Previous editions included Chestnut and Cherry.)
It’s a crisp autumn day, and Maple has gone for a stroll.
Beautiful leaves are gently falling all around her. But which
one should she choose for her collection? At last she finds
the perfect specimen – the one she’ll keep forever. Likewise, we’re sure you’ll want to keep Maple with you always.
but with a shorter pile. She features brass coloured felt paw
pads, a black hand-stitched nose, and a satin ribbon which
allows her to be used as a pendant. She’s our gift to every
new or renewing member of the Steiff Club in 2016.
Maple, Mady, and our annual gift Teddy all have one thing
in common (besides their undeniable appeal): they’re
made exclusively for members of the Steiff Club! Adopt
them all and make 2016 a year to remember!
Maple is sewn from a unique blond mohair that has been
lightly tipped for extra depth and added dimension. Her
paw pads are brass coloured wool felt. Her nose and mouth
are hand-stitched. Around her neck, Maple wears a woollen
collar with a checked pattern, finished with a green satin
bow. A highly detailed maple leaf is attached to her right
paw. The leaf has been lovingly airbrushed and its veins are
intricately stitched on both sides for
added realism.
From left to right:
The 2016 Club gift,
the Event Teddy bear
“Mady” and “Maple”,
the Club edition.
Maple wouldn’t think of going
anywhere without her best friend
Mady, our event bear for 2016.
(But remember: Mady is reserved exclusively for members who
attend Club events!) Her coat is a very
special ratinee mohair which is sparsely woven and tightly curled. Hand stitched
facial details give her a warm, inviting
expression. Her sweet face is framed
by a handmade bow sewn from the
same checked material used for
Maple’s collar. Together, Maple and
Mady are a perfect match!
Of course, no Club year would
be complete without our
annual gift, and we’re especially pleased with our
selection for 2016. This
tiny, handmade Teddy is
sewn from a blond tipped
mohair – just like Maple,
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CLU B N E W S
....
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NEWS
Special items
Germany
Carolus magnus,
Christmas bear
the
Hutschenreuther
The Hutschenreuther Christmas bell has been a collectors’
theme for many years. So it made sense to combine the bell
with a Steiff Teddy bear.
This vintage style Teddy bear with the cheeky expression
is made of the finest mohair in antique olive. He stands
28 cm tall, is five ways jointed, and has a music box that
plays “Jingle Bells” to go with the bell. The pattern is
completely new, and is based on an idea by Ms. Eleonore
Gödert of the German Doll and Bear Museum in St. Goar.
celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2014, and is available
exclusively from the SammlerKontor.
SammlerKontor OHG
Am Joseph 21
D-61273 Wehrheim
Tel.: +49 (0) 6081 928 5497
Fax: +49 (0) 6081 928 5492
info@sammlerkontor.de
www.sammlerkontor.de
(Item no. 674082, 28 cm,
Limited Edition of
1,500 pieces)
The bell was designed exclusively by Ole Winter, who also
paints the traditional Christmas bells, and produced by
Hutschenreuther in a strictly limited edition. It depicts
several Steiff Teddy bears and the logos of Steiff and the
“SammlerKontor”. It is the perfect match for this unusual
Teddy bear.
He is named after Carolus Magnus Hutschenreuther,
the founder of the eponymous porcelain company that
Germany
M o u n ta i n e e r T e d d y
bear
“The mountains are close enough to touch in the metropolis with a heart!”
(Item no. 674150,
25 cm, Limited
Edition of 1,500
pieces)
As if by magic, our mountaineer is drawn to the nearby mountains for climbing and hiking. After all, his
favourite spot is virtually right outside the door. With
his equipment consisting of a pickaxe made of real tin, his
hat with a blue-and-white cord and his climbing rope,
he is well equipped to conquer lots of peaks! And as a
memento of lovely trips, he is holding a hand-felted
edelweiss in his paw.
Mountaineer Teddy bear is available exclusively
from Galeria Kaufhof GmbH, Kaufinger Str. 2,
D-80331 Munich. Contact: Ms. Spitzenberger
Tel: +49 (0) 89/23 18 51
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NEWS
50th anniversary IDEFIX - DOGMATIX
Asterix® Obelix® / ©2015 Les Editions Albert René / Goscinny - Uderzo
Europe
Obelix’s clever little dog was first seen in 1965 in “Tour de
France”. This means that Dogmatix (“Idefix” in the original
French version) is celebrating his 50th birthday in 2015!
The name Idefix was the result of a competition that was
held at the time by “Pilote”
magazine.The authors chose
it from various suggestions
that included other names
such as “Patracourcix”
and “Papeurdurix”. From
the volume “Asterix and
Cleopatra” onwards, Dogmatix and his infallible sixth
sense played an important
role in the adventures of Asterix and Obelix. Artist and
author Albert Uderzo, who incidentally never made a
secret of his preference for the little dog, made sure he
featured regularly in the adventures of Asterix and Obelix.
Sweden
nK elmar
Nordiska Kompaniet celebrate 100 years on Hamngatan in
Stockholm with exclusive Steiff Teddy bear.
Nordiska Kompaniet, the luxury department store on
Hamngatan, Stockholm, opened in 1915. Ever since, many
iconic personalities have visited and exclusive launches
have taken place here. NK is known to always be one step
ahead of the game. The NK building by architect Ferdinand Boberg, with an exterior designed to radiate solidity and dignity and an interior of a fairy-tale castle, has
become a landmark in the city. NK was the first place in
Sweden to install escalators, and has always been ground
breaking and trend leading.
To mark the occasion of his
50th birthday, the cute little
dog is appearing for the first
time as a Steiff limited edition
of 1,965 pieces. So 50th anniversary
IDEFIX – DOGMATIX is the start
of a series of the three probably
best-known characters from
the global success that is the
Asterix comic series. Asterix and
Obelix will follow in 2016 and 2017.
Dogmatix stands 17 cm tall and is
made of exclusive white mohair.
Thanks to his turning head and
movable ears, Asterix fans all over
the world will be able to relive the
unforgettable performances of Dogmatix.
Available to order exclusively from European retailers
(with the exceptions of Germany, UK and Ireland).
(Item no. 674167, 17 cm, Limited Edition of 1,965 pieces)
When Josef Sachs founded Nordiska Kompaniet in 1902 he had a clear vision. The
great department store NK was to be a
commercial and cultural theatre - a contemporary stage. Grand words maybe, but
they still permeate through every aspect of
NK.
To commemorate this special anniversary,
Steiff has created an exclusive Elmar Teddy bear which is exclusively available at NK
for SEK 895,00. NK Elmar proudly wears a
black bow on which the signature NK logo
is printed in white. In addition, the famous
logo stitched in black threads is embroidered on his right foot pad. By the way, this is
the first time ever Steiff has produced an exclusive Teddy bear for a Swedish company.
To order NK Elmar (item no 674181, 32 cm)
please contact: nklekbaby.sth@nk.se
Tel.: +46 (0) 87628299
NK Lek & Baby, Anna Gotthard,
NK 197, SE - 11177 Stockholm
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NEWS
Special items
UK
A rt i e
for teddy bears of witney
Since opening in 1985, Teddy Bears of Witney have offered
bear lovers the finest and most collectable Teddy bears in
the world from their shop in the Cotswolds, near Oxford.
A sixteenth century Costwold stone building provides the
most perfect and natural home for all Teddy bears.
th
In 2015 Teddy Bears of Witney celebrate their 30 anniversary and we at Steiff felt very honoured to be a part of
their celebrations with the delightfully enchanting Artie.
Artie is a splendid 48 cm bear, modelled on a circa
1907 original Steiff bear in the Witney museum. This
special bear was owned by Arthur Cooper, who was born in
1906, and ‘christened’ Artie, an abbreviation of his young
owner’s name.
UK
E va - L i l y - T h e H a r r o d s T e d d y B e a r
2015
2015 marks a significant year for our Harrods bear. In
26 years, Eva-Lily is Harrods’ first ever little girl. She is
also the first musical bear we have had for many years. The
music box is back due to extremely popular demand! EvaLily has a wind up mechanism in her back and plays the
lovely ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ tune.
Eva-Lily has been traditionally hand crafted with fully
jointed limbs and has the famous Harrods insignia
embroidered in gold threads on her left paw pad. She
has her own wonderful and unique charm. Her stunning
long blond mohair coat has been skilfully made from the
luxurious wool of the Angora goat. She has deep brown
eyes and a delicate hand stitched nose. She has carded flat
feet so can sit or stand up, and she stands at 35 cm tall.
Made of wavy, old gold
mohair with felt paws,
Artie retains the features of that bear – a
finely moulded head
with black button eyes, long arms with curved wrists, big
feet with narrow ankles and a back hump.
Artie wears a gold ochre ribbon bow, embroidered with
“Teddy Bears of Witney 30 years”. This can easily be removed if preferred.
To order please contact Teddy Bears of Witney: 99 High
Street, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX28 6HY, Tel: +44 (0) 1993
706616 or 702616, Fax: +44 (0)1993 702344, email: Alfonzo@
witneybears.co.uk
(Item no. 664366, Limited Edition of 1,000 pieces, RRP £295,
postage free during 2015)
Eva-Lily wears a unique chest tag this
year. It’s newly designed for 2015
but its distinctive shape
is a nod to yester-year
and the first bears in
the Harrods collection.
Each bear is individually
numbered and comes
with a Steiff gift box and
unique certificate.
With arms outstretched for
a warm Christmas hug, Eva-Lily is waiting to be
taken home for a place under the Christmas tree.
To order call the Harrods store on +44 (0)20 7730 1234, ext
3138 or ext 2540. Also available online at www.harrods.com.
(Item no. 664908, 35 cm, Limited Edition of 1,500 pieces)
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: leyla.maniera@steiff.com
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NEWS
UK
london bus suItCase
for
harrod s
With his wonderful cuddly body and mischievous smile,
Fynn has been one of the most popular Steiff children’s
characters for many years. He’s had a fabulous update this
year as he becomes Harrods first-ever exclusive soft plush
children’s toy. This means that, of course, he has been
given the famous Harrods insignia in gold threads on his
left paw, but also this Fynn bear is travelling in style! Fynn
comes complete with his own little suitcase decorated
to resemble a no. 74 big red London double decker bus.
Travelling in the London bus suitcase are lots of teddy
characters, many of them with their bags full of shopping
from Harrods.
Exclusively available at Harrods. To order call the store on
+44 (0)20 7730 1234, ext 3138 or ext 2540.
Also available online at www.harrods.com.
(Item no. 664854, 23 cm, RRP £49.99)
USA
ClarenCe teddy
“Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.” The
U.S. holiday television tradition comes vibrantly to life
with our Clarence Teddy bear. Meticulously hand crafted from the finest mohair, Clarence has earned his
wings with a Swarovski® ornament around his neck.
The long-running, and ever-popular series of bears with
Swarovski® draws to a dramatic close with this, our final
piece of Swarovski-inspired collectibles.
(Item no. 682995, 29 cm, Limited Edition of 1,500 pieces)
USA
o tannenbaum teddy bear
Our series of bears inspired by traditional Christmas carols
continues with “O Tannenbaum”, a musical Teddy that’s
certain to bring joy to your holiday season.
“O Tannenbaum” is a German Christmas folk song with
lyrics written in 1824 by Leipzig composer Ernst Anschütz.
Wind up the Teddy bear, and he plays a few bars of the cherished carol. This gorgeous bear wears a red ribbon trimmed with gold around his neck and his foot paw pads have
been intricately embroidered. Put a song in your heart this
holiday season with the
“O Tannenbaum”
Teddy from
Steiff.
(Item no. 682926,
29 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: carolyn@steiffusa.com
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CO O P E R AT I O N S
A century in the air
Aerospace giant Boeing turns to Steiff to help celebrate their centenary.
When companies want to commemorate a special milestone in their history, many ask Steiff to develop custom
products for their employees and fans. Boeing is just the
latest in a long line of corporations that have come to us
to create special commemorative items. Below, Boeing
shares the details of their important anniversary and the
role Steiff will play in their global celebrations.
Steiff:
Tell us a very brief history of Boeing - when and where it was
founded, its finest moments, and the size, scope, and global
footprint of the company today.
In addition to the
limited mohair editions,
a special 100th anniversary plush toy bear will
be produced by Steiff.
Boeing:
Founded July 15, 1916, Boeing defined the purpose of the
airplane, harnessed it to defend freedom and invented
passenger air travel. The Boeing Company took the airplane from being a rich-man’s toy to being the foundation
of the global transportation system.
Today Boeing is a leader in aerospace with over 165,000
employees worldwide who continue to connect, protect
and innovate. Whether the challenge is pursuing hypersonic or unmanned flight, ever safer, more comfortable
and more efficient air travel for passengers,
reducing our dependence on fossil
fuel, discovering some new capability not yet imagined, or solving
a thorny engineering problem,
the men and women of Boeing
are determined to carry forward the
company’s legacy of innovation into
the next 100 years.
Boeing will
celebrate its
centennial in 2016.
Please tell us about the
various ways the company will
mark that milestone within the Boeing
community, the aerospace industry, and the
world in general.
Boeing will commemorate its 100th
anniversary with many events, for both
the general public and our employees.
We have a full year ahead with a variety of elements –
educational, historical and inspirational – that will help
celebrate the launch of our second century.
One of our most exciting activities is a groundbreaking
exhibition developed in collaboration with NASA and
the National Air & Space Museum. The exhibit is educational and fun for all ages and is educationally aimed primarily at 7 – 14 year olds. It will make its worldwide debut in
Washington, D.C. at Smithsonian’s National Air and Space
Museum on August 1 and will tour the U.S. in the next
two years. Another will premiere in Europe and a third will
premiere in Dubai.
When did the company start planning for its 100th year
anniversary? Does the company have a special team or unit of
employees responsible for this year-long celebration?
Planning began in earnest in 2010 and last year a companywide team was formed to plan and execute the year-long
celebration at locations around the globe.
Is Boeing creating a special logo,
tagline, or mascot to mark this
centennial celebration?
Yes, we have created a simple “100”
mark in the company’s exclusive
Stratotype font for the Boeing
centennial in
2016. The centennial
mark will help to
unify the activities
and events celebrating this milestone in aviation
and aerospace
history.
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CO O P E R AT I O N S
Available to order from your favorite Authorized Steiff Club
Retailer or www.steiffusa.com
As part of this celebration, Boeing has given
the Smithsonian National Air and Space
Museum a very generous gift of $30
million dollars. Tell us why the company
made this donation, and how it will
help the mission of the museum and
Boeing moving forward.
Boeing is committed to enhancing education and
developing a future workforce by helping students, helping educators, helping parents embrace 21st-century skills
and inspire innovation, a vision shared by the Smithsonian.
Boeing is also partnering with other companies to produce a series
of 100th anniversary gifts and special editions. Who are some of
these other companies, and how were they selected?
The limited mohair
collectible versions of
the Boeing centennial
bear come with a mail
bag filled with detailed
miniature letters and
packages.
To celebrate its 100-year legacy, Boeing has partnered
with several other renowned companies with outstanding
histories to create a collection of aerospace-inspired
luxury merchandise. These include the Bremont Watch
Company, Groupe Logo for eyewear and SchottNY for
leather jackets.
An intricately detailed
These and other commemorative items will be available
through the Boeing Store.
flight suit and mail bag
make the Boeing 100and 1,500-piece editions
extra special.
Boeing is working with Steiff to create some remarkable Teddy
bear limited editions to mark the company’s centennial. How did
the idea to work with Steiff come about?
The idea came from a Boeing employee whose wife is an
avid collector of Steiff bears. After researching Steiff’s
involvement with other companies and its unparalleled
history with commemorative events, we felt this would be
a great collectible item.
Tell us about these centennial bears. How many will be
produced? What do they look like? What was the process to come
up with their design and accessories?
There will be three versions of bears. The most exclusive
will be a large mohair bear limited to 100 pieces. The next
bear is a smaller mohair version limited to 1,500 pieces.
There is also a soft plush edition which will be produced
as a toy. The mohair bear’s flight suit, helmet, eyeglasses
and mailbag were developed based upon an iconic photograph of Bill Boeing. His image is included on the product
hang tag.
Are these Boeing Steiff bears gifts for employees, visitors,
executives, or other V IPs? If so, will they also be available for
purchase by the general public and Steiff collectors?
All three versions will be available to all through the
Boeing Store. The smaller mohair and plush versions will
also be available through selected Steiff retailers.
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CU LT U R E
E-Mail from...the heart
Let your heart speak through our Club loyalty bear.
“Thanks for everything.”
“Happy birthday, Anja!”
“10 years of friendship.”
“Will you marry me?”
I’m the Teddy bear that lets your
heart speak out. I was born to honour
loyal Steiff Club members – the
ones who’ve been with us for at
least five years. If that’s you, then
I’m pleased to meet you! Together,
we can express whatever your heart
desires. Let’s celebrate an anniversary. Commemorate a birth.
Ask a question. Send a message.
Or mark an important date. Let my
heart be your chalkboard. Together,
we’ll tell your story.
I’d make a perfect gift for an old
friend (or for yourself). I’m sharply
dressed in a cream-coloured mohair coat and wear a smart red ribbon around my neck. I’m
25 centimetres tall. The “Steiff Club” logo is embroidered on my paw pad. But it’s my grey
felt heart that really makes me special. Personalize it with your very own sentiment – but
only if you’ve been a Steiff Club member for five years or more!
So what are you waiting for? Contact your favourite Steiff retailer and tell them what your
heart says. Or download the order form from www.steiff.com. My friends in Giengen will
take care of all the rest. In about six weeks or less, your customized, one-of-a-kind Loyalty
Teddy bear will be handmade just for you.
Imagine how happy, honoured, flattered, thrilled, delighted, or surprised I’ll make your
recipient. I’m sure to bring a smile to their face and put joy in their heart – and yours! But
remember the last order date for me is 31st December 2015!
Sincerely yours,
Your Steiff Club Loyalty Teddy bear
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CO O P E R AT I O N S
A destination like no other
Celebrating the legacy of Steiff at F.A.O. Schwarz.
F.A.O. Schwarz was a toy store unlike any other. For
many people in America, it was a dream destination - a
place where they went as kids to view the finest toys in
the world, and then visited later in life with their children
and grandchildren so
they too could share
the magic. And it was
not uncommon that
visitors from all over
the world would put
F.A.O. Schwarz on
their “must see” list of
places when traveling
to the United States.
Many Steiff collectors
were introduced to
the button in ear
brand through F.A.O
Schwarz via a store
visit, one of their
extravagantly illustrated catalogues, or a
special gift from a
parent or grandparent.
So it really made international news, especially within the Steiff
collecting community,
when Toys R Us, the
company that owns the
F.A.O. Schwarz brand,
decided to close the last remaining F.A.O. Schwarz store
in New York in July, 2015 because of dramatically rising
rents at their famous Fifth Avenue location.
One of the factors that made F.A.O. Schwarz so successful
throughout its century and a half of doing business was its
distinctive and proprietary merchandise assortment, which
included Steiff from early on. The company’s buyers, which
included the Schwarz brothers at the turn of last century,
truly differentiated their stores by offering hard to find,
unique, and often exclusive products. These were items
only available through the store’s retail locations or print
catalogues. These products were distinctive and special,
and helped to give the stores an extra aura of excitement
and energy.
To celebrate the F.A.O. Schwarz legacy, let’s take a look at
some of the most special Steiff exclusives produced for the
store over time. It’s important to note that even though the
very first Steiff bears made their F.A.O. Schwarz debut in
1906, it wasn’t until the
early 1950’s that Steiff
started
producing
store exclusives for its
long-time American
retail partner. The
design themes of these
exclusives
basically
fell within four time
phases, with a little
overlap between each.
First period, from the
early 1950’s to the early
1960’s:
The F.A.O. Christmas
catalogues for 1951
featured a Steiff
rocking horse that sold
for $325 - that’s more
period than $3,000 in today’s
currency!
This was a
of great creativity at
Steiff. As such, the
early F.A.O. Schwarz
exclusives produced
during that era truly
reflect this innovation.
These items were truly
outstanding, original,
and were meticulously
manufactured
with
great attention to even
the smallest detail. These for the most part were not “theme
and variation” products based on standard line Steiff items
but unique patterns specifically created for Schwarz, and
included both puppets and animal toys. These treasures
often included design features made from unconventional
materials; all had charming and playful personalities.
Special items introduced during this time period included
a 25 cm standing mohair Texas Longhorn steer with leather
or rubber horns; a 29 cm bright red mohair fox; a fully
jointed grey alpaca poodle with a lifelike leather nose; a 45
cm silk lined walrus pyjama bag; a 20 cm play pony fully
accessorized with a blanket, reins, and tiny riding saddle; a
55 cm open mouthed begging fox; and an irresistible series
of standing, sitting, and lying Dalmatians.
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CO O P E R AT I O N S
Second period, from the mid
1960’s through the late 1970’s:
During this timespan, many of the
Steiff F.A.O. Schwarz exclusives
were produced “in house.”
This means that Steiff shipped
standard line merchandise to
F.A.O. Schwarz, and once
these items arrived they
were dressed, detailed, or
accessorized by the skilled
F.A.O. staff in America.
In some cases the animals
were costumed; in other
cases they were assembled
in groupings or placed
in little playhouses or
kennels.
F.A.O. Schwarz
celebrated its 150th anniversary with a Steiff
edition that included
a tin drum imprinted
with a special logo.
Above right:
On every visit to the
F.A.O. store on Fifth
Avenue in New York,
visitors were greeted
by employees dressed as
toy soldiers - a longstanding tradition at
the store.
Highlights of Steiff exclusives introduced during this
second time period included families of animals including dogs, cats, and ponies, among others - in
cushioned wicker baskets; a 26 cm Steiff “Original Teddy
Bear” dressed as a Scotsman; several series of dressed
Teddy bear families; and a Jocko chimp dressed as a
football player. But perhaps the best-known and beloved
F.A.O. Schwarz Steiff exclusives from this era are a series
of 8 cm Steiff Pieps mice. These petite treasures were
dressed as a queen, a ballerina, bride, groom, princess,
clown, Hawaiian dancer, Señorita, ball queen, Little Red
Riding Hood, or a Miss America Mouse, among others.
Schwarz employees lovingly made the outfits by hand from
lengths of lace, ribbons, and silky materials. The company
also offered exclusive, fully furnished plywood “city” and
“country” style mouse houses for these dressed Pieps as
well.
Third period, from the late 1980’s through the early 2000’s:
Steiff was not terribly active producing F.A.O. Schwarz
exclusives in the early 1980’s, but things ramped up again
starting in the late 1980’s with the introduction - for the
first time - of numbered, limited edition exclusives for
the company. Until that point, F.A.O. Schwarz Steiff
Right:
Talented F.A.O.
employees would take
Steiff Pieps mice and
dress them in a variety
of fancy costumes.
This F.A.O exclusive
pony from the 1960’s
included an intricately
detailed, handmade
saddle.
exclusives were simply exclusive to the chain, but not
produced in a predetermined quantity with certificates and
paperwork. And the mid-1990’s ushered in yet another
first for the Steiff and F.A.O. Schwarz partnership - in
the form of licensing agreements with popular brands and
characters of the time.
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CO O P E R AT I O N S
The Augustus Bear
of 1997.
From pyjama bags to
this clown hand puppet,
F.A.O. Schwarz
exclusives were often
unusual and
distinctive. The photo
on the left shows two
standing Dally dogs
from the 1950’s.
Highlights of Steiff exclusives from this third period
included a series of very feminine, jeweled-colored,
feather-winged Teddy bears as well as an 18 cm mohair
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer; a 33 cm Curious George;
a 17 cm Olivia the Pig in her red evening gown; and a 12
cm version of Polar the Titanic bear, among others. One
of the most interesting exclusive limited editions from
this era was a collaboration between two long time F.A.O.
Schwarz suppliers - an exclusive 48 cm black mohair King
Kong from Steiff partnered with a delicate Fay Wray doll
by Madame Alexander. This boxed set ran into some
licensing issues so only 200 pieces were eventually made
available for sale.
Fourth Period, mid-2000’s through 2015:
Steiff began its partnership with F.A.O. Schwarz with
traditional style Teddy bears. So it is no surprise that until
most recently, very classic looking bears were the focus of
the F.A.O. Schwarz and Steiff exclusive relationship. Over
the past decade, Steiff created a series of limited edition,
exclusive bears for F.A.O. Schwarz. In addition to their
distinctive good looks, these highly sought after examples
were often holding or wearing a special F.A.O. Schwarz
branded ribbon or accessory to further set them apart from
their standard line brothers.
The best examples of these most recent F.A.O. Schwarz
Steiff exclusive items include the 25 cm mohair Christopher
Teddy holding a felt sailboat from 2010 and the company’s
2012 Anniversary bear. Another F.A.O. Schwarz exclusive,
produced in 31 and 60 cm in honour of the store’s 150th
year in business, is a traditional fully jointed mohair
bear wearing a red ribbon and carrying a toy drum; both
accessories are branded with the F.A.O. Schwarz 150th
anniversary logo.
And although the beloved Fifth Avenue location of F.A.O.
is now history, Toys R Us says the store will be back, but in
a new location. And that is certainly good news for Steiff
collectors everywhere.
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CO N T E S T
Happy birthday to us!
Enter our special photo contest.
This year marks the 135th anniversary of Margarete Steiff
GmbH – and we’re inviting you to celebrate along with
us. Simply take a photo of your favourite Steiff (or group
of Steiffs) all decked out in party attire in a festive setting,
and you could be a winner! The more creative your Steiff
135th birthday party photography looks, the better your
chances of winning. So bake a cake, wear party hats, and
play games. It’s our birthday, but you get the gifts!
1st Prize:
Club edition 2016 “Maple”
2nd Prize:
Loyalty Teddy bear
135 Year Birthday Party Contest
Submit one to three photographs (printed or digital) to
enter.
Photographs must be received by 31st January 2016.
3rd Prize:
Event Teddy Bear 2016 “Mady”
Enter via email at: 135years@steiff.de
Mail your entry to: Steiff Club, Margarete Steiff GmbH,
P.O. Box 1560, 89530 Giengen.
4th to 10th Prizes: One item from the Steiff
product range worth 50,- EUR each
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PA S S I O N S
A special collector, a special find
Patrick Berloth discovers a wonderful and historic treasure in Giengen.
Steiff friends come from near and far, and many meet
for the first time at Steiff‘s Sommer Festival. Please meet
Steiff super-collector Patrick Berloth, who attended 2015’s
annual gathering in Giengen with his family.
Steiff:
Please tell us a little about yourself.
Patrick:
My name is Patrick Berloth. I am 48 years old and live in
The Netherlands. Professionally, I am a mortgage specialist
in the financial world.
Tell us how long you have been collecting Steiff, and what got you
started on collecting.
I have been a collector for 33 years. My parents have always
collected antique bisque dolls, and when I was a boy we
visited toy events and auctions across Europe as a family.
I found my first Steiff in 1982 in Belgium in an antique
store. It was a Raudi dog, and I loved it at first sight! Later
that day, my mother told me she worked in a toy store in
the early 1960’s, before I was born. At the time, she bought
a dozen different Steiff animals, which she still had. She
gave me these animals once we arrived home. This started
my collection and passion for Steiff.
Does anyone else in your immediate or extended family also
collect Steiff?
Yes, my mother still buys Steiff occasionally, and my 10year old daughter Maxine-Valerie is a big Steiff collector
already. Her collection is growing faster than mine!
Tell us about your collection; what do you like to collect the most?
How do you decide whether to purchase an item or not for your
collection?
My collection is like an old Steiff catalogue. You will find
Teddy bears, dolls, monkeys, rabbits, cats, dogs, woolen
miniatures, and many other examples. For the most part,
my collection dates from 1905 through the early 1980’s. I
buy my Steiff based on two principles – “the mind and the
heart.“ First the mind; any potential acquisition must add
something special and new to my collection. I do select on
period, button, tag, material, size, and type of animal. And
secondly the heart; I only buy a Steiff item when it touches
my heart and when it really makes me smile.
What are your top favourite three things in your collection?
Oh, that’s a difficult question because they are all my favourites. Otherwise I would not have added them to my
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PA S S I O N S
Two of Patrick’s
favourite items in
his collection are the
elephant and lion
hanging toys.
collection! But if you force me to choose,
it would be my elephant and lion hanging
toys; my wool plush monkey and Teddy
bear; and my 40 cm white 1906 Teddy bear.
I chose the elephant and the lion because
of their rarity, and the wool plush items
for their unusual material. And the white
40 cm Ted is my favourite because of her
appearance. She really is a character, I call
her “Lucky.“ When you can own such a
Steiff Teddy bear...you are a lucky person.
What is your dream item, the one thing you
would truly love to own for your collection, but
have not found it yet?
That would have to be an old yellow Teddy
Clown with a red ear tag, and of course, in
mint and all original condition, like the one
in the Steiff Museum in Giengen.
Patrick, you found something totally amazing
and unusual in the sales tent at Steiff ‘s 2015
Sommer Festival - an item with a most unusual function and
history. Please tell us about this very special find.
This is a cardboard Steiff box specially made for Steiff
homeworkers. It measures 30 x 44 x 53 cm and is made of
very thick cardboard and fixed with heavy staples. It is decorated with the Steiff bear logo and Steiff written underneath on several sides.
Tell us when and where the box was used, and for what purpose.
The box probably dates from 1950 onwards and was in use
until the early 1970’s. These boxes were used as a way of
transportation between the Steiff factory and the homes of
the homeworkers living in Giengen and the surrounding
villages. They were filled with the necessary materials and
picked up at the Steiff factory by a homeworker to make
the Steiff toys at their homes. And when the homeworkers
were done, they put their production in the box, brought
it back to the Steiff factory, and were paid for their work.
How did you feel when you
purchased this box for your
collection?
I wanted one of these for
years but I could never
find one. And there it was,
of all places, in Giengen. I
was delighted to find this
unique and important piece
of vintage Steiff history in
the town where it was used
for decades. Once I got it
home, I placed it in my living room as a table with
lovely old Steiff animals
displayed on it.
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PA S S I O N S
Tell us about the handwriting on the box: why
it is there, what some of it says, and what it
means.
A 40 cm Steiff Teddy
holds a special place in
Patrick’s heart.
There are some interesting messages on
the box. They are handwritten in crayon
and are only on the cover. It probably was
a company rule to mention the content on
the cover. There are so many numbers and
names on it, but many of them are unreadable. But two things are legible. In big
letters it says “Ballmertshofen”, which is
a small village roughly 10 km north-east
of Giengen. Probably a homeworker lived
in this village and worked for Steiff. The
name of the homeworker stands above the
name of the village but is not fully readable
anymore. And another note on the box also
excites me. It says “Bitte öffnen – Please
open” and is double underlined in orange
crayon. Imagine .... what could have been
so important that you must mention it on
the box? We probably will never know, but
isn’t that more special and dreamy than
knowing?
Why is this special object very important to the history of the
Steiff company?
The special box used
by Steiff homeworkers
was discoverd in the
sales tent during Steiff
Sommer.
It gives us a glance in the Steiff history. We know that a
lot of our beloved Steiff animals were made in the Steiff
factory in Giengen, but it also shows us that many were
(partly) made in Giengen’s homes, and in other little Swabian villages like Ballmertshofen, probably at a kitchen table. And that tells us something about the unique skills of
these homeworkers. I think that this box is an important
item in the creative history of Steiff and deserves a place in
the Steiff Museum.
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Frederic Teddy bear,
Item no. 021275,
Limited Edition of
1,350 pieces.
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CLU B M A I L
Readers’ service
Do you have a question concerning a Steiff item? Find out more here!
Question:
I found this sitting Steiff dog
in a chest in my Grandmother’s attic. Her material
is a little different than other
Steiff items I have seen.
What can you tell me about
her? PF, Basel
Answer:
What you have found
is an early postwar
version of Steiff’s Bazi
Dachshund. She
is
sitting, head jointed, and
made from tan silk plush.
She has light copper airbrushing highlights on her body
and head. She has three black claws on each paw. Her face
is detailed with black and brown pupil eyes and a hand
embroidered nose and mouth. Bazi was produced in this
sitting pattern in 14 and 17 cm from 1948-1949 overall. Her
material, artificial silk plush, was used on several popular
Steiff patterns in the late 1940’s as a substitute material for
mohair plush, which had limited availability in Germany
until the early 1950’s. Bazi was later produced in several
styles in mohair through the mid-1970’s.
Question:
I thought Steiff’s 1950’s era poodles were named Snobby, but I
found this one in an antique store and her name tag identifies her
as Tosi. Can you tell me more about her? MK, Bonn
Answer:
This black beauty is indeed Steiff’s Tosi. She is standing,
unjointed, and made from wool plush. She came in black
or white; this example is black. Her face is detailed with
a black glass button nose and soulful, almond shaped
white, brown, and black
eyes. She wears a red
leather collar. Her coat
is in what is referred
to as a “Karakul” trim,
meaning that it is fluffy
but uniformly the same
length all over her body. Tosi was produced in 4, 17, 22, and 28 cm from 1950 through
1953. Because of the timeframe in which she was made, this
pattern left the factory with a red-imprinted chest tag and
a US Zone tag in her leg seam.
Question:
As we were helping my inlaws clean out their storage
unit, I came across this odd
shaped Steiff dog which plays
music when you squeeze her
body. Her ear tag number is
9325. No one in the family
recalls anything about it.
Can you help? EO, Chicago
Answer:
This dog is known as
Musik-Bazi or Music
Bazi. Bazi is 25 cm tall, unjointed, and standing. Her body
is a simple cylinder and her arms are floppy. Her head is
based on the Bazi dachshund design, introduced in 1950.
Bazi wears a blue cotton blouse, red cotton skirt, and had
a sweet floral corsage when she left the factory in Giengen
more than 60 years ago. She has an internal Swiss music
box which plays when her torso is pressed and released. Bazi was made in 1950 and 1951 only. It is interesting to
note that her ID number translates to... 9=mechanical,
3=mohair, 25=25 cm. Steiff also made versions of this
dressed music box product based on their popular Teddy
Baby and Kitty cat designs of the period.
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PA S S I O N S
Back to his roots after an eventful life
Club member Lizzi Weimert tells us how she gave “Bärli Sebastian” a new home.
More than 80 years ago, a little Teddy bear from Giengen
was looking forward to his future with hope and
expectation. Sitting in a toyshop in Leipzig, he waited to
be taken to a loving home, because the best thing that can
happen to a Teddy bear is to love and be loved in return.
His patience was rewarded when he was taken home by a
Bärli before his pharmacist and his wife, who were eagerly awaiting the
restoration... birth of their first child. When their daughter Christiane
was born on 27 February 1930 at Inselstrasse 2 in the city,
they placed the Teddy bear beside her to accompany her
on her journey through life. And the little bear, now called
“Bärli”, performed his duties happily and conscientiously
– and he too was not disappointed.
Bärli became his human child’s constant companion,
and the two were inseparable from the outset. They had
all their meals together, and his little snout soon started
to show the evidence of the tremendous amount of love
he received. The Teddy bear was part of happy family
gatherings and other celebrations; he provided comfort
when it was needed, and in the evenings his place was in
...and after. Christiane’s bed.
But these happy days were
soon to be overshadowed
by fear and horrors of
WWII. Every time a warning
sounded, the little girl tucked
the bear inside her jacket and
rushed with the others to the
shelter. During an air attack
in December 1943, incendiary
bombs destroyed all the
family’s possessions, and the
family were trapped in the
cellar of what had once been
their loving home. In a sheer
stroke of fortune, Christiane’s
father happened to be
somewhere else in the city at
the time, so he was able to
rescue all the residents from
the rubble and they escaped
from the blaze. Fearing that
further bomb attacks were to
follow, the family quickly moved to Klosterlausnitz. Bärli
went too, of course.
Because of the lack of food, goods were exchanged with
local farmers, and the family gave away their remaining
jewellery in return for potatoes and bread. Shortly before
Christmas Eve 1943, the farmers even wanted to barter the
little Teddy bear as a Christmas present for their children.
But nothing in the
world would allow this
to happen; Christiane
would rather have
starved to death. And
Bärli stayed with her for
the rest of her life.
When Christiane died at
the age of 83, she could
not and would not take
her beloved Teddy bear
with her. Bärli should
live on. So the family
council decided that
the little orphaned
creature should find a new home through the auctioneers
TeddyDorado GmbH. Bärli appeared in the catalogue for
a Steiff auction in Bonn-Bad Godesberg in October 2013.
Teddy bears are the love of my life, which is why I sent for
this catalogue. I saw him in there, and he really touched
my heart. He obviously had urgent need of an experienced
Teddy bear doctor, as he required a certain amount of
treatment, and I was able to help him. I sent in a written
bid, and was fortunate enough to acquire the little chap.
Once I had received the Teddy bear, I contacted the seller,
and Christiane’s friendly daughter told me his moving
history.
After the successful surgery and plenty of care Bärli, who
is now called Bärli Sebastian, has joined my large Teddy
bear family. He strikes me as being very happy with his
bear life, because the best thing that can happen to a Teddy
bear is to love and be loved in return. And of course, I have
already visited the Inselstrasse in Leipzig with him – his
first home.
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VENUES
Galeria Kaufhof in Stuttgart
Lots of Club activities and an active Club community.
The Steiff Club is perfectly at home in the Galeria Kaufhof
on the Königstrasse in Stuttgart.
Royal event 2012.
In line with Margarete Steiff‘s motto of: “For children,
only the best is good enough”, the world of stuffed animals, baby items and Teddy bears has been presented on
a large display area here since 2010. A large selection of
limited editions is always available for collectors. The
highly-trained team in the toy department makes sure that
no wish is left unfulfilled.
Club consultant Petra May and her colleague Sabine Schötz
have been providing Steiff Club members with support
and advice for many years.
“We are a very active, sociable Club with a current membership of 120 and constantly growing, as well as lots of
Steiff friends, and everyone is welcome,” says Petra May.
“Over the many years and at the wonderful events, we have
grown into a large family, and it is always such a pleasure
to see everyone again.”
Here is a small selection of the Steiff Club activities:
Team “Schloss”
2012 anniversary.
2012 was the year of our big anniversary “20 years of Steiff
Club”. Naturally, this was a royal Club event.
2013 The Tarzan twins were our guests on our jungle safari.
2014 saw the first Steiff Oktoberfest with a presentation
of new items.
Oktoberfest 2014.
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VENUES
2014 - and St. Nicholas
was there too.
2015 Novelties
event in February.
“Casino Royal” with
James Bond, and
gambling until the end.
James Bond / Sascha.
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VENUES
Dates
Thursday, 12 November 2015
Club event Kaufhof Mönchengladbach
Tel. +49 (0)2161 2780
Friday, 13 November 2015
Club event Karstadt, Saarbrücken
Tel. +49 (0)681 301 7552
We travelled to the Steiff Sommer 2015 on the vintage bus that was used in the film
“Täterätää! Die Kirche bleibt im Dorf” …but the Steiff Club went to Giengen.
What fun we had...
July 2015: 2nd Appraisal Day with Herr Esser of Teddy Dorado and the SWR (Southwest
Broadcasting). And the Autumn/Winter 2015 presentation of new items.
Friday, 20 November 2015
15.00 - 17.00 hrs.
Free datings and appraisals
Kaufhof Mannheim, Paradeplatz
TeddyDorado GmbH
Marienstraße 2, 53342 Wachtberg
Tel. +49 (0)228 20 76 758
Fax +49 (0)228 20 76 759
www.teddydorado.de
afterwards Club event
Tel. +49 (0)621 38 04 50
Friday, 20 November 2015
Club event L’Ours du Marais, Paris
Tel. +33 (0) 1.42776043
Friday, 27 November 2015
Club event Karstadt Bielefeld
Tel. +49 (0)521 52880
Everyone is invited to our St. Nicholas
gathering on 5 December from 1 p.m., when
we will end the Club year 2015 over a glass of
sparkling wine. And shortly afterwards, on
23 January 2016, the new Club year will start
with our big Steiff Club Event and the presentation of the spring novelties for 2016.
Looking forward to hearing from you:
Petra May and the whole team
Contact:
Galeria Kaufhof Stuttgart
Königstrasse 6, D-70173 Stuttgart
Spielwarenabteilung / Toy Department
Frau Benzner/ Frau May
Tel. +49 (0) 711 20136-0
Thursday, 3 - Sunday, 6.12.2015
Giengen Steiff Advent Market
outside the Steiff museum
Opening times:
Thursday: 15.00 - 20.00 hrs.
Friday & Saturday : 11.00 - 20.00 hrs.
Sunday: 11.00 - 18.00 hrs.
Subject to change.
Please contact the Club stores for further
information. You will find further dates and
addresses of Club stores at www.steiff.com
(Club/Club events).
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FAV O U R I T E
The Steiff special edition Otto bear
Your own personal Otto for your home.
Who came first – Otto Waalkes or Steiff’s Otto bear? The
two look so alike that it is almost impossible to detect with
the naked eye who is the original and who is the copy. Both
are short and blond, wear a wing cap and baggy trousers,
and always have an Ottifant with them. Otto Waalkes has allowed himself to be transformed into
a unique Teddy bear for Steiff. Naturally, Steiff’s new
special edition bear is hand-made – and strictly limited to
a quantity of 1,500 pieces. This makes him something very
special indeed, both for Otto fans and friends of Steiff.
Wearing a polo shirt, braces and a cap and with the same
blue eyes, Otto Waalkes has had his bear version made in
his own image – and was also involved in the development
with his own sketches and ideas. And he is delighted with
the results: “Fabulous – a genuine Steiff Otto! I never
dreamt I would see myself with so much hair ever again!” Steiff’s Otto is almost as much of a celebrity as his human
original, and has already been seen in the cinema: he was
an extra in the film “Kartoffelsalat”, and will even be on
stage for Otto’s big tribute show on the ZDF at 20:15 on
14 November. The Otto bear stands 40 cm tall, and is made of exclusive
mohair. And he also has a popular companion that was also
the result of the collaboration between Otto and Steiff: the
cute tiny version of Ottifant – of course also with a button
in his ear. He already won over the fans last year, when he
first became available as a Steiff product. The first issue of
the special edition of Steiff’s Ottifant sold out incredibly
quickly, in the light of which the decision was made to
run another issue. Even then, Otto loved the button in his
Ottifant’s ear – and this year his bear self is wearing his
own Steiff button. The Otto bear is available now in a collector’s box with
an original certificate for € 449 (plus national and
international shipping costs). He can be ordered online
through www.ottifantenwelt.de or from Otto’s Fanshop
www.ottifant.de.
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914966
www.steiff.com
Margarete Steiff GmbH, Richard-Steiff-Straße 4, 89537 Giengen an der Brenz
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