Steiff Teddy Bears-Antique to Modern

The Internationally famous Steiff company has been making teddy bears since 1902 and still going strong. Founded by Margarite Steiff in Germany in 1877, Margarite was crippled with polio and confined to a wheelchair when she started making stuffed toys with leftover fabric from her uncles fabric factory. Teddy bears were introduced in 1902 and were in full production by 1904. These wonderful early bears had realistically long arms and curved paws which enabled them to stand on all fours, a long muzzle and pronounced hump. Steiff continued into the 1920's with long arms and big feet, but bodies were plumper than earlier designs. By the 1950's teddy had much shorter limbs, rounder face with shorter muzzle and a fatter body. Steiff's are most certainly the most sought after bears, not only because of their quality, but their endearing expressions and tilted heads are just too irresistible. The early antique teddy bears are particularly sought after. 'Wallace' here is a 1906-07 Steiff teddy bear, available at Antique Teddy Bear Crossing.