Steiff
146+ years and still operating (founded 1880)
About Steiff
Margarete Steiff founded her company making stuffed felt elephants before her nephew Richard Steiff designed the first jointed stuffed bear in 1902 — displayed at the 1903 Leipzig Toy Fair, it was seen by a Borgfeldt buyer who ordered 3,000. That bear is one of the two origin claims for the Teddy Bear, the other belonging to Morris Michtom of Ideal in New York. Steiff's trademark 'Button in Ear' has guaranteed authenticity since 1904. Steiff toys are among the most collectible stuffed animals in the world.
Founding
Margarete Steiff, a seamstress disabled by childhood polio, who made a felt elephant pincushion in 1880 that children took as a toy; her nephew Richard Steiff designed the jointed bear.
History of Steiff
Steiff is the most important name in soft toys and holds the stronger of the two claims to the teddy bear. Margarete Steiff built a business on felt animals from her Giengen sewing workshop, working from a wheelchair, and established the principle the company still states: "only the best is good enough for children."
Richard Steiff, an art student who sketched bears at Stuttgart zoo, designed a jointed mohair bear with movable arms and legs — Bär 55PB — and showed it at the 1903 Leipzig fair, where an American buyer ordered three thousand. That order, arriving at the same moment as the Roosevelt cartoon that gave Ideal its bear in New York, created the teddy bear craze on both sides of the Atlantic.
The "Button in Ear" trademark, introduced in 1904, is the most useful identification system in soft-toy collecting, and its successive forms date a Steiff piece to a narrow window. The company remains family-connected, still works in mohair, and its early bears are among the most valuable toys in existence — a 1904-era bear in good condition is a five- or six-figure object.
Timeline
- 1880Margarete Steiff makes a felt elephant pincushion that children adopt as a toy
- 1897The business is producing a range of felt animals in Giengen
- 1902Richard Steiff designs the jointed mohair bear
- 1903An American order for three thousand bears at the Leipzig fair starts the teddy craze
- 1904The Button in Ear trademark is introduced
- 1950Postwar mohair animals including Zotty and Floppy establish the modern range
Notable & Best-Selling Toys
- Original Steiff jointed Teddy Bear (1902)
- Steiff Mohair bears
- Steiff 'Zotty' bear
- Steiff Manschili monkey
- Steiff Floppy Cat
- Steiff Lulac rabbit
- Steiff 'Button in Ear' series
Identifying & Dating Steiff Toys
- The ear button is the primary identification: blank or elephant-marked buttons are earliest, then printed "STEIFF" with underscored F in several successive forms, then the modern versions — each style brackets production tightly.
- Chest tags and stock tags carry the animal's name and article number and add materially to value when present.
- The article number encodes size and features and is documented, so a surviving tag identifies a piece precisely.
Collector's Notes
- Buttons and tags are so valuable that they are faked and transplanted. A period button on a later bear is a known deception; examine the ear fabric around the button for disturbance.
- Mohair condition, joint tightness, original pads and original eyes decide value. Replaced pads and eyes are common and legitimate as restoration but must be disclosed.
- Steiff has produced a great many modern limited editions and replicas of famous early bears. These are attractive and clearly marked, but they are not antiques and should never be priced as such.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Steiff founded?
Steiff was founded in 1880, based in Giengen, Germany.
Is Steiff still in business?
Yes. Steiff is still operating today, 146+ years after it was founded.
What is Steiff best known for?
Steiff is best known for Original Steiff jointed Teddy Bear (1902), Steiff Mohair bears, Steiff 'Zotty' bear, among other toys.
Where was Steiff located?
Steiff was based in Giengen, Germany.
What kinds of toys did Steiff make?
Steiff is categorized under plush toys, dolls, stuffed animals.
Who founded Steiff?
Margarete Steiff, a seamstress disabled by childhood polio, who made a felt elephant pincushion in 1880 that children took as a toy; her nephew Richard Steiff designed the jointed bear.
How can you identify genuine Steiff toys?
The ear button is the primary identification: blank or elephant-marked buttons are earliest, then printed "STEIFF" with underscored F in several successive forms, then the modern versions — each style brackets production tightly. Chest tags and stock tags carry the animal's name and article number and add materially to value when present. The article number encodes size and features and is documented, so a surviving tag identifies a piece precisely.
Are Steiff toys valuable?
Buttons and tags are so valuable that they are faked and transplanted. A period button on a later bear is a known deception; examine the ear fabric around the button for disturbance. Mohair condition, joint tightness, original pads and original eyes decide value. Replaced pads and eyes are common and legitimate as restoration but must be disclosed. Steiff has produced a great many modern limited editions and replicas of famous early bears. These are attractive and clearly marked, but they are not antiques and should never be priced as such.