Steiff Bears: Austrian-Made Or Not?

Steiff is a German-based plush toy company founded in 1880 by Margarete Steiff, a seamstress who contracted polio at 18 months old. The company claims to have made the world's first factory-made teddy bear, known as Bear 55 PB or 55 PB, in 1902. Designed by Margarete's nephew, Richard Steiff, the 55-centimetre-tall bear was an instant success in the United States. While Steiff has made limited editions for Austria, it is not clear if the company manufactures bears in the country.

Steiff Austrian Bears are limited editions made exclusively for Austria

In 1897, Margarete's nephew Richard Steiff joined the company and created the world's first plush bear with movable arms and legs, known as "55 PB". Richard's original sketches for the bear date back to 1894, and the bear was an instant success in the United States. In 1903, a buyer in America placed an order for 3,000 pieces after the "teddy bear" craze began due to a popular cartoon of President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt and a young cub. By 1907, Steiff had manufactured 974,000 bears, and the company has only grown since.

Steiff bears are meticulously crafted, with each bear a unique specimen. The company uses only the highest-quality materials, from the sewing thread to the filling material, buttons, eyes, and accessories. Each bear is lovingly crafted by hand, with a large amount of the work done by seamstresses who undergo eight to 12 months of training to develop the skills to make Steiff bears that meet the company's strict quality standards.

The iconic "button in ear" tag was devised in 1904 by Margarete's nephew Franz to distinguish authentic Steiff toys from counterfeits. The tag originally featured the symbol of an elephant, which was later replaced by the name "Steiff". Today, Steiff bears are prized by collectors, with vintage bears selling for significant sums at auction.

The company was founded in 1880 by Margarete Steiff, a seamstress

The Steiff company, a German-based plush toy company, was founded in 1880 by Margarete Steiff, a seamstress. Despite contracting polio at 18 months old, which left her with paralysis in her legs and limited use of her right arm, Steiff became a master seamstress and ran a felt clothing business. She began making small felt elephants intended to be pincushions, but children began playing with them, and she soon expanded her catalogue to include other animals such as monkeys, giraffes, and rabbits.

In 1893, Margarete Steiff founded a felt fabric factory in Giengen, Germany, and in 1895, her products were sold outside of Germany for the first time at Harrods in London, England. In 1897, Margarete's nephew, Richard Steiff, joined the company and made a significant contribution by creating stuffed animals based on drawings he made at the zoo. Richard had attended the School of Applied Arts in Stuttgart and had also studied in England. He designed the world's first plush bear with movable arms and legs, which was 55 centimetres tall and known as "55 PB".

In 1902, the teddy bear was named for President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt due to a popular cartoon depicting Roosevelt refusing to shoot a bear. The same year, a buyer in America placed an order for 3,000 pieces, kicking off the "teddy bear" craze. By 1907, the company was manufacturing 974,000 bears, and the numbers only continued to grow. In 1909, when Margarete died of pneumonia, Richard continued his aunt's legacy, further expanding the toy and plush line and becoming the largest stockholder of the company.

The first Steiff toys were fabric elephants sold as pincushions

The Steiff company, a German-based plush toy company, was founded in 1880 by Margarete Steiff, a seamstress. The first toys that Margarete Steiff made were fabric elephants sold as pincushions in her shop. However, children began to play with them, and she soon began designing other animal-themed toys for children, including monkeys, donkeys, horses, camels, pigs, mice, dogs, cats, rabbits, and giraffes.

Margarete Steiff was born in 1847 and suffered from polio at 18 months old. Despite her severe limitations, she fought for her place in life and became an independent entrepreneur. She founded a felt clothing shop and began to sell self-made garments and household articles, soon employing several seamstresses. She saw the pattern for a small fabric elephant in a fashion journal and sewed it herself, intending to use it as a pincushion. However, it quickly became a popular children's toy, and the first Steiff catalogue featured not only elephants but also many other animal toys.

The official founding date of the Steiff manufactory is 3 March 1893, when the Margarete Steiff felt goods factory was registered in the commercial register as "Margarete Steiff, Filzspielwarenfabrik Giengen/Brenz". The company presented its toys for the first time at the Leipzig Toy Fair, with Margarete employing four sewers and ten home workers. In 1895, the first Steiff products were sold outside Germany at Harrods in London, England.

In 1897, Margarete's nephew Richard Steiff joined the company and gave it a significant boost by creating stuffed animals from drawings he made at the zoo. Richard had attended the School of Applied Arts in Stuttgart and studied in England. He designed the world's first plush bear with movable arms and legs, known as "55 PB". Richard presented the bear at the Leipzig Toy Fair, and it immediately became a worldwide success. An American dealer discovered the bear and placed a 3,000-piece order, making the bear a sales success in the US.

The Steiff company has continued to grow and expand its product line, becoming the largest stuffed toy maker in the world by the 1960s. The company has partnered with various brands, including Disney and Tiffany & Co., and its vintage teddy bears are prized by collectors, often bringing significant sums at auctions. The company motto, as styled by Margarete Steiff, is "Only the best is good enough for children", and its products are known for their meticulous testing, inspection, and high-quality standards.

In 1902, Margarete's nephew, Richard Steiff, designed the world's first plush bear with movable arms and legs

Steiff is a German-based plush toy company, founded in 1880 by Margarete Steiff, a seamstress. In 1897, Margarete's nephew, Richard Steiff, joined the company and revolutionised the world of plush toys with his innovative designs. Richard's artistic prowess was honed at the School of Applied Arts in Stuttgart, and his subsequent studies in England further enriched his creativity.

In 1902, Richard Steiff, Margarete's nephew, designed the "Bear 55 PB", the world's first plush bear with movable arms and legs. This creation marked a pivotal moment in the history of Steiff and the evolution of plush toys. The "Bear 55 PB" was an innovative design that captivated the world. Richard's talent for sketching animals, honed during his time at the zoo, played a significant role in the creation of this iconic toy. The design of the bear was based on drawings he had made of animals in their natural habitat.

The "Bear 55 PB" was more than just a toy—it was a breakthrough in creativity and craftsmanship. Richard's attention to detail and his eye for capturing the essence of the bear in a plush form were remarkable. The use of cuddly mohair plush fabric, produced by the Schulte pile weaving mill in Duisburg, added to the overall appeal of the toy, making it irresistibly huggable. The success of the "Bear 55 PB" was immediate and far-reaching.

The debut of the "Bear 55 PB" at the Leipzig Toy Fair marked a significant turning point for the Steiff company. The toy bear with movable joints captured the imagination of children and adults alike. Its success was not limited to Germany, as its fame spread across the Atlantic to the United States. In 1903, an American buyer placed a substantial order for 3,000 of these bears, catapulting the "Bear 55 PB" into international acclaim. This order was a direct result of the "teddy bear" craze that had swept America following a popular cartoon featuring President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt and a young cub in The Washington Post in 1902.

The impact of Richard Steiff's design extended beyond the realm of toys. The "Bear 55 PB" not only brought joy to children but also played a comforting role during challenging times. In 1912, a British toy retailer ordered black Steiff teddy bears to offer solace to a nation grieving in the aftermath of the Titanic disaster. Although these bears did not sell well, their intent reflected the therapeutic role that Steiff bears had begun to play in people's lives.

Steiff has a meticulous manufacturing process, with each bear crafted in many small steps

Steiff is a German company founded in 1880 by Margarete Steiff, a seamstress who suffered from polio and was paralysed from the waist down with limited use of her right arm. Despite this, she became a master seamstress and began making fabric elephants sold as pincushions in her shop. However, Steiff is most famous for making the world's first factory-made teddy bear.

The company has a meticulous manufacturing process, with each bear crafted in many small steps. The first step is the idea, where designers create a sketch and consider the size and shape of the bear. Based on this sketch, individual cutting patterns are created for the body shape, with detailed information noted on the pattern that will guide the sewing process. The next step is selecting the fabric, where the character of the bear is considered, along with whether it will be a cuddly toy or a collector's item. Cardboard templates are placed on the fabric, and the outer contour is transferred to the textile. Extreme caution is required at this stage, as each cut piece must be aligned according to the warp, weft, and/or pile direction, and the fabric must be used economically.

The next few steps involve sewing the pattern pieces together inside out, turning the assembled parts right side out, and filling the bear with the precise amount and position of filling material to achieve the desired shape. Then, the joints are assembled with cardboard discs to create mobility, and the body is filled. The seamstress then embroiders the nose by hand, determining the size by the number of stitches and using thick or thin thread depending on the desired character. The length of the nose bridge and the curve of the mouth stitch determine the smile of the bear.

The eyes are then sewn into the head and fixed at the back with several knots. The size and position of the eyes influence the expression of the face, with larger eyes giving the bear a more childlike appearance. The hair is then cut and combed into the desired style. Finally, after an intensive quality control inspection, the trademark "Button in Ear" tag is added by hand, along with the ear tag and chest tag, to authenticate the bear as a genuine Steiff product.

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