A Short History Of The Teddy Bear
Everyone had a favorite stuffed toy as a child and fond nostalgia makes some adults become collectors, especially in the case of Steiff stuffed animals.
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.
Margarete Steiff made toy animals from her own designs as a hobby, she was wheelchair bound at the time.
She designed and created cute animals, such as cats, dogs, 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.
This bear rapidly became popular in the US and around the world, as it won first place at the World Exhibition in St. Louis in 1904.
It later became known as the teddy bear, named after President Teddy Roosevelt.
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 Adventure museum details the history of Steiff products, and has a gift shop that sells bears, replica bears, historic catalogues and porcelain creations.
The Classic range by Steiff is considered the top of the line, featuring Steiff stuffed animals that are hand made.
Some designs date back to teddy bears from 1906, 1909 and 1920.
There is also a special creation that features a Valentine Heart, making it a very romantic present for a loved one.
The range also includes characters from the Beatrix Potter stories, including Peter Rabbit and the Mrs. Tiggy Winkle hedgehog.
One of my favorites is the Paddington Bear design, that is all dressed up in his traditional 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 line has machine washable animals and there are also children's clothes, keyrings, bags and gift sets.
Another collection worth noting is the Limited edition Steiff selections that feature pink and grey replicas of the famous 1908 teddy bear.
This selection also includes a Pierrot Bear, a Moon Bear and a fantastic Grizzly Bear.
This collection also includes the Rupert Bear, which is another one of my personal favorites.
Although there is a wide variety of animals available, the Steiff company will be forever remembered for the teddy bear.
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