Steiff Bear, quality collectibles
There are some gifts that are cherished and treasured by people of all ages. These are the types of personalised gifts that will thrill both the giver and the receiver. One such gift is the legendary Steiff Bear, one of the most sought after and coveted teddy bears in the world.
The first Steiff Bear was lovingly created by Margarete Steiff in 1880 in Germany. She had a vision and mission that children deserved the best quality and the best materials. For over a hundred years Steiff Bears have been known for being the finest in the world and this explains why they are some of the most wished for personalised gifts. They are especially committed to details that keep the product safe for children, with features such as being very flame resistant and using safe materials including alpaca, mohair, felt and woven plush. They also strive to make sure that smaller piece, such as eyes, are firmly attached and are able to withstand a lot of wear and tear and not come off. Each Steiff Bear is subjected to intense inspection and testing before being approved for sale.
Although the Steiff Bears were originally designed for children, they quickly became personalised gifts many adults wanted to receive and give. Besides the high quality of material, these are finely crafted bears. Many of the details are done by hand including airbrush painting and embroidery. Because the Steiff Bear created such a demand, the company long ago put a special marker to prevent counterfeit bears. This is the famous “Button in the Ear”, which was originally an elephant, but now is more often a button with the company name Steiff.
As well as being highly desired personalised gifts, Steiff Bears are also collectors’ items. Through the decades they have come out with new designs every year and soon were in high demand. Some of the older bears command very high resale prices. One of the most cherished designs is the 1920s, and the company currently makes replicas of the this Steiff Bear with all the original features including shaggy light blond plush, black hand-embroidered mouth and nose, felt paws, and movable joints so he can be posed. While this bear is also machine washable, it is probably safe to say many will be kept in pristine condition and not require washing.
When first created, Steiff Bears were intended to be given to children. They were designed and made so that children could play with them safely. The giver was most likely someone close, such as a parent or grandparent. And maybe in difficult times, they were given by someone else, who wanted the child to have the special teddy. As with any personalised gifts, the value is not just the item but the relationship between the giver and receiver. Although started perhaps under different intentions, the Steiff Bear and its many designs has grown to be a cherished and much loved gift for people of all ages around the world.
