The magazine for Steiff Club members – August 2017

CLUB MAGAZINE

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E D I T O R I A L

It's 1 July, and despite the inconsistencies of the weather, the Steiff Sommer is again attracting lots of visitors from near and far. The magazine is about to go to press, and it's high time I get on with the editorial. I'm not finding it so easy at the moment, though, because my thoughts are revolving entirely around yesterday. To me personally, the days in the run-up to 30 June were very special, and the preparations for the journey through “25 Years of the Steiff Club” awoke so many memories. Our efforts were rewarded when we were able to welcome over 600 Club members to the Giengen Schranne! I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all again for coming. I hope you all enjoyed looking back at 25 years of the Club’s history. To find out the names of the 10 Club members who were smiled on by Lady Luck in our Journey Through Time competition, please go to page 19.

Best wishes,

INGE ZINNECKERSteiff Club Manager

Dear Steiff friends,

As already mentioned earlier, we are also presenting the Margarete Steiff Edition 2017 to you in this issue. This homage to Richard Steiff concludes the exclusive series that is dedicated to Margarete Steiff 's nephews. Please refer to pages 14 to 17. Our portraits of Margarete's nephews also come to a close in this issue.

Apart from that, the magazine contains both historical and contemporary topics of interest for you, which I hope you will enjoy reading. Incidentally, the next issue will also honour the designers amongst you who took part in the competition in the February issue. You can start looking forward to it now!

Our Stella Teddy bear is a celebration in silver.

Her paw pads sparkle with silver sequins and a glittering

star pendant adds sparkle around her neck. A wonderful bear

for the holidays and beyond.

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NEWSIMPRINT COMMUNITY STANDARDSTOPICSTOPICS

PUBLISHER: Margarete Steiff GmbH, Richard-Steiff-Str. 4, 89537 Giengen an der Brenz, Germany tel.: + 49 (0) 7322 131555, e-mail: info@steiff-club.de

EDITORS: Inge Zinnecker, Rick Emerson

CONTRIBUTORS: Rebekah Kaufman, Daniel Hentschel

PHOTOS: Margarete Steiff GmbH

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION: Nadine Reinhardt / Hess GmbH – Medien, www.hess-medien.de

PRINT: DFM-GMBH / BLUEPRINT, München

FREQUENCY OF PUBLICATION: twice 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 07/2017 e – item no. 916106

CONTENTS 6 Shopping

season ahead New Classic items for autumn

9 Special items Customer and country exclusives

14 Homage to Richard Steiff The Margarete Steiff Edition 2017

18 Friendship and fun The 2017 Steiff Sommer

40 Venues Fairs, Steiff shops and more

48 Mail box Readers' letters

24 A lofty achievement The Roloplan kite

34 Secrets from the archives (4) A look at never before seen treasures

30 Service Questions and answers

46 The Club page

Rewards for recruiting new members, application form

49 Calendar Club events

50 Favourite A little inspiration

22 Steiff inside An interview with Sunnhild Walzer

32 Portrait Franz and Ernst Steiff

36 Passions Marvels in miniature

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34Secrets from the archives:

Discovered for you!

Friendship and funThe 2017 Steiff Sommer

14Commemorating Richard Steiff's vision:The Margarete Steiff Edition 2017

Special characters made of mohair and soft plush

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A lofty achievement:

The Roloplan kite

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Shopping Season...

Although it may be hot outside today, there’s only a few “tomorrows” until the chilly holiday gift-giving season arrives. This is the only Club magazine you’ll receive before then, so why not start your shopping now and avoid the holiday rush? We present a collection of items that make the perfect gifts for anyone on your list.

Do you have a special grandmother, aunt, or other beloved relative who is like a guardian angel to you? If so, show her how much you care with this beautiful pendant Raphael Teddy bear this holiday season. He is 11 cm tall, jointed at the arms and head, and made from pale ice-blue mohair. As a finishing touch, Raphael Teddy bear wears a pair of distinctive, white angel wings. An elegant and meaningful gift certain to make anyone smile!

Your best friend deserves a special holiday gift. Show her how much her friendship means to you with this irresistible Teddy bear and Christmas tree pair. Nic Teddy is 11 cm tall, five way jointed, and made from the finest cinnamon coloured mohair. He wears a charming red hat and carries a felt embroidered Christmas tree. She will love this holiday treasure all year long!

If you need a gift for a cat lover in your life, look no further than Steiff’s brand new Mitzi kitten. This pretty kitty is 11 cm in size, head jointed, and made from soft brown plush. She comes to life with brown body stripes, green

and black slit pupil eyes, and a pink

nose and mouth. It’s impossible to resist her adorable expression and lifelike pose.

Your sister has always loved dogs, even as a child. So she would be certain to truly love Steiff’s new Waldo dachshund as a meaningful Christmas gift this year! Waldo is standing on all fours, unjointed, and made from soft tan and brown plush. And who can resist his pert tail, black button eyes, and endearing smile? And at only 13 cm in size, he’d be a perfect stocking stuffer, too!

Your niece keeps asking for a pet dog. Help make her dreams come true this holiday season with this absolutely precious and very lifelike Chilly Chihuahua! Chilly is 16 cm tall, standing, unjointed, and made from soft tan and white plush. Her pink ribbon is a perfect complement to her oversized brown and black pupil eyes and puppy-like appearance. A charming gift certain to raise your status to “most favourite” aunt or uncle.

N E W S N E W S

Chilly Chihuahua,

16 cm, item no. 045028.

Waldo dachshund, 13 cm, item no. 036057.

Nic Teddy bear with Christmas tree, 11 cm,

item no. 026782.

Pendant Raphael Teddy bear, 11 cm,

item no. 039553.

Mitzi cat, 11 cm, item no. 031809.

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N E W S

Your brother was always there for you. Now let him know how much you appreciate his friendship and loyalty over all these years with this handsome mohair Teddy bear in a fine red Christmas stocking. The red-brown bear is 15 cm tall, fully jointed, and sits within a festive red stocking highlighted with white trim and embroidered stars. He is a lovely gift certain to bring joy for many holiday seasons to come.

So how do you say “happy holidays” to your favourite colleague at work? These miniature Teddy bears in holiday socks would be a perfect way to spread Christmas cheer! The bears are made from either white or red-brown mohair, are fully jointed, and stand 8 cm tall. They call a green, white, and red knit Christmas sock their home. A small treat sure to make a mighty big impression!

Mini Teddy bear in sock, 8 cm,

item no. 026768 (white bear),

item no. 026775 (red-brown bear).

Teddy bear with Christmas stocking, 15 cm, item no. 026751.

...ahead

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OBELIX,item no. 674457, 46 cm, limited edition of 750 pieces, RRP € 399.

EUROPEOBELIX

Determined to make Asterix an anti-hero flying in the face of the established order of the world of comic books, René Goscinny certainly did not want to give his main character a sidekick who would play the classic role of stooge. But Albert Uderzo, somewhat frustrated at not having made Asterix a beefy Gaul like he dreamed, could not resist placing at his side a big strong warrior, more akin to the impressive muscle-bound characters he already excelled at drawing.

Although he had only a minor role in the first adventure, Obelix quickly became an essential character that his authors developed as they went along. He is actually the readers’ favourite hero: all opinion polls place Obelix at the top of the list of favourite village characters.

In the adventures penned by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, we find him by turns easily offended, sensitive, and definitely a glutton. An overgrown child who grew up too quickly and who is not yet aware of his own strength. In his defence, it must be said that not everyone falls in a cauldron of magic potion when he’s a little boy!

Following Dogmatix (2015) and Asterix (2016), and at almost the same time as the new Asterix volume no. 37, autumn 2017 sees the arrival of Obelix in a strictly limited collectors' version of only 750 items. He is made of high-quality mohair, has a turning head, and completes the trio of the best-known figures from the globally successful comic series. Despite his impressive height of 46 cm – which makes him the perfect companion for Asterix – and weighing more than 1½ kg, he is extremely nimble and always ready to go hunting wild boar with his friends. As an exclusive European limited edition, Obelix is available to order exclusively through retailers in Europe (with the exception of Germany, the UK and Ireland).

Asterix® Obelix® / ©2017 Les Editions Albert René / Goscinny - Uderzo

Special items

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N E W S

Billy goat Hennes VIII,

item no. 674372, 100 cm,

limited edition of 248 pieces.

Order through the Fanshop of the 1. FC Köln at www.fc-fanshop.de

GERMANYBILLY GOAT HENNES VIII.

Proudly loyal to Cologne’s “FC Kölle” football club – the life-sized billy goat “Hennes VIII” by Steiff.

Margarete Steiff GmbH and the Bundesliga club 1. FC Köln present a 100 cm tall plush version of the Bundesliga's best-known mascot. The current “Hennes” is the eighth generation to support the FC Köln everywhere – at championships, cup wins, relegations and promotions. “Hennes VIII” is limited to just 248 items, and now for the first time FC fans can welcome their own life-sized version of the mascot to their home. Like all Steiff products, every single one has been made by hand with the greatest possible care from more than 30 separate pattern pieces.

Airbrush details give Hennes his very special look. After quality checks, the white ear tag with the continuous limited edition number and the gold “Button in Ear” are attached, both of which confirm the quality and exclusivity of the Steiff animal.

“Hennes VIII” is available for purchase exclusively through the 1. FC Köln. There is a historical background for the price of this high-quality item: The recommended retail price for Hennes VIII is 1,948 euros – in memory of the year the club was founded. The limited edition of 248 items is a reference to 24 August 1950, the first day Hennes was “on duty”, and also to February 1948, the year and month the 1. FC Köln was founded.

Steiff 's Sales Director Stephan Dörfler on this co-operation: “The idea of developing Hennes, Germany's most famous team mascot, in a life-sized version of a Steiff animal was first considered at the end of 2014. Bringing together a traditional

club and a traditional company is really something special. The result is a fabulous product that will undoubtedly be welcomed in lots of homes, companies and clubs.”

Billy goat “Hennes VIII” by Steiff was first presented on 4 February 2017 at the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Köln and VFL Wolfsburg at the Rheinenergie Stadium.

Snoopy, 10 cm, item no. 658150, limited edition of 750 pieces,

RRP € 89.90.

Snoopy with Woodstock, 29 cm, item no. 658204, RRP € 74.90.

GERMANYSNOOPY AND SNOOPY WITH WOODSTOCK

Something for Snoopy fans to look forward to: Steiff has created two very special versions in co-operation with the Wehrheim Sammlerkontor that will be available from late summer and autumn. The 10 cm miniature Snoopy is made of the finest Trevira velvet, and will be available in a limited edition of only 750 pieces worldwide. These items will be delivered in a decorative box with a certificate.

Snoopy with Woodstock is made from soft-and-snuggly plush, stands 29 cm tall and is not limited – a treasure for all ages!

Both items can be ordered exclusively at www.sammlerkontor.de. (Supplies of the limited version while stocks last.)

© Peanuts

N E W S

Approximate quantity of time-limited items 2016421389 Club edition “Maple” 1,200 pieces421365 Event Teddy bear “Mady” 1,360 pieces

GOOD TO KNOW

WHAT LUCK!

All Club members who ordered the 2017 Club edition before 31 January were entered in a prize draw. No. 25 of the Club edition and the Event Teddy bear for 2017 went to Ulrike Eiding and Sandra Fötsch. Our warmest congratulations!

We received countless submissions to our Designer competition in the February issue. Many thanks to all who participated. The results will be published in the next edition of the Club magazine (February 2018).

25th anniversaryOn 1 September 2016, Petra Huber celebrated

25 years of working at Margarete Steiff GmbH. Ms Huber has worked at the Steiff Club for 12 years, and is the contact for any matters that Club members wish to raise. The photo with Steiff managing director Daniel Barth was taken at a celebration in November 2016.

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UK / USADISNEY POOH BEAR 50TH ANNIVERSARY

In celebration of 50 years of the “contemporary” Disney version of Winnie the Pooh, we are pleased to present our first-ever interpretation of the modernized character. This is the first time that Steiff has made this version of the beloved “Silly Old Bear.” Made of yellow mohair and five way jointed, our 1966-look Pooh wears the trademark red shirt popularized in the Disney films and television programmes. In fact, it was Walt Disney himself who decided to bring Pooh into the Disney fold. In the early 1960s, he was able to acquire the rights to the A.A. Milne character. Under Disney’s direct supervision, Pooh’s design was “modernized” for his

first screen appearance in “Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree”, a 1966 theatrical short subject. Pooh’s new “look” in this film would become the definitive version of the character for a new generation of fans – those born from the 1960s through today. Celebrate the golden anniversary of the “modern” interpretation of the character beloved by all – no Pooh, Steiff, or Disney collection is complete without it!

UK / USADISNEY PIGLET ORNAMENT

Loyal, generous, kind, and even occasionally brave, Piglet is Winnie the Pooh’s best friend and confidant. He lives in a beech tree in the Hundred Acre Wood and is described as a “Very Small Animal”.

Our version of this lovable character is therefore appropriately diminutive – just the right size to hang on a Christmas tree, handbag, or backpack. Use his satin ribbon to suspend him wherever you’d like to add a touch of whimsy.

Piglet is sewn from pale pink mohair (which was custom-dyed to match the exact skin colour specified by Disney animators), has jointed arms, and wears his signature striped shirt. Whether you are celebrating the holidays, showing your appreciation for the A.A. Milne characters, or you are just a child at heart, there is sure to be a place in your life where Piglet would bring joy.

Disney Pooh Bear 50th anniversary,item no. 683213,

42 cm,limited edition of

500 pieces.

Disney Piglet ornament,

item no. 683152, 9 cm,

limited edition of 1,500 pieces.

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Nolde's Goat, 23 cm,

item no. 990113, limited edition

of 999 pieces, RRP € 149.

In fact, though, this work originates from a core area of Nolde's art. Between 1911 and 1929, Nolde created more than one hundred oil paintings of masks, statuettes, textiles and other decorative items. In his still lifes with statuettes, he developed an intercultural synthesis that is full of vitality, humour and deeper meaning. He had a particular predilection for combining the disparate, not to say the dissonant. “Still Life (with Striped Goat)”, which unites cultic elements of Latin America with the knick-knacks of Europe on the artist's studio table, is a prime example of these contrasting productions. Nolde's painting reproduces the Mexican bronze in a warm yellow that radiates plasticity, contrasting markedly with the two-dimensionality of the goat in a cool white and bluish green. However, Nolde also creates a connection: The animal's head harmoniously intersects the round shape of the sun, and its green-blue stripes are echoed in the shaded areas of the bronze head. In its formal conciseness and colourfulness, this painting is undeniably one of Nolde's most outstanding still lifes.

To mark the 150th anniversary of Emil Nolde's birth, Steiff is now producing a limited edition of the Striped Goat.

The Striped Goat is made of the finest mohair, the painted details making each individual piece unique, fittingly delivered in exclusive gift packaging.

The goat is available to order from: info@nolde-stiftung.de, tel. +49 (0) 4664 983930, fax +49 (0) 4664 983 9329, Nolde Stiftung Seebüll, Seebüll 31, 25927 Neukirchen, Germany, www.nolde-stiftung.de

Nolde's goat

Steiff is presenting a special item to mark the 150th anniversary of his birth.“Still Life (with Striped Goat)” is a key painting in Nolde's group of still lifes. Its significant artistic quality is typical of Nolde's feeling for colour and his creative power. The choice of motif would at first appear to be somewhat out of the ordinary, almost esoteric, since Nolde is known primarily as the creator of landscape paintings and biblical histories.

An homage to Emil Nolde.

© Disney

© Disney

“Still Life (with Striped Goat)”, painting of 1920 (detail),© Nolde Stiftung Seebüll.

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C L U B N E W S

Commemorating... ...Richard Steiff’s vision

These marvellous and revolutionary new toys made their world debut just a few months later at the Leipzig Spring Toy Fair of 1903. The two most eye-catching items in the collection are unquestionably a large bear and monkey, both fully string-jointed and made from dark brown mohair. The pair appears to be dancing together in the left-hand side of the cover photo of the Steiff brochure created for the event. And for good reason – they are celebrating the introduction of Steiff’s beloved Teddy bears to the world!

It has been 115 years since Richard Steiff introduced his early string-jointed toys to the world. In honour of this important anniversary, Steiff is excited to present the next in the series of black label Margarete Steiff editions – an extraordinary edition created exclusively for Steiff Club members.

Let’s all take a wonderful time-travel journey back to 1902. It was in that very special year that Richard Steiff forever changed the way that children would play and interact with their toys. Extremely talented and creative, Richard was determined to invent appealing and lifelike playthings with movement. After studying how real animals move, experiment-ing in his creative studio, and incorporating newly introduced mohair fabrics into his designs, Richard presented a series of string-jointed toys in 1902. These included bears, monkeys, dolls, and dogs.

A magnificent edition produced... ...in celebration of 115 years.

Our 2017 Margarete Steiff edition is “Richard Teddy Bear and Monkey PB*,” produced in an edition size of 115 pieces in celebration of this historic anniversary. This pair, which comes as a matched number set, includes a wonderful re-creation of the jointed Teddy bear and monkey as they appeared on the cover of the company’s 1903 Leipzig Spring Toy Fair brochure.

“No edition commemorating Richard Steiff would be complete without his most famous inventions: ‘Bär 55PB' and 'Aff PB’,” says Dietmar Simon, the veteran Steiff designer who created the edition. “Bringing them together as a set helps us to show Richard Steiff’s genius as a designer and inventor.”

Like their forefathers from the turn of the last century, both the bear and the monkey are

C L U B N E W S

A brochure created for the

1903 Leipzig Spring Toy Fair

introduces Steiff Teddy bears to

the world.

A special black label, signature “Button in Ear”, custom chest tag, glass nose, and wooden eyes are among the special features of the latest Margarete Steiff edition. Left and below, beech-wood eyes are carefully lathed, finished, and inspected. The bear and monkey set comes with a replica of the medal Richard Steiff’s designs were awarded at the 1904 World’s Fair.

* “P” for “plush”, “B” for “beweglich” or movable.

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C L U B N E W S C L U B N E W S

made of the finest mohair (the bear even is made of mohair silk plush), lovingly hand-stuffed with excelsior, and are fully jointed. (Because string jointing is delicate and not durable enough to stand the test of time, the set uses the traditional jointing system used by the company since 1905.) Typical to Steiff’s earliest production, both items have distinctive black “shoe button” eyes made from German beech wood that has been hand-painted in gloss black.

The PB monkey’s oversized felt hands and feet, lifelike ears, and charming facial expression are all historically accurate as well as wonderfully heart-warming.

The “Richard” Teddy bear features a handmade glass nose in tribute to Steiff’s famous glass factory buildings, Richard Steiff’s architectural triumph. The bear and monkey perfectly capture their inventor’s vision of playful, appealing toys with movement. Befitting their special status, both are branded with Steiff’s highest tier of distinction – the black and silver label Margarete Steiff edition tag and unique signature “Button in Ear.” Accompanying each set is a lavishly illustrated booklet about Richard Steiff, his inventions, and the Margarete Steiff edition pieces. The booklet also includes a reproduction of the medal Richard was awarded at the St. Louis

World’s Fair in 1904. As a finishing touch, each set is impressively packaged.

As a Club member, you are eligible to purchase this magnificent set by completing and returning the order form included with this magazine. Lots will be drawn to determine which 115 members have been selected to purchase this very special set. Truly, this would be a jewel in the crown of any collection.

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V E N U E S

Friendship and fun

Steiff’s annual summer festival, held on June 30th through July 2nd this year, attracted collectors from near and far. This year’s theme was “Family Funfest” and the event offered button-in-ear themed friendship and fun for visitors of every age from start to finish.

A look at this year’s Steiff Sommer celebration.

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Steiff Club, Club members were invited to the “Steiff Club journey through time” at the Schranne on Friday. Across a red carpet, past large studio animals and festively decorated high round tables, members passed through the tour with 28 showcases, in which the annual Steiff Club editions as well as

the anniversary. The anniversary bear issued on occasion of the Steiff Club journey through time (see below right) enjoyed great popularity.

For those visitors hoping to find a special Steiff treasure to add to their collection, this event did not disappoint. Collectors swarmed Steiff’s sales tent as the doors opened. Many stayed in the tent for hours, waiting as new merchandise was added to the shelves and bins throughout the day. Steiff’s museum store and factory store - both located right on the Steiff company grounds - were also popular shopping destinations. The event’s special limited edition, Steiff Sommer Teddy bear duo in red and yellow mohair, proved irresistible to attendees and many happily adopted the charming pair as a souvenir of this outstanding weekend. Specialists Steiff dealers from the United Kingdom, United

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magazines, Club accessories and many other items released in the Steiff Club since 1992 were shown.

Those members who passed through the tour attentively had no problems in the journey through time competition (please see the winners below); a “Dalli-Klick” game in many cases ensured cheerfulness with the Steiff experts, and Club members

listened carefully to the reader telling Steiff stories and making background music with her own instruments at the “Steiff Club Story lounge”. At the end of the tour all Club members received a goody bag with gifts, and a photo booth provided an opportunity to take home a souvenir photo. To conclude the visit, a sparkling wine stand invited Club members to drink to

States, the Netherlands, Germany, and France, offered their country exclusives and other hard to find new and vintage rarities in the vendor’s tent area.

This year, the auction house Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion hosted the annual Steiff auction,

The special 25th Anniversary Club bear that was issued to mark the Steiff Club “Journey through Time”. Remaining stocks of the bear (limited to 350 pieces) are available to purchase from the Steiff Museum. Item no. 421495, price € 129 (credit card payments only). If you are interested, please e-mail your contact details to: museum@steiff.de

held at the Schranne in downtown Giengen. This standing-room-only event had about 225 fine vintage and antique Steiff rarities on offer, and took over four hours to conduct. Top lots at this sale included a 25 cm Teddy Clown bear that hammered at 12,000 Euros;

Here are the winners of our “Journey through time contest”:

1st prize (Teddy bear 1906 replica, item no. 403316): Angelika Hennings-Böger,Berlin

2nd prize (Dicky Bear 1930 replica (item no. 403309): Michael Lüschper, Essen

3rd prize (Willy Teddy bear, item no. 006623): Emily Unruh, Waltrop

4th-10th prizes (a Bärle necklace, item no. 605178): Lotti Amstein, Burgdorf (CH); Peter Enders, Idstein; Alessandro Lifrieri, Nuremberg; Thomas Biedermann, Brunswick; Monika Wegener, Berlin; Irene Hettenbach, Bönnigheim; Ernst Heß; Syrgenstein

Congratulations!

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a 40 cm Happy Teddy bear that hammered at 11,500 Euros; and a 60 cm brass coloured Teddy bear that hammered at 9,300 Euros.

Other highlights of the 2017 event included the sold-out Teddy bear making workshop, celebratory fireworks, a hot air balloon show, a “meet the mascots” event with Knopf and Frieda, a petting zoo and carnival rides, Steiff valuations provided by the Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion team of experts, and an autograph session with Joachim Steiff and 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 and their mascot Paule. According to one visitor, “I have been attending the Steiff Sommer anually for many years now and every year is special and memorable in its own way. I love being here and all the festival has to offer, especially the sales tent and auction - although I didn’t buy anything at auction. The Steiff Club display in the Schranne was lovely too!” Another visitor added, “Thank you for making Club members feel so welcome and special this year. I am so proud to be part of this worldwide community of collectors. It was a pleasure meeting new friends at the event’s various Club venues and sharing Steiff stories with others who share my passion for all things Steiff.”

Editor’s note: The Steiff Sommer 2018 will take place from 29 June to 1 July 2018.

Photo op with the most senior guest of our “Journey through Time”: Club Manager Inge Zinnecker warmly welcomed Ilse Bätzel from Fellbach, and presented her with a beautiful bouquet to mark the recent occasion of her 90th birthday.

The Steiff Club team. From left to right: Bettina Meyer and Petra May (event speakers), Petra Huber and Martina Fischer (Steiff Club administration staff ) and Inge Zinnecker (Steiff Club Manager).

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S T E I F F I N S I D E S T E I F F I N S I D E

Behind the scenes

Please tell us about the range of things that you do for Steiff in your job.

I have to coordinate the making of prototypes, photo samples, the zero-series, Studio animals, and any other new item created in the design department. First we make prototypes, which are the three-dimensional implementations of two-dimensional patterns. Our job is to check if the pattern can be realized in serial production. (Editor’s note: “serial production” refers to larger-scale manufacturing on the Steiff production line.) Furthermore I have to supervise the making of what’s called the “zero-series,” which is a testing process to find any potential hidden manufacturing problems – and then solve them. It is very tricky and challenging work, especially with the various international toy safety regulations, such as EN 71 and US-ASTM, that we must obey painstakingly.

How many people work in your department? Is it

Sunnhild Walzer is the head of the all-important sample- making department at Steiff headquarters in Giengen. She has been part of the company for 27 years. In her own words, “Sunni” tells us all about her role with Steiff and what it’s like to be surrounded daily by the world’s favourite toys and collectibles.

An interview with Steiff 's sampling expert.

challenging to find new seamstresses and apprentices for your department?

I am responsible for 25 workers in my department. Yes, it is challenging to find workers for our various production steps. When I started to work for Steiff, the job of a seamstress was to sew. This is difficult enough by itself. Today, our ladies are true specialists in craftsmanship, but also in workflow management and other arts as well. There are so many aspects we have to concentrate on with a trained eye. The ladies in our department join us with a certain amount of

different venues? Which have been some of your favourite locations and why?

I love the direct contact with collectors and enthusiasts all over the world. It's motivating and inspiring. New York and Tokyo have been the most impressing locations so far for me.

You are an expert in embroidering the noses and mouths on Steiff’s Teddy bears and animals. Collectors who have participated in a Teddy bear making workshop know firsthand how challenging this can be. How long did it take for you to become an expert in this difficult task?

It took me years to learn and to improve my skills in embroidering, and my learning is not over today! Each nose is different because it's the major part of the face of any toy or collectible. Even a millimetre more or less can make a difference.

Do you personally collect Steiff toys? If so, can you tell us about your collection and some of your favourites in your collection?

I would not call myself a true collector, but most of the day, I'm right in the centre of collectibles and toys. That's my life and passion! But if you ask me for my own favourite, I can clearly say

it's the Studio elephant baby. There's one next to my office desk!

Which of Steiff’s antique, vintage, or legacy patterns are your favourites, and why? Then, of Steiff’s more recent items, which have been your favourites, and why?

My daily concentration and enthusiasm is focused on those items on which we are working at the moment, whether it’s collectibles or toys. I love the patterns for any jointed bear or animal because this is how it all began. Joints bring natural movements to both hard- and soft-stuffed animals.

talent, but it takes at least one year of intensive training before they understand why Steiff is different and what it means when we talk about the “Soul of Steiff”!

How are new employees trained in your department?

It is learning by doing! Understanding a pattern is a major part of the training. Even a trained seamstress from the fashion industry has to re-learn her skills when sewing plush. Seams in fashion are in general straight. Seams on plush toys are totally different. I would say that sewing plush is much more sophisticated than fashion.

What has been your most memorable or unusual project at Steiff over the years?

Well, the making of the giant “snake slide” inside the Steiff Museum some years ago is something I will never forget. Just imagine how much plush and how many metres of seams were necessary to build a hollow snake from the second to the first floor!

Of all the editions you have worked on, which have been your favourites? Which were very hard or challenging to sew?

The Disney editions are very challenging in sewing, stuffing, and finishing.

Many collectors outside of Giengen know you from the Teddy bear making workshops in Europe and the United States. What is it like to work at these events and meet collectors at the

“Sunni” Walzeris a veteran

Steiff employee, working for the

company for 27 years.

Sunni spends her days surrounded by Steiff bears and animals, like this Studio grizzly.

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H I S T O R Y H I S T O R Y

A lofty achievement

Richard, like much of the world at the time, was fascinated by the idea of aviation. The first flight of a Zeppelin over Lake Constance in 1900 and Orville and Wilbur Wright’s first airplane adventures in 1903 both made global news headlines and certainly must have caught Richard’s eye. It’s likely that he carefully studied these and other technological advances in flight – becoming inspired to create his own “flying machine.”

Richard Steiff, the oldest nephew of Margarete Steiff, was a remarkably talented, creative, and visionary man. In addition to being the “father of the Teddy bear,” Richard also invented a number of other interesting items, including a firearm that could shoot around corners, a suit that didn't require a tie, and specialty tire valves. He was also the inventor of a very unique kite design called the Roloplan. Over time, the Roloplan would become important for recreational, scientific, and military purposes, as well as evolve into a major product category for the company during the early to mid 20th century.

A look at Richard Steiff’s innovative Roloplan kites.

After much research and experimentation, Richard debuted his innovative tailless Roloplan kite in 1908. Fortunately, Richard was able to share the Roloplan with his aunt, Margarete Steiff, before she died in 1909. The kite itself, made from cloth and light rods, was simple to assemble and disassemble and came packed in a cloth bag. Commercially, it was produced with two or three cloth wings, usually imprinted with the words “Steiff” and “Roloplan.” Richard received a trademark for his Roloplan in 1909; this trademark covered all related “balloons, aircraft of all types, airplanes, kites, gliders, and toy kites of cloth and paper.”

The Roloplan kite was remarkable in many ways. It was shaped much differently than traditional kites, was easy to fly, was very stable in flight, and could soar to remarkable heights - up to 3,250 feet! When not in use,

it required minimal storage space.

Steiff started producing the Roloplan commercially in 1909. Pre-war, the kite was produced with two wings in 12 sizes ranging from 80 to 360 cm through 1943 overall. It was also produced with three wings in 8 sizes ranging from 180 to 720 cm through 1939 overall. The 720 cm version was produced in 1910 only; its huge size and performance in the air made it difficult to manage so it was discontinued.

The Roloplan was originally designed for play, fun, and sport. The design was embraced by many kite, flight, and aviation groups; some clubs were specially formed to study and fly Steiff Roloplan kites. The Roloplan went on to win many international competitions as well as gain worldwide fame for its performance and design. The Roloplan proved so popular, and the demand for it was so high that

Steiff built a separate division and manufacturing unit for them on their Giengen campus.

In addition to its entertainment functions, the Roloplan was also used for military and scientific aims. The German army purchased very large Roloplan kites from Steiff and used them for target practice. Given their flight characteristics, Roloplans were perfect to perform air-to-ground photography for geographic, exploration, or planning purposes. Richard Steiff invented a customized tripod which allowed a camera to be mounted to the Roloplan; this device also enabled the kite operator to snap photographs from the camera on

demand. This is perhaps analogous to today’s “selfie stick.” The first aerial photographs of the Steiff factory campus were taken by a Steiff Roloplan. Roloplan kites were also popular with meteorologists, who used them to help measure and track weather conditions. Some of these working kites were so large and flew so high with such force that their reels needed to be securely mounted to the ground.

A 1910 kite cata-logue showcases

the Roloplan.

Richard Steiff showing his invention of mounting a

camera to the Roloplan kite.

The Roloplan in action, soaring above a hillside overlooking Giengen.

A creative postcard illustrates the joy and wonder of flying a Roloplan.

The Roloplan was so popular that a special assembly line was established to meet the demand.

26

H I S T O R Y

Steiff Roloplans were also used for marketing - both for Steiff and for the company’s customers. The company featured Roloplans in their print advertisements and catalogues, sometimes showing felt doll children joyfully playing with miniature versions of these kites. Other Steiff materials showed the industrial strength of these kites with illustrations of them levitating a man off the ground or pulling a person on a sled! Steiff also sold customized Roloplans to businesses for advertising purposes; the names of the companies would be painted on the cloth wings which could then be seen from the ground by large numbers of people as the kites took flight in the sky.

Steiff resumed limited Roloplan production shortly after the factory reopened for toy making business after the conclusion of WWII. However, only the red and yellow two-wing version was produced in 90, 100, and 120 cm postwar. Like their prewar cousins, these all were easy to construct and disassemble, and came in a cloth bag. Postwar Roloplan kites appeared in the catalogue overall through 1968.

It would be nearly 40 years until Roloplans appeared again in the Steiff catalogue. In 2006, Steiff produced a 30 cm tall mohair Teddy bear holding a tiny, scaled Roloplan in an edition size of 2,000 pieces and a high-quality replica of the two-winged, 150 cm Roloplan from 1909 in an edition size of 1,000 pieces. Today, professional organizations and collectors’ clubs from all over the world continue to fly and study Steiff’s early and original Roloplans and there is quite a lot information available in the web, e.g. on www.teddybear-antik.de or www.drachen.org.

Opposite page, far right corner:

In 2006, the company paid

tribute to Richard Steiff’s grand invention

with a special limited edition

Teddy with miniature Roloplan.

This page, bottom right:

Even in the early days, the Rolo-

plan sported the company's

signature yellow and red corpo-

rate colours.

Text source: Book “Button in Ear” by Jürgen and Marianne Cieslik, 1989

30 31

??Questions and answers

Catalogue extract of 1951/52 with a full set of the original clothing for Puppbazi Mädel.

Rabbit, lying down, item no. 2315 in the catalogue of 1933.

Dear Steiff Club,I am the owner of this Steiff dog. Could you please tell me how old it is? It stands about 25 cm tall. Could you also provide an estimation as to its value?

T. Z., by e-mail

This dog is what is known as the Pupp-Bazi Mädel or Bazili (“Dachshund Doll Girl”), which was only produced between 1950 and 1954. The one in your possession is still wearing the original blouse and skirt. Originally, this lady dog in the traditional costume also wore a white apron and a felt hat with a real feather. There is also a huntsman's version of Pupp-Bazi Bub to go with the traditionally-dressed girl. Both were new figures in 1950, and represent a short-haired dachshund. They continue the long tradition of animal figures of the 1930s, in which over a dozen different kinds of animals were offered as Pupp animals. Typical of these animals of the 1930s are the un-jointed fabric body and sewn-on hanging arms. This design was resumed in 1949 for various animals, including your “Pupp-Bazi Mädel”. This figure was available as item 325M, and is known with two different skirts: an earlier one that was striped, and a later one with flowers. The original design of

the dress is not to be found in the relevant collectors' literature, but there is a picture in the main catalogue of 1951/52 of this very version. Your dog still has – you can just see it – a scrap remaining of the US Zone tag that was common at this time, and this is further proof of its very early manufacture. With regard to its value, it is impossible to say due to fluctuating market tendencies. Please refer to the relevant literature or auction results of similar items.

Dear Steiff Club,Some time ago, I found this well-preserved Steiff rabbit at an antiques market, and I'd like to know a little more about this Steiff product. Perhaps you can help me?

B. R., by e-mail

Initially, your find appears to be a white rabbit. However, on closer inspection, you will see that the rabbit has brown glass eyes. Red eyes were usually used for white rabbits. The extensive range of rabbits made by Steiff includes only one model that matches the design of yours. It was a new item in 1930, and was made under the simple designation “Rabbit, lying down” in seven sizes from 6 to 17 cm. This appears to be a sitting version, but the catalogue designation really is “lying down”. Unlike the postwar period, most of the rabbits made before 1943 do not have their own names. “Rabbit, lying down” is made of maize or light brown mohair plush, and was an extremely popular item. It was made in various sizes until the early 1940s. An identical model was made of wool plush. Your model's mohair plush has faded, and it is in fact the light colouring of the underlying material that tells us it was originally maize.

S E R V I C E S E R V I C E

Do you have a question concerning a Steiff item? Find out more here! EXPERT INFO:Ever since the Steiff company started producing plush animals, rabbits have been among the most important designs. Between the years of 1892 and 1943 alone, the company manufactured around 100 different types of rabbit in numerous colours and sizes. Rabbits are a separate collectors' area, and on many occasions, rare and particularly well-preserved items have achieved astonishing results at various auctions.

EXPERT INFO:From the beginning, clothed animal figures have been among the most popular, but also the most intricate plush animals. The catalogue of 1892 already contains clothed monkeys – e.g. a jockey or a clown – as well as clothed skittle figures. Today, historic plush animals made before 1943 with the original clothing made of felt or fabric are highly sought-after collectors' items, and are very difficult to find with a full set of original clothing. Of course, the Teddy bear was also clothed, and the post-1908 plush versions are considered particularly rare today; they have even been

immortalised on postcards.

The remnants of the original red ear tag under the “Button in Ear” are important for dating the item, and in the case of your rabbit put it at the early production time from 1930 to 1934/35. The type and colour of the bow around its neck show that it did not originally belong to this item. The rabbit as a pet and Easter item are among the most popular animal models, and were appreciated equally by children in the past and today's collectors. Finding a pre-war model dating back to the early 1930s on an antiques market is undoubtedly an exceptional stroke of good fortune.

Catalogue extract of 1954 with the alternative cloth-ing as also seen in the collectors' literature.

32 33

A family affairOur series on Margarete Steiff’s nephews concludes.

FRANZ STEIFFFranz Steiff, the third son of

Fritz Steiff, Margarete’s brother, was born in 1878. He joined his aunt’s company in 1898 at the age of 20. Like his brothers before him, Franz had a specific, personal business interest which fit perfectly with his family’s growing enterprise. Franz was very interested in fabrics and textiles. After finishing his studies and apprenticeship in weaving, he began working at Steiff as an administrator, with a focus on materials and how they could best be used in the design and manufacturing processes.

As time went on, Franz’s responsibilities expanded to include financial as well as purchasing activities. Franz was very involved in expanding Steiff’s international business. He did a great deal of travelling, and even worked in England to help grow and manage that very important market. He was instrumental in setting up Steiff’s offices in Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Austria, as well as expanding Steiff’s German sales and distribution networks. Closer

P O R T R A I T P O R T R A I T

Margarete Steiff 's nephews contributed to the growth and success of the company. In the past issues of the magazine, we reported about Paul, Richard, Hugo and Otto Steiff and we will conclude the series with Franz and Ernst Steiff.

to home in Giengen, Franz is also credited with the idea of setting up home production networks. This revolutionary idea enabled women in the Giengen area to sew for Steiff from their own homes and on their own schedules.

Franz is perhaps best known as

the person who invented Steiff’s now legendary “Button in Ear” branding in 1904. This was a key event in the company’s history and remains integral to the Steiff brand more than a century onward. Franz died in 1908 at age 30 after a long illness.

ERNST STEIFFErnst Steiff is the youngest of

the nine children of Fritz and Anna Steiff. After training at the Steiff company as a young man, Ernst moved to the United States and studied electrical engineering. It was during his time in America

that he grew very religious, studying the Bible intensively. For a time, he even worked there as a missionary.

After returning to Germany, Ernst is credited with inventing the seamless conveyor belt. Based on his invention, he established a

belt-weaving plant within Steiff. For many years afterwards, the company would remain diversified through its operations in this field.

Personally, Ernst was known as a very talented musician who could play the flute and the piano. He and his wife Sophie had two sons and two daughters. They married in 1928 when he was 38.

Throughout his life, he was known for being a pious Christian – sometimes preaching from pulpits around Giengen. During World War II, he was held captive by the government because of his religious convictions. He died in 1953 at the age of 63.

Franz Steiff in an informal

portraitwith his wife.

Far right: A formal portrait of Franz Steiff,

inventor of the famous

“Button in Ear” trademark.

A snapshot of Ernst Steiff as a young boy.

A formal portrait of Ernst Steiff, inventor of the seamless conveyor belt.

3534

Secrets from the archives

The Steiff archive, located on Steiff’s campus in Giengen, Germany, holds the company’s manufacturing history all within several large rooms. These dedicated areas contain over 15,000 Steiff items and rarities, with the earliest example being one of Margarete Steiff’s original felt elephants from 1880! The temperature in the archives is always between 60 and 64 degrees, and the humidity is always between 50 to 60%. This is strictly maintained in order to make this storage environment as safe and secure as possible.

An ongoing look at rare, unproduced creations from the company’s past (4).

This set of nine wood blocks, called Steiff’s “Wood Cube Railway” was produced in 1936. Probably designed as a puzzle or game, every block has an illustration of a different railway car on each of its six faces. Children could have lined up the blocks to make their own trains, played a colour or shape matching game, or made up their own activities with this creative toy. However, this item was not produced on a commercial level. Steiff did produce a number of cube style toys in the 1930s as building sets and games for children. A similarly designed nine block set, made from 1936 through 1943, featured primary-coloured illustrations of six of Steiff’s most beloved animal designs as puzzles. These included a Teddy bear, an elephant, a duck, a cat, a dog, and a rabbit.

D I S C O V E R I E S

In addition to examples produced on a commercial scale, the archive also houses many one-of-a-kind experimental items. These items were produced as idea samples, but were never put into production for practical, economic, or supply chain issues. For the most part, these items were not fully documented, and are somewhat of a mystery today. We already shared a few interesting ones from the Steiff archives. Due to popular demand, here are a few more fascinating finds and the possible backgrounds behind them.

According to a tag attached to the arm, the jointed, grey wool plush dog was created in 1929 by Margarete’s nephew Paul Steiff. Although the overall design was appealing, the fabric was not, and the dog was probably determined to be too difficult to produce on a commercial scale. This dog displays several typical features characteristic of the late 1920s and early 1930s, including oversized glass pupil eyes, a youthful

appearance, and wool plush as a fabric choice. Collectors might recognize his distinctive “begging” position, which was seen on a few other patterns of the time. These include the company's wool plush Baldo from 1929-1932 and mohair Poodle from 1929-1932.

The pull toy from 1920 was also created by Paul Steiff. His production notes are written in ink on its belly. The elephant is made from sheep leather and rides upon four wooden wheels. It is possible that it was designed in leather to mirror the look of real elephant skin. Also, during this time, woollen materials were still scarce due to post World War I supply chain limitations, and the company could have been exploring alternative materials. Although this leather pull toy elephant never went into production, its youthful and cheerful design, later named “Play Elephant,” did. Pre-war, it was manufactured in curled wool plush from 1934 to 1941, and in arti- ficial silk plush from 1938 to 1943.

Note the handwritten design critiques by Paul Steiff in these photographs of the begging dog and the leather elephant. Comments about the elephant are written directly on his belly!

The “Wood Cube Railway” set of wooden blocks was created in 1936.

D I S C O V E R I E S

36 37

Marvels in miniature

Steiff Club: Tell us your name and where you live.

Elizabeth: My name is Elizabeth Leggat. I live in Scotland with my husband Bob and a little wire fox terrier named Teddy Girl. I have been a full-time Teddy bear artist since 1995.

PA S S I O N S

The magic of Steiff is an ongoing source of inspiration for artists of all types, all around the world. In this edition of the Club magazine, we introduce you to Elizabeth Leggat – a talented miniaturist who creates amazingly tiny versions of her favourite Steiff treasures.

Scottish artist creates miniatures inspired by Steiff items.

PA S S I O N S

Do you collect Steiff toys? I have a collection of vintage

Steiff toys that are very special to me, including a mohair tiger from my childhood. I can remember always being fascinated by his green eyes as they were luminous in the dark. I have a few early bears in my collection as well. Among my favourites is Mr Rusty. He is 13 inches tall and was the first in my collection. His name was chosen due to the colour of his dark cinnamon mohair.My display cabinet stands in the hallway in my home, it gives me great pleasure to pass it every day and enjoy seeing the adorable contents peeping out at me.

What about Steiff items makes them interesting from the artist perspective?

The Steiff items have a unique certain magic about them; they have a charm and charisma that is second to none. This was so inspiring to me and drew me to them from the start. They exude top quality and the attention to detail is amazing. I am fascinated

by the wide range of items that were made with such skill.

How long have you been making miniature Teddy bears and other toys?

I started to make miniature Teddy bears in 1995. I found a tiny mohair bear in the street as a child and was always fascinated by its size. I am sure this little bear had an influence on my decision to create miniatures.

Tell us the range of items inspired by Steiff you have made in miniature.

I have created many toys inspired by Steiff. Teddy bears in particular, including a Harlequin Bear, Dolly Bears, Teddy Baby, Petsy, bears on wheels and Roly Poly characters. Teddy clowns are also a favourite. Some of the bears have their own, very authentic looking little accessories. My husband is an engineer and can create just about anything I need. A few animals have also been created, Foxy dogs, cats, monkeys, mice, ducks, penguins, and recently a Putzi inspired character.

What was your first miniature?

My first miniature was a Teddy bear, inspired by the bear in my collection, Mr Rusty.

Which was the hardest miniature project to complete?

I think the one hardest to make was an exciting commission inspired by the antique Steiff promotional postcard. This tableau took months, with extensive research into the clothing. Twelve Teddy bears ranging in size from 2.5 inches to 3.75 inches gather around the table for a game of Throw the Dice; they are all dressed for the gathering wearing

Miniaturist Elizabeth Leggat

with some of her creations.

Although they are as detailed as their full-sized counterparts, Elizabeth Leggat’s toys are a fraction of the size of the originals.

A museum installation of Elizabeth Leggat’s work.

38 39

PA S S I O N S

their highly-detailed outfits. Their oak table and chairs and tiny dice were handmade to the correct scale by my husband, Bob.

What is one of your favourite miniature projects?

A favourite piece created is a set of Dancing Bears, a very special commission for the Spielzeug Welten Museum in Switzerland. It was inspired by the rare Steiff Bears display from the 1920s. It was a real challenge to create their clothing with the tiny patterns and all the details. The setting consists of the main couple Dancing Bears, 3 and 3.5 inches tall; they are dressed in their best finery made from antique and vintage

materials. They are serenaded by three cute musicians, a trombone player, violinist, and a sweet Teddy girl fanfare blower. All are specially dressed for the occasion, they are also 3.5 inches tall. The bears stand on a revolving musical platform surrounded in vintage flowers all ready to enjoy a dance to Love Story when the mechanism is wound up.

What is the preparation you undertake to make a Steiff item in miniature?

The first thing I do is study any photographs that are available. It would be wonderful to be able to actually have the actual item but this is usually not possible. I am

often asked to create a miniature of a collectors beloved vintage Steiff item. To begin with I will then ask them for some details about the original and maybe some photographs. This is important to try to capture the individual look. When I have all the information and details required, I will start to design my pattern, and source and gather together all the materials needed to create the item. I also may have to dye and age the mohair and fabrics for clothing.

How long on average does it

take you to make a miniature?The time varies so much

depending on the project. A bear will probably take about three days, using a pattern I have already designed. It will take a little longer if some simple clothing is required. If I am designing a new item it can take weeks from start to finish.

Have your miniatures been on exhibit or featured in any magazines?

Many pieces of my work are exhibited in the Spielzeug Welten Museum in Basel, Switzerland, the largest of its kind in Europe. My work has been featured in various bear magazines over the years, both at home and abroad. Being so passionate about vintage Steiff items, I am thrilled to be included in the Steiff Club magazine.

C U LT T O U R

E-mail from AfricaMeet Aboki, the African Wild Dog.

Greetings from the plains of Sub-Saharan

Africa, the place that I call home. My name is Aboki, the African Wild Dog. I am also known as an

African Hunting Dog, an African Painted Dog or a Painted Wolf. This is because of my distinctive and unusual fur, which

in real life is stiff and bristle-like and a mix of brown, black, white, yellow, and white. African Wild Dogs are very social animals,

especially when it comes to eating and sharing our meals. Antelopes are our favourite food, and we have developed special hunting skills over time

to catch them. Unfortunately, because of changes to our habitat, hunters, and animal diseases, we are considered an endangered species by

The International Union for Conservation of Nature.Please don’t be scared of me because I have the word “wild” in my name. Like all of Steiff’s

soft plush toys, we just want to be “friends for life” with you and promise to be well

behaved. The only thing “wild” about us will be how much fun we have together! At 38 cm, I am just

the right size to join you on all of your adventures every day. If

that includes getting a little muddy sometimes, that’s okay as I am machine washable. And at night, I promise to guard

you against bad dreams and any monsters

that are hiding under your

bed!

A famous Steiff advertising photograph

is re-created with bears

that are only 6 to 10 cm tall.

40 41

V E N U E S V E N U E S

Making a big impression

Since the turn of last century, Steiff has officially debuted its new annual offerings through trade fairs. It is at these events where the world learns about the company’s newest and most exciting products. For example, it was at the 1903 Leipzig Spring Fair that the company introduced PB55, the grandfather of all Teddy bears! Today, Steiff participates in several fairs around the world.

Toy Fairs are an important part of Steiff’s sales and marketing programmes.

These toy events, which are open to the trade only, are a very important part of Steiff’s worldwide advertising, sales, and marketing programmes. The company spends many months planning for these exhibitions. According to Ian Munro, Steiff’s Director of International Sales, “These events give the company a great opportunity to show how strong the Steiff brand is. People from all over the world – Europe,

Asia, North America, Australia, and more – all travel to these fairs. Attendance is truly global. It’s a wonderful way to get new people excited about Steiff and also to inspire our current retailers.”

Steiff has a long history participating in the Nuremberg Toy Fair. The company’s stand has always been a highlight destination for attendees. After a brief break, Steiff returned to Nuremberg in 2017. As a beloved global brand,

Steiff felt it needed to attend this fair to show how the company leads the market and treasures its history and traditions.

Not surprisingly, Steiff’s 2017 Nuremberg stand was the talk of the whole fair. The company’s booth featured the world’s largest Teddy bear, a giant inflatable, which was visible from all over the trade show floor! This fantastic landmark became the ultimate “selfie” opportunity for fair-goers. The stand itself was large and occupied two floors, making it the heart of the fair.

Toy Fair in the United States is another major annual trade fair venue. This event is held in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, as well as in other showroom venues across Manhattan. Steiff North America sets up its trade stand at the Renaissance Times Square Hotel, located right at the epicentre of the city. The Steiff team takes over several hotel meeting rooms and the venue is packed from the beginning to the end of the four-day event.

A giant Steiff Teddy bear was

the talk of this year's Nurem-berg Toy Fair.

Scenes from the 2017 Nuremberg

Toy Fair.

According to Jim Pitocco, President of Steiff North America, “It is very important that Steiff has a prominent showing at Toy Fair, especially because the brand is not as well known here in the States as it is in Europe. This show over time has been a key factor in building the brand in the USA. Our trade stand at the Renaissance is the perfect location as it captures the energy of Times Square and the event, while at the same time providing our attendees with a little peace and quiet so they can study and appreciate our novelties. Some customers spend a half day at our stand. As such, our location, logistics, and hospitality are perfectly set up to make their experience as welcoming as possible.”

Steiff’s trade fairs remain important to collectors as they are the first chance retailers get to see new collections and determine what they will present to you, their customers. Fairs are a sure sign you’ll be seeing new Steiff creations in the very near future. And, for a collector, what could be more exciting?

42 43

V E N U E S V E N U E S

New Steiff ShopsThe brand shines in the recently opened Steiff Shops.

DüsseldorfFollowing the relocation and conversion, the new, bigger Steiff Flagship Store opened in

Düsseldorf on 27 April 2017. People have been able to immerse themselves in the cuddly world of the brand with the “Button in Ear” in the Kö Galerie since 2011. The new Steiff Flagship Store is in a prominent location at the heart of the Kö Galerie. The whole Steiff range in all its colourfulness is available here on a generous sales area of 160 m2, furnished in the newly developed corporate design. There is so much to see and explore – why not pop in and be amazed!

Ms Caffarena and her team are looking forward to your visit!Steiff Shop, Kö Galerie, Königsallee 60d, 40212 Düsseldorf (Club store)

StuttgartThe Steiff Shop Stuttgart opened in the newly-constructed Dorotheen Quarter on 30 May.

This shop also proudly features the new look on an area of 40 m2. The Dorotheen Quarter is in the centre of the town, right next to Breuninger, between the town hall and the market hall, and exceeds an area of 60,000 m2, 11,500 m2 of which are retail and dining areas.

Ms Berger and her team are looking forward to your visit!Steiff Shop, Dorotheen Quartier, Karlstr. 3, 70173 Stuttgart (Club store)

HannoverIn addition to the Steiff Shops in Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Nuremberg, Wiesbaden and

the Steiff Outlet Wertheim Village, two further shops opened in Hannover and Sulzbach in November 2015. In Hannover, on the first floor of the Ernst-August-Galerie, you will find what is probably one of the loveliest shopping experiences for all ages. Everyone's favourite animal can be found on the shop's 70 m2 – along with a furry companion for life.

Ms Prasuhn and her team are looking forward to your visit!Steiff Shop Hannover, Ernst-August-Galerie,Ernst-August-Platz 2, 30159 Hannover (Club store)

SulzbachAt the Main Taunus Zentrum in Sulzbach, you can immerse yourself in the colourful world

of Steiff on a sales area of 50 m2. The product portfolio of our Steiff Shop includes classic Teddy bears, true-to-nature cuddly animals, exclusive baby items for small children and new-borns, and the Steiff Children's Fashion Collection in sizes 56-116.

Ms Giannone and her team are looking forward to your visit!Steiff Shop Sulzbach, Main-Taunus-Zentrum,Am Main-Taunus-Zentrum, 65843 Sulzbach (Taunus)

44 45

V E N U E S V E N U E S

A new home in Paris Fun in the windy city

Make your own Steiff teddy

We are pleased to announce the return of Steiff to GALERIES LAFAYETTE on Boulevard Haussmann in Paris. You’ll find a warm and friendly space filled with “Button in Ear” delights on the fifth floor of the famed department store. Come meet our salesperson, Justine, who will be pleased to welcome and advise you about all our ranges – baby, children’s, Studio, mohair, and limited editions.

Steiff North America held a full weekend of Teddy Bear making work-shops in Chicago, Illinois on 1st and 2nd October 2016 at the historic and very beautiful Renaissance Blackstone Hotel on Michigan Avenue. Chicago is located right in the heart of the United States, but people from all over the world attended, with collectors travelling from as far away as the UK, Canada, California, Hawaii, and Washington State.

Steiff has returned to GALERIES LAFAYETTE. The Steiff Teddy bear workshop comes to Chicago.

Welcome to our fun-filled workshop at GALERIES LAFAYETTE.

On 25 November, GALERIES LAFAYETTE will host a hands-on Teddy Bear workshop for all Steiff fans. No sewing experience is necessary, and you’ll leave the workshop with your very own personalized mohair Teddy! With only 20 spaces available, you’ll want to register quickly to ensure you’ll be able to participate. Reservations will be accepted in the order received. To register, email us

Come admire and take photographs of the life-sized Studio animals, then share the pictures with your friends. Discover a showcase filled with treasures from the mohair and limited editions range. Go back home with a new “friend for

Three workshops were held - two on Saturday and one on Sunday - with 60 bears in total being made. About half the participants brought along a spouse, friend, or colleague to assist them. There were husbands and wives, mothers and daughters, and even grandmothers and granddaughters working in pairs on the bears.

Ralf Fahrig, Sunnhild Walzer, and Iveta Hartmann from Steiff came all the way from Giengen, Germany to Chicago to lead this event. They did a wonderful job making everyone feel good about their stitching and design choices, and were so helpful in making sure the workshop ran smoothly and successfully.

Carolyn Smith, Steiff North America’s Club Manager, and Rebekah Kaufman, Steiff North America’s Consultant Archivist, welcomed participants, talked with them about their collections, and thanked them for participating in the Steiff Club and the Workshop. Rebekah also did evaluations on many vintage Steiff collectibles the participants brought along

life”! Be the first to learn about any new additions to the booth, thanks to our special Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/steiffgalerieslafayette/

at: atelierdesoursparis@steiff.de. The fee for participation is 300 €

TTC, which includes the customized bear and other additional extras.

with them. Highlights included an early postwar silk plush trout, a rare Neander caveman doll, and a number of precious Teddy bears.

Each workshop also included goodie bags, a shopping area featuring a range of international exclusives, prizes and drawings, and refreshments. Keeping with the theme of the autumn season, guests were treated with warm pretzels, as well as freshly baked treats, and hot and cold beverages.

Editor’s Note: Another workshop will be held in October in the San Francisco bay area. Watch your mailbox for complete details.

Scenes from the Chicago workshop.

46 47

T H E C L U B PA G ET H E C L U B PA G E

Application formGive a gift membership,

recruit a new member or

renew your membership very easily. O I would like to become a member of the Steiff Club

O I would like to give a gift membership in the Steiff Club O I am a member and would like to recruit a new member

Details new member: O Ms O Mrs O Mr

First name, surname Please complete in clearly legible block capitals!

Address

Postcode, town

Country

Telephone no.

e-mail:

Date of birth

Your Club store (if known)

Details gift giving person or member who is recommending: O Ms O Mrs O Mr

First name, surname

Address

Postcode, town

Country

Telephone no.

e-mail:

Date of birth

Membership number (only when you recruit a new member)

Please send the first mailing to: O the recipient of the gift membership O me personally(A gift certificate can be downloaded from www.steiff.com/Club/product information and more)

My preferred gift: (when you recruit a new member)

Item no.

Name

Delivered free of charge to your door while supplies last. The gift will be sent approximately 4 to 6 weeks after receipt of the new member's subscription. You will receive a notification by mail or e-mail giving you the voucher code for 75 €. Cash payment is not possible. Recourse to courts of law is likewise excluded.

Place/Date Signature of person who is recommending and new member

As a Club member, you probably already know the benefits that membership brings to you. But perhaps you've forgotten some of the details, or would like to recruit a new member to share in the fun. If so, we would welcome them warmly!

THE CLUB BENEFITS » Exclusive Club editions » Annual high-quality gift » Invitation to Club events » The Steiff Club magazine free to your door » Current product information » Free entrance to the Steiff museum

The Steiff Club membership cardThis membership card allows you to enjoy privileges such as free entry to the Steiff museum in Giengen. The card also means you can benefit from special offers at various Steiff events.

The Steiff Club magazineIn the Steiff Club magazine you can find lots of interesting information and the latest news regarding Steiff and the Club. The magazine will be delivered free to your door twice a year (in February and in August).

The Club eventsAt Steiff Club events like-minded enthusiasts can talk shop with experts and compare notes with friends. They get to know the novelties of Steiff and only here the Event Teddy bear is available. At the events, special items only available in selected countries are also on offer as special highlights.

Online offersIn the Club selection at www.steiff.com, you will find the Steiff swap meet, downloads and much more.

The exclusive Club editionsAs a member, you have the possibility to purchase special Club editions, either from a Club store in your area, via postal direct order or on www.steiff.com. Each member receives a personalised order form for the Club editions. The 2017 Club edition is limited to 1,992 pieces and no longer available.

The annual Club giftEvery membership year you will receive an exclusive Steiff gift. It will be sent to you after renewal of your membership at the beginning of your personal membership year. The membership years begin on 1st February, 1st May, 1st August, or 1st November. Members renewing for two or three years will receive their annual gift with the first shipment of the Steiff Club early in February.

I wish to pay my membership subscription for

O one year (50 EUR /60 CHF / 42 GBP) O two years (90 EUR /100 CHF / 75 GBP) O three years (130 EUR /150 CHF / 105 GBP)

non-European countries (exluding the USA)

O one year: 100 EUR O two years: 180 EUR O three years: 250 EUR

O by direct debit (until cancelled, throughout Europe in Euros only)

account holder bank

IBAN

BIC

O with the enclosed cheque

O by bank transfer to the following account:

National Westminster Bank Plc., Branch sort code 60-04-04, account name: Margarete Steiff GmbH, IBAN: GB79 NWBK 6004 0425 6357 19, BIC: NWBK GB 2L

Duration of membership: The personal membership year begins on 1st February, 1st May, 1st August, or 1st November depending on in which quarter the application is received and lasts for one year. Membership is automatically renewed for a further year, unless cancelled within the period specified in the renewal notice the Steiff Club sends to every member. Gift memberships are not renewed automatically. At the end of the personal membership year, the membership can be renewed by the person who placed the order or the member themselves.

Right of withdrawal: You have two weeks in which you may cancel the membership application in writing. Please write to the following address in good time: Steiff Club, Margarete Steiff GmbH, Postfach 15 60, 89530 Giengen an der Brenz, Germany

Notes on data protection: By providing your signature below, you confirm that you give your consent to your data given above being collected, processed, and utilised by Margarete Steiff GmbH, the Steiff Club, and your Steiff Club store. The data will be collected, processed and utilised confidentially and in accordance with the data protection regulations of Margarete Steiff GmbH, the German Data Protection Act, and further statutory regulations. Any passing on of data to third parties will take place exclusively for the purpose of the contractual relationship, e.g. for handling payment transactions, sending Club information, and invitations to Club events. If you have any further questions, comments, or require information about your data, please contact Margarete Steiff GmbH, Postfach 1560, 89530 Giengen an der Brenz, Germany.

Date Signature

You have several possibilities to answer: Cut out or copy the form and send it by mail to the Steiff Club, Margarete Steiff GmbH, Postfach 1560, 89530 Giengen or fax it to: 49 (0)7322 131-476.The easiest way is per online application at: www.steiff.com/Club This application is valid until 10th December 2017.

Our current gifts if you recruit a new member (delivery as long as stocks last):

for a 1-year membership:Teddy bag, 21 cm, item no. 600999, Happy Friend Knuffi Teddy bear, 28 cm, item no. 282232, Mr. Cupcake rabbit, 28 cm, item no. 080265

for a 2-year membership:Mimmi cat, 24, cm, item no. 099434, Nrommi yeti, 20 cm, item no. 015205, Cosy Year bear 2017, 34 cm, item no. 690037

for a 3-year membership:Elmar Teddy bear, 32 cm, item no. 022456 Moritz dachshund, 30 cm, item no. 076985 Boeky lamb, 40 cm, item no. 103490

or a 75 EUR voucher for the Steiff online shop (Germany, France, Austria and UK only).

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C A L E N DA RM A I L B O X

Readers' letters

I missed the Steiff Teddy Bear workshop in Chicago. Do you plan on holding any more workshops in the United States in the near future?

J.B., Atlanta, GeorgiaYou’re in luck! We are planning to hold the next U.S. Teddy Bear Workshop on

20/21 October in Marin County, California, in the San Francisco Bay area. At press time, details were still being finalized, but all Club members will receive notifications by both regular mail and e-mail with all information. We’re planning a full weekend of fun, fellowship, and surprises, so save the date and watch your mailboxes for complete details – coming soon!

I really enjoy the new “Archive finds” section of the magazine. I enjoy it so much, in fact, that I wondered if it’s possible to come to Germany and tour the archives in person. Are tours available?

D.T., Santa Rose, CaliforniaSince the environment in the archives must be carefully controlled for light exposure,

temperature, and humidity, public tours are, unfortunately, not available. Preservation of the articles stored in the Archives is the paramount concern, so we are unable to host visitors. But keep watching the pages of the Steiff Club magazine – we’re planning more “Archive finds” for future issues. It’s the next-best thing to being there!

Is it possible to renew my Steiff Club membership electronically?F.A., Cologne, GermanyWe are pleased to offer online renewals both at www.steiff.com and at

www.steiffusa.com. For U.S. members: Just enter “Club” in search box window, and you’ll be directed to

the appropriate pages which will allow you to renew. But don’t worry if you still prefer to renew the old-fashioned way. Of course, we still accept renewals via “snail mail” or by telephone. Simply send your completed form with payment to: Steiff Club Renewals, 24 Albion Road, Suite 220, Lincoln, RI, 02865. To renew by phone, call 888-078-3433 (toll free) or 401- 312-0080, then select option 2.

For European members: Please create an online account and enter your membership number. This will enable you to use the swap meet and the magazine archive as well as to renew your membership.

For members in Asia and others: Please get in touch with your Club store.

Club Events

31/08 Mayersche Buchhandlung KG, Aachen tel.: +49 (0)241 4777016/09 Spielwaren Kurtz, Stuttgart tel.: +49 (0)711 23852020/09 Galeria Kaufhof GmbH, Frankfurt (including signing session with Joachim Steiff ) tel.: +49 (0)69 219151822+29/09 Galeria Kaufhof GmbH, Düsseldorf tel.: +49 (0)211 139123606/10 Mukk GmbH, Münster tel.: +49 (0)251 9795953006/10 Spielwaren Lütgenau, Dortmund tel.: +49 (0)231 549052507/10 Galerie Seebär, Immenstaad tel.: +49 (0)7545 94146010/10 Spielwaren Letzel, Heilbronn tel.: +49 (0)7131 8398610/10 Stackmann GmbH & Co. KG, Buxtehude tel.: +49 (0)4161 50667312/10 Galeria Kaufhof GmbH, Siegburg tel.: +49 (0)2241 993012/10 Spielwaren Reindl, Fürstenfeldbruck tel.: +49 (0)8141 525534413+14/10 Heinrich Roskothen, Duisburg (NI) tel.: +49 (0)203 2028013/10 Galeria Kaufhof GmbH, Köln tel.: +49 (0)221 223450114/10 SammlerKontor OHG, Wehrheim tel.: +49 (0)6081 928549719/10 Wilhelm Witthoff OHG, Gütersloh tel.: +49 (0)5241 9230020/10 Galeria Kaufhof GmbH, Bonn tel.: +49 (0)228 516021/10 Galeria Kaufhof GmbH, Wuppertal tel.: +49 (0)202 49926826/10 Galeria Kaufhof GmbH, München tel.: +49 (0)89 2318573327/10 Eckhard Schulz e. K., Hagen tel.: +49 (0)2331 1450406/11 TeeSA GmbH, Traunstein tel.: +49 (0)861 7069659309/11 Steiff Shop, Düsseldorf tel.: +49 (0)211 868175810/11 Silvias Bärenstube, Kerpen tel.: +49 (0)2237 92170110/11 Steiff Shop, Hamburg tel.: +49 (0)40 3252626411/11 Steiff Shop, Berlin tel.: +49 (0)30 8862500615/11 Galeria Kaufhof GmbH, Mönchengladbach tel.: +49 (0)2161 278017/11 E und E Spielwaren GmbH, Remshalden-Geradstetten tel.: +49 (0)7151 7169122/11 Galeria Kaufhof GmbH, Mannheim tel.: +49 (0)621 38045023/11 Steiff Shop, Wiesbaden tel.: +49 (0)611 166699924/11 Steiff Shop, Nürnberg tel.: +49 (0)911 235507425/11 Steiff Shop, Köln tel.: +49 (0)221 2589910025/11 Steiff Museum Shop, Giengen tel.: +49 (0)7322 13173106/12 Galeria Kaufhof GmbH, Kassel (NI) tel.: +49 (0)561 7896374

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06/09 Teddy Station - Teddy bear workshop (including signing session), Southend on Sea tel.: +44 (0)1720 61110614/09 Jarrold & Sons Ltd (including signing session with Joachim Steiff ), Norwich tel.: +44 (0)1603 66066121/10 Harrods (including signing session), London tel.: +44 (0)20 77301234

07/10 Hesemans, Breda tel.: +31 (0)76 521231028/10 Berelijn, Dordrecht tel.: +31 (0)78 631802820/10 Steiff in Wien tel.: +43 (0)1 53360187421/10 Puppenstube, Wien tel.: +43 (0)1 8656589

21/10 Margarethas Dockskap, Kosta tel.: +46 (0)70 928776909/11 Il Était Une Fois Un Autre Monde, Paris tel.: +33 (0)1 4548211009/11 Steiff Shop und Pegasus, Zürich tel.: +41 (0)4 2124642

A little inspiration

It was a dreary day. The sky was dark and gloomy, the air was chilly, and it was raining hard. It was not a day to play outside. Axel had run out of things to do. He just finished a jigsaw puzzle, built a bridge from wooden blocks, and drew a picture of a family of frogs - his favourite animals of all. He really wanted to go outdoors and practice football, but his mother would not allow it. He was mad at her, and the weather, and bored, all at the same time.

His mother, sensing that Axel was unhappy, called him over to her side. She was in the living room, reading a big book by the fireplace. Axel looked up, but pretended not to hear her. She called to him again, this time saying, “How would you like to add some colour to your day?”

Axel was intrigued by this. He put his anger aside and went over to her. She pulled him up on her lap. She was reading a book about Claude Monet, an Impressionist painter famous for his bright and colourful landscapes and love of the outdoors. “Come take

a look at these marvellous paintings,” she said. “They were created by a man over a century ago who loved to be outside as much as you do!”

As they flipped through the pages, several of the works really caught Axel’s eye. He said, “These are so happy and colourful. I especially like the paintings with lots of blue and green and flowers in them!”Mother smiled and they kept looking at the pages in

the book. Then mother said, “If Mr Monet was to draw your picture, what would it look like?” Axel looked at her, and was

confused. “How could that happen, as you told me he passed away many years ago?”

Then mother went to the closet where she kept her art supplies and pulled out a large sheet of white drawing paper and a big box of coloured markers. She

cleared off the kitchen table and put the art supplies upon it. “Why don’t YOU

pretend to be Mr Monet, and let’s see what you come up with?” she said.

Axel was intrigued with this idea. He took a seat at the table and picked up a black marker. He drew the outline of his shape - a Teddy bear. His mother then said, “Now, what colours

would your body be?” Axel thought for a moment and said, “Mr Monet

FAV O U R I T E

would want me to look like a flower-filled pond for sure.” So he grabbed the green and blue markers and started to colour in his outline. He then added in some red and yellow highlights, to show how sunbeams would reflect on the water.

Mother looked over the drawing carefully. She smiled and told Axel that the drawing was marvellous. But, she added, “If you are a Monet pond, then you are missing something important. Do you know what that is?” Axel looked at her for a hint. He then said, “Let me take another look at some of the paintings in your book to see if I can figure that out.”

Axel brought the book to the kitchen table and started looking through it, making sure not to get any ink from the markers on the pages. He noticed that many of Mr Monet’s ponds had lily pads and flowers. He asked his Mom, “Perhaps I am missing these things in my drawing?”

Mother’s eyes lit up. She went to her sewing box and got out pieces of white and green felt. She handed the felt to Axel and said, “Yes, you are exactly right! Perhaps you would like to add a felt lily pad and flower to your drawing, so it really stands out!”

Axel worked to fold and cut the felt so it made a perfect flower. He glued the felt flower to his drawing. It really made the picture even more beautiful - like a real Monet painting! He was proud of his work, and mother gave him a hug of congratulations upon completing it. She even hung it on the refrigerator, so everyone in the family could admire it.

Just then, the sun broke from the clouds and the rain stopped. Axel asked his mother if he could finally go outside again, after being stuck inside all day. She said yes, then and asked him if he was going to practice football. And Axel looked at her and responded, “Not right now. I first really need to ask my frog friends where to find real life lily pads and flowers!”

Editor’s Note: In appreciation of the inspiration provided by Monet, we proudly present the second installment in our “Designer’s Choice” series. These two pieces include a Teddy bear (much like the one Axel created in the above story), along with a re-interpretation of Margarete Steiff’s felt elephant pincushion, this time in Monet-inspired colours and patterns. It is our hope that Monet inspires you as much as he inspired our designers – and Axel!

FAV O U R I T E

Our designer series continues with an elephant (below) and a Teddy bear (far left) inspired by the works of Claude Monet.

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A famous artist’s work triggers the imagination of a young boy.

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Margarete Steiff GmbH, Richard-Steiff-Straße 4, 89537 Giengen an der Brenz

climate neutral printing

PK-DE-00660