CONCOURSE D’STEIFF

A couple of weeks ago, I was listening to a presentation entitled, “How to Prepare & Show Your Car at a Concourse”. They were talking about getting your car show ready for presentation at a Concourse d’Elegance. Such things as a good wash and wax, cleaning out your trunk and leaving only original equipment in it (e.g. spare tire, tire jack, tool kit, first-aid kit) were mentioned.

That got me to thinking – How do you prepare your Steiff for show? Maybe you are down-sizing your hug. Maybe you want to pass down your hug to family member(s).There are several things to do before you hug is ready to go to other parties (up for bid at auction like Christies, family member(s), or other interested parties):

A good cleaning with mild soap and water (you would be surprised how this alone can rejuvenate the looks of your Steiff baby). Cleaning is designed and intended to remove dirt and oils – both being undesirable. Many oils have corrosive elements that can be destructive with whatever they come in contact with. For example, touching and handling stuffed animals with oily hands will leave that oil on the fur of the stuffed animal. Over time, the corrosive elements get to work, slowly eroding away everything it comes I contact with. Then there is dirt. Not only does dirt make an item look dingy and less bright, it can also act like sandpaper, slowing grinding away at an item. One way to alleviate (though not eliminate) this is to wash hands thoroughly before touching items susceptible to deterioration from oils and dirt. Another option, especially for the older more rare items is to wear clean white cotton gloves while handling these items.

 

I know a Zotty Bear that had its neck chewed up by a pet dog. Someone had attempted to stitch it up – didn’t do a very good job. So as to prevent further deterioration, it was professionally conserved. Now you can barely tell the difference. Had this been left as is, the entire bear would have unraveled. Not a good ending for all concerned. If and when you do get your Steiff baby repaired/conserved, please make sure to include that in your provenance. Hopefully yours will be like the Zotty Bear mentioned - you can barely tell the difference – but should be part of the provenance in the spirit of full disclosure.

Speaking of provenance – you should include the history and knowledge of your Steiff Baby.

1)      When did you get it? Birthday? Graduation? From who?

2)      Do you have any documentation? Pictures? Bill of Sale?

3)      Any repairs/alterations?

4)      Any original accessories no longer with the Steiff Baby (e.g. clothing, button, uniform, hat)?

5)      Does it still have its Button-In-Ear?

6)      Does it still have its Tag-In-Ear?

7)      Does it still have its Chest Tag (not all originally had them)?

8)      Does it still have its Hang Tags (not all originally had them)?

9)      Does it still have its Bow (many have them, typically around the neck to give them a formal look)?

Items 4) thru 9) are important, as Steiff does not offer replacements of these items in the after-market.

 

Some additional points to note:

Light

All of your stuffed animal friends should be kept out of direct sunlight. UV rays break down dyes in the mohair (and other materials) and causes fading. Likewise, fluorescent lights can cause fur and chest tags to loose their color. While there is no reason to hide your collection in the dark, it is important to be aware of the dangers of light.

 

Moisture

Store or display your collection is a dry place. Do not store in air-tight plastic tubs – condensation can occur and moisture can lead to discoloration, mold growth, or rot. Plastic bags are not recommended, except for short periods, as moisture can build up inside, encouraging mold. Pieces not on display should be wrapped in acid-free paper (available at craft shops), then can be stored in ventilated boxes or plastic tubs with holes.

 

Temperature Extremes

Avoid attics and basements at all costs. Pick a room where the temperature remains relatively consistent year-round to store or display your collection.

 

Insects

Because mohair is a kind of wool (from the fur of the Angora goat), it is possible that moths may be attracted to your collection. Calico bags (in America known as 100% Cotton Canvas bag), clean brown paper tied with string, or cardboard boxes in which the teddy bear is first wrapped in white acid-free tissue paper are ideal (a shoe box is perfect for a small friend). Add mothballs, antimoth drawer liner paper, cedar wood shavings, or cloves in order to help prevent insect damage. However, never use a product which requires direct application to the teddy bear or other stuffed animal. For items like cedar wood shavings or cloves, these can frequently found packaged in a sachet. Or you can package them in your own handmade sachet using calico cotton fabric. 

When introducing an antique or vintage piece to your collection, first place it in the freezer for 24 to 48 hours to kill any bugs or eggs. This requires some care and preparation. Place your new friend into a heavy duty freezer bag (I do not endorse particular brands, but Ziploc would be a good example). To prevent freezer burns during the freezing process, and condensation during the thawing process, close the zipper most of the way. Press all the air out of the freezer bag before sealing. Close bag completely and freeze as quickly as possible. This also helps protect your other items you have in the freezer from anything that might be living inside your new friend. After 24 to 48 hours in the freezer, place your friend – still in the freezer bag with the zipper closed ALL the way –in the refrigerator to thaw for 24 to 48 hours. Keeping your friend in the freezer bag completely closed prevents condensation of moisture on your friend. After completely thawing your friend, gently vacuum off dust and lose dirt.

In summary, don’t get the wrong idea. Your collection in meant to be enjoyed! Don’t hide it away and deprive yourself of the pleasure of your efforts. Just take a few simple steps to care for your stuffed animal and you will be able to appreciate your collection for years and decades to come.

In conclusion, know what you Steiff baby is made of – over the years, Steiff has made items from Mohair, Llama fur, paper and many other materials.

When preparing for a more formal environment to sell your Steiff baby (e.g. an auction house like Christie’s), make sure you abide by any rules they may have.

Most of all, enjoy the Steiff experience!

Teddy bear does not come to life until he is loved, but once loved he will live forever.

 

Collection vs. Collecting

Collection vs. Collecting

 

There are many versions and definitions of a collection. At a landfill, there is a collection of trash. Go to a mall parking lot, and there is a collection of cars. These uses of the word collection, while correct from one point of view, are not quite satisfactory to me.

I have a somewhat warmer outlook of the word “collection”. The word “collection” means to me having two or more of an item in the same class of product. If I have two or more watches, I have a collection. If I have two or more 1^st edition, 1^st printing books, I have a collection. If I have two or more stuffed animals (e.g. Teddy Bears, stuffed rabbits, stuffed dogs), I have a collection.

Many have two or more watches or cars. Many (most?) would not describe themselves as a collector of either. To them watches and cars serve a utility, much like electricity or water. The word “collecting” describes how you react to that collection.

A collection becomes something different from have two or more of one particular class of object when that class of object becomes important to that person. It speaks to that person, “You found me. Adopt me and take me home with you.” It may not make sense to Adam Smith’s rational economic man, but then we are NOT always perfectly rational.

Many collectors of stuffed animals and Teddy Bears have narrowed their interest to their collecting. Some limit their collection to stuffed animals with growlers and squeakers. Others to Licensed articles (e.g. Disneyana, Coca-Cola, M.I. Hummel, Märklin, Allianz and Paddington Bear). Yet others gravitate to miniature bears (ten centimeters or less) because of space limitations within their domicile.

 

For those who have progressed or advanced in their collecting adventures, they may be conflicted in whether they really want an addition to their collection (any type of collector/collection is subject to this one). The rule of thumb that applies here goes something like this: If you find that you are thinking about a particular piece for more than twenty-four to forty-eight hours, you have found a piece that is a “got-to-have”.

 

The primary objective is to have fun collecting items to your collection. Enjoy the event of collecting each piece and the process of collecting over time.

 

 

Harald Mallwitz

General Manager

Coppell Collectibles, L.L.C.

Coppell, TX

Consultants to the Teddy bear world

Teddy bear does not come to life until he is loved, but once loved he will live forever

http://coppellcollectibles.blogspot.com/

Random Thoughts and Miscellany on Steiff Markings, Part Three

Random Thoughts and Miscellany on Steiff Markings, Part Three

 

This month’s Blog is about some little known editions of the Steiff Tag-In-Ear and Button-In-Ear.

 

Immediately following are for internal (to Steiff) use only. They are not for sale. As I understand the situation, sometimes a Steiff employee has an example of a HANDMUSTER or WERKMUSTER piece. These pieces can be extremely valuable.

 

 

 

Not for Sale/Unverkaufliches

HANDMUSTER

Property of/Eigentum der

Margarete Steiff GmbH

 

Above comes in yellow or white tag, and is the first approved model of the piece. These are Steiff Tags for approved designer models

 

 

Not for Sale/Unverkaufliches

WERKMUSTER

Property of/Eigentum der

Margarete Steiff GmbH

 

Above comes in yellow or white tag. These are tags for type samples in the production department.

 

 

Above is found on Pp. 84-86 in “100 Years Steiff Teddy Bears – The Original Since 1902”.

 

By Gunther Pfeiffer

2001

 

 

Blanc Button and Overproduction Pieces

 

Usually the Steiff items have a button and eartag in the ear (or sometimes at other sites), and the button in our day has the name "Steiff" on it. "Blanc button" items are articles which are originally only sold at the Steiff factory store in Giengen / Germany and are normally rejects. They have no eartag and the button is blanc, so no "Steiff" on it. Most times you cannot see any reason why they are rejects (well sometimes they even look better than the "normal" item for resale), but they are less expensive. Here in the United States they are frequently called “Factory Seconds”.

 

Above all for children to play they are very good as the children very often will cut the ear tag anyway...

 

Beside the "Blanc Button" items there are also so called "Overproduction" items which are also originally sold only at the factory store. When Steiff is producing a limited edition with for example 1500 pieces, they will produce for example 1530 pieces because of perhaps some rejects or other issues. But only these 1500 pieces will get their consecutively numbered white (=limited) ear tag. The ones more than 1500 will get a yellow ear tag which tells you on the back side that this is an item from "Overproduction", so not a reject but it is not one from the limited issued amount.

 

Both, blanc buttons and overproduction items, will miss most times any accessories like dresses or other things which are not fixed to the item.

You will find examples of both at http://www.bearattack.com under "Steiff - Available in Stock" separate categories for Blanc Button items and Overproduction items.

 

http://www.bearattack.com/ba-steiff-blankbutton.html

 

http://www.bearattack.com/ba-steiff-overprod.html

 

 

 

 

Harald Mallwitz

General Manager

hmallwitz at tx dot rr dot com

Coppell Collectibles, L.L.C.

Coppell, TX

Consultants to the Teddy bear world

Teddy bear does not come to life until he is loved, but once loved he will live forever

http://coppellcollectibles.blogspot.com/

Random Thoughts and Miscellany on Steiff Markings, Part Two

Random Thoughts and Miscellany on Steiff Markings, Part Two

1959 - 1965

 

In November of 2016, Coppell Collectibles brought to you Part One of Steiff Markings. As noted in Part One, counterfeiting was a primary reason for Steiff patenting its “Button-in-Ear”, and “Tag-in-Ear”.

In this presentation, we cover the period of 1959 thru 1965. In this post-war era, patenting its “Button-in-Ear”, and “Tag-in-Ear” starts to transition from legal reasons to branding itself as a manufacturer of quality plush and stuffed animals.

 

The following is Steiff’s classification of their products according to year of production based on trademarks: Button-in-Ear, Tag-In-Ear, and chest tags (hang tags).

 

From 1947:

The U.S. Zone tag was sewn into one of the body seams, usually the right arm or leg.  It was used from 1947 – 1953.

 

During this time, a number of different buttons were used. One of these was the button left over from the production period prior to 1942 (the “f” is underscored).

 

Blank buttons were used, occasionally painted blue.

 

Also, “Button-in-Ear” was used with the word “Steiff” printed in block capital letters. Descending “f”s were omitted.

 

From 9147 to 1952, Steiff used a yellow tag fastened along with the tag. From 1948 to 1952, a white tag was used from time to time. Initially, the tag was made of paper, then switched to linen. The tag shows the name STEIFF, with additional text in block letters. Starting in 1950, material used in the construction was printed on the reverse side.

 

Those chest tags being used up to around 1941 were also used in this period. Characteristic of this period is an angular bear’s head with a nose, muzzle, and mouth drawn in. The name of the specific animal, or “Steiff Original” is printed in a reddish-brown color.

 

 

1952 to 1953

 

Steiff updated its chest tag. In this version. Here, the bear’s head has a softer, more rounded look at the top, and has just a mouth and nose. Here too, the letters are in a reddish-brown color

 

Steiff introduced a new nickel button consisting of a script version of “Steiff”. This particular button was used from 1952 thru the end of the 60’s. Even after the introduction of Steiff’s article numbers separated by the slash, this button was still used.

 

The appearance of the button was changed somewhat in the mid 60’s. The script style for the word STEIFF became somewhat thicker. Plus, both of the “fs” exhibit a smaller loop.

 

At the same time, Steiff changed the tag to be subsequently made of linen. Additionally, the name “Steiff” change to a script pattern. Also, the word “registered” was deleted.

 

Proceeding from the mid-1950’s, the Tag-in-Ear was lengthened to accommodate handwritten pricing. This Tag-in-Ear was used until about 1970. The price portion of the tag was often removed by the customer after purchase .The articles’ typeset is a good way to identify the item’s production date.

 

A new chest tag was introduced in 1953. The bear’s head had a more rounded shape to it.  The writing on the tag changed from red-brown to blue lettering. The red-brown lettering was used on rare occasion. This chest tag was used as is until 1971.

 

From 1969

 

The lentil button was newly introduced in 1969. This was a hollow nickel rivet used until roughly 1977.

 

The Tag-in-Ear during the 1969/1970 season was a redesigned tag. The area were the article was printed was lengthened, thereby eliminating the area where the price field was. This linen label was in use through 1980.

 

A new chest tag was introduced in 1972, and is still being used to this day. The configuration is round, with half being red background and yellow lettering and the other half being yellow background and red lettering.

 

From 1978

 

Introduced again was a brass riveted Button-in-Ear along with the name “Steiff” stamped in script lettering. From 1978 to 1982, the Button-in-Ear was 8mm on diameter. From 1983 on, the Button-in-Ear became 8mm in diameter.

 

From 1978 to 1980, a gold Button-in-Ear resembling the gold script Button-in-Ear of the fifties and sixties was simultaneously used.

 

A double cloth Tag-in-Ear in yellow with red lettering was used from 1981 onwards. Also, in 1981 the article number was woven into the cloth in smallish figures.

 

From 1982 thru 1987, the article number is woven much larger in the Tag-in-Ear.

 

The printed-tape was introduced in the 1986/1987 timeframe at the newest incarnation of the Tag-in-Ear. The printed article number was featured on the Tag-in-Ear up to 1989. In 1990, Steiff introduced the EAN number, replacing the printed article number on its renowned Tag-in-Ear. The Button-in-Ear and Tag-in-Ear were changed at the end of the year 2000.

 

A New Century, a New Paragon for Buttons, Tags, and Chest Tags

 

From 1984 onwards, Steiff “second class” articles (in the United States referred to as “Factory Seconds”) were identified as riveted brass Button-in-Ears sans the stamped “Steiff” legend.

 

A white double cloth tag with black lettering was indicated for replica pieces from 1980 onwards. Prior to 1981 article numbers were woven into the tag using the smallest of figures.

 

Article numbers were shown in much larger size on the replica piece tag from1982 thru 1986.

 

Tag-in-Ear was made out of a new material called print-tape from 1987 onwards. The article number was printed on the Tag-in-Ear until 1989. From 1990, the EAN was printed on the Tag-in-Ear. This white Tag-in-Ear with black lettering is still currently used for replicas.

 

Signifying special series production, this white tag with red lettering has been in use since 1994.

 

From 2000 onwards, Steiff’s new Button-in-Ear uses a different fastening device for the yellow and white Tag-in-Ear. The Tag-in-Ear is concurrently different – now only single with the EAN located in the back side.

 

Effective 2000, Steiff uses a gold-plated button for its limited edition pieces.

 

 

Replicas and special editions frequently have the original chest tags affixed to them. Additionally, replicas and special editions can have a variety of different things attached to them such as informational booklets, plaques, and the like.

 

A variety of information is included on the reverse side of labels and chest tags – for example limited edition quantities, what material was used, and moth protection. Steiff’s imagination seemed to be the limit.

 

 

Harald Mallwitz

General Manager

Coppell Collectibles, L.L.C.

Coppell, TX

Consultants to the Teddy bear world

Teddy bear does not come to life until he is loved, but once loved he will live forever

http://coppellcollectibles.blogspot.com/

Random Thoughts and Miscellany on Steiff Markings, 1897 - 1958

Since the inauguration of Steiff marking their products, there have been many changes made in keeping with the times. One primary business reason doing such is to keep their competitors from counterfeiting Steiff’s trade identity. This was very prevalent in Germany during the first decade or two in the 1900s. Competitors would create teddy bears that looked very similar to what Steiff offered. To prevent mistaken identity between one brand and the next, Steiff patented its “Button-in-Ear”, and “Tag-in-Ear”.

From 1897 to 1904: Assorted tags showing the elephant with a raised trunk forming the “S” in the abbreviation “M. St.” (for Margarete Steiff) are attached to the bodies of animals.

From 01/11/1904 to 1905: The first Button-In-Ear was used, namely the use of the elephant button.

From 1905 to 1906: A blank button was used. White tag accompanied this button with the article number printed on it along with the German word, “geschütz” from time to time. Though the blank button was used through 1906, the illust5rate white tag was attached up to approximately 1908.

From 1906 thru 1924: Button with name “Steiff” in upper-case letters are used. The second “f” in Steiff is extended into a long arc. Also, a white tag with the printed article number and “Original Steiff” are used.

From 1921 to 1927: A special red or blue plastic tag was affixed to the Steiff Schlopsnies dolls as a means of identification.

From 1923 through 1926: Button described as above, white tag with printed article number were used. Additionally, “Steiff Original geschütz” (patented) and “Germany Importé d’ Allemagne” were included on the Tag-in-Ear.

From 1926 through 1928: Pendant in assorted sizes were used, with white paper/cardboard interior and metal ring exterior, featuring black lettering.

From 1926 to 1934: Button describe as above, red tag with printed article number. Additionally, “Steiff Original geschütz” (patented) and “Made in Germany” were printed on said Tag-in-Ear.

From 1928 thru 1952: Red edged pendant featuring angular yellow bear’s head. Additionally, the interior featuring pale pink and red lettering.

From 1934 through 1943: Button described as in “From 1926 to 1934”. Yellow tag was used as in “From 1926 to 1934” with identical messaging as the red tag, “Steiff Original geschütz”, abbreviated to “Steiff Orig. gesch” from time to time.

From 1936 to 1950: Button-in-Ear featured a shortened arc from the second “f” in Steiff. Tag-in-Ear as described in “From 1934 through 1943”.

In the early 1900s, Steiff rigorously defended its brand by patenting their Button-in-Ear, Tag-in-Ear, and their pendant, soon to be called hang tags. Because many of Steiff’s competitors (especially in Germany in the early 1900s) exactly or extremely closely duplicated the tag, button or pendant to take advantage of Steiff’s popularity, Steiff began to patent these three items plus many of their design features. Sometimes these patents were ignored by Steiff’s competitors, with Steiff having to go back to court to assert its legal rights.

 

The following is the breakdown of the article numbers of Steiff ear tags:

 

Article Numbers on Steiff ear tags

1905 - 1958

 

1^st Digit (thousands) – position / nature

1 = standing

2 = lying

3 = sitting

4 = sitting up / begging / standing on back legs

5 = jointed

6 = young

7 = caricature

8 = ball jointed neck

9 = with clock-work mechanism

 

2^nd Digit (hundreds) – type of material

1 = felt

2 = short-pile plush / coat plush

3 = mohair

4 = velvet

5 = lamb’s wool plush / wool plush

6 = cellulose / artificial silk plush (up to 1955) / dralon plush (from 1955 on)

7 = cotton fabric / oil cloth

8 = wood

9 = fur / metal

 

3^rd & 4^th Digits (tens and ones) – size in cm, e.g.

10 = 10 cm

17 = 17 cm

35 = 35 cm

 

Digit after the comma – equipment / outfit

0 = without wheels

1 = soft filling / also with squeaker

2 = automatic voice (growler) / double squeaker / cord-activated voice

3 = music box

4 = simplified

5 = removable saddle

6 = tails / clothing

7 = muzzle / rucksack

8 = steering

9 = removable rocker

b = hot water bottle (waermflasche)

ex = eccentric wheels (Exzenterraeder)

H = neck mechanism / tail turns head (Halsmechanik)

ST = steering (Steuerung)

br = brown

c = caramel

g = gold

w = white

M = girl (Maid)

B = Boy (Bub)

Notes:

Jointed animals are measured sitting down

 

Much to Steiff’s chagrin, the European Court is of the opinion that the button and tag are no longer recognized as a trademark by the typical consumer. Steiff has used both to the point of being ubiquitous, and many Steiff patrons are no longer able to separate Steiff from its competitors based on their button and tag features. 

 

Harald Mallwitz

General Manager

Coppell Collectibles, L.L.C.

Coppell, TX

Consultants to the Teddy bear world

Teddy bear does not come to life until he is loved, but once loved he will live forever

http://coppellcollectibles.blogspot.com/

Glossary of Stuffed Animal Terms

Arctophilia: Etymology, From Ancient Greek ἄρκτος (arktos), “‘bear’”) + φιλία (philia), “‘affection’”)

love of bears, collecting teddy bears (arctophily)

 

Alpaca: a silky wool fabric made from the fleece of the alpaca, a domesticated South American hoofed mammal with a long, soft, silky fleece; related to the llama. Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a domesticated species of South American camelid. It resembles a small llama in appearance.

 

Angora goat: An Angora goat is a domesticated goat bred for its extremely long, silky hair, which can be sheared twice annually and spun into mohair. The original Angora goats come from Angora, a region of Turkey, although today they can be found in many regions of the world, and some breeders have crossed the breed with other goats to encourage more hardy characteristics and to create colored Angora goats, with fur in a variety of shades including brown, gray, and black in addition to the classic white.

 

Antique: generally speaking, an object of considerable age valued for its aesthetic or historical significance; in the antiques trade, objects more than 100 years old.

 

Appraisal: an expert estimation of the value, quality and other characteristics of something.

 

Arctophile: a person who collects bears; from the Greek arktos, meaning bear.

 

Artist Bear: a bear from an original pattern designed and made by hand in a limited edition or as a one-of-a-kind.

 

Auction: a publicly held sale at which property or goods are sold to the highest bidder; see also: Christie’s and Sotheby’s.

 

Auction Value: estimated price for a piece to sell at auction (either at an auction house or through an online auction such as eBay); generally less than insurance value and less than retail, but more than wholesale; contingent upon the quality of the auction.

 

Bear Museum, The: world’s first teddy bear museum in Petersfield, Hampshire, England, founded by Judy Sparrow in the early 1980s.

 

Bearabilia: bear-related items, typically non-plush (e.g., plates, ornaments and figurines).

 

Bearaphernalia: see bearabilia.

 

Berryman, Clifford: Political cartoonist who, inspired by President Theodore Roosevelt’s refusal to shoot a bear while on a hunt in Mississippi, drew the political cartoon captioned “Drawing the Line in Mississippi” that appeared in the Nov. 16, 1902, edition of The Washington Post; according to legend, the cartoon inspired Morris and Rose Michtom to create a toy bear in the United States and name it “Teddy’s Bear”.

 

Boot-Button Eyes: see shoe-button eyes.

 

Boston, Wendy: developed and patented the first lock-in safety eyes for bears in 1948; created the first un-jointed, machine-washable teddy bear in 1954.
 

Bruin: a bear.

 

Bull, Peter: actor who, in the 1960s, introduced his philosophy of “bear awareness” and helped to spur an excitement for bear collecting; he went on to write the book Bear With Me, launching his career as an ambassador for the teddy bear.

 

Center Seam:  refers to the seam down the center of some bears’ faces; to use material economically Steiff cut six teddy bear heads from one length of mohair, and a seventh head was then cut in two pieces and sewn together forming a seam down the center of the bear’s face; artists and bear makers still employ this technique at times.

 

Certificate Of Authenticity (COA): a document that accompanies a piece denoting the name of the manufacturer, artist, date, size of the edition, etc.

 

Christie’s: first auction house to host a sale, in 1993, entirely devoted to teddy bears.

 

Collector’s Price: generally similar to the fair market value, but higher for items that are rare or harder to acquire.

 

Cotter Pin: a two-pronged metal pin used to fasten the disc joints that allow a teddy bear to move its arms, legs and head.

 

Cub: the young of a bear.

Darn (to darn something): to mend a hole in woven/knitted fabric by interweaving yarn with a needle.

 

Designer: a person who makes or designs patterns.

Disc-Jointed: bear’s head and limbs are attached with discs and pins; Steiff’s first disc-jointed bears appeared in 1905 and a similar method is still used by many bear makers today.

 

Distressed: refers to material made or processed to appear faded or played with, giving it a vintage and worn appearance.

 

Double Jointed: generally refers to the joints in some teddy bears’ necks when two joints are used for extra pose ability.

Dry Rot: a decay of bear’s fur or stuffing, resulting in its becoming brittle and crumbling to a dry powder, caused by various fungi.

 

Electric-Eye Bear: lightbulbs were placed in this American-made bear’s eye sockets, and a battery pack in the body lights the eyes when the stomach is pressed; produced in the early 1900s embroidered nose: nose is stitched with thread or floss; the vertical and horizontal stitching and color of the thread can sometimes help to determine the bear’s maker.

Ephemera: objects in the collecting world that were originally considered to be ephemeral by nature, i.e., not made to last, such as postcards or sheet music.

 

Excelsior: fine wood shavings or wood-wool used to stuff early teddy bears; has a tendency to break down and soften with time so it is not used as often in modern bears, with the exception of some replicas and artist-made bruins. See wool-wool.

 

Fair Market Value: price currently being paid for the same item in equal condition.

 

Faux Fur: plush fabric made of artificial fibers; also known as synthetic fur.

 

Felt: nonwoven typically woolen fabric frequently used for a teddy bear’s paw and foot pads.

 

Fiberfill: synthetic fibers, such as polyester, used as a filling.

 

Foot Pad: covering on the sole of a bear’s foot, often made from felt or suede; see also: paw pad.

 

Foxing: foxing is a term describing the age-related spots and browning seen on vintage paper documents such as books, postage stamps, certificates, and so forth. The name may derive from the fox-like reddish-brown color of the stains, or the rust chemical ferric oxide which may be involved. Paper so affected is said to be "foxed."

 

Golden Teddy Award: recognizes the best teddy bears and soft-sculpture animals created by artists and manufacturers; a panel of distinguished judges in the field narrows the entries to six or fewer creations in each category; winners are selected by Teddy Bear Review readers through a ballot voting process.

 

Golliwogg: from Florence Upton’s tales about a mischievous black doll and his Dutch wooden cohorts; often referred to as Golly; first pairing of Teddy and Golly was in the book The Teddy Bearoplane by May Byron (Acme Tone and Engraving Co., England) in the early 1900s.

 

Golly: see Golliwogg.

 

Good Bears of the World: nonprofit organization founded in England in 1969 by James T. Ownby “to bring teddy bears to those who need and want them”.

 

Growler: a “voice box” fitted in a bear’s tummy or side that is activated by tipping the bear back and forth to create a growling sound.

Gusset: the wedge-shaped piece of fabric between the two head pieces on most bears.

 

Gutta-Percha nose: Some other early bears had noses made of a natural wax type substance called Gutta-Percha. This was obviously quite fragile and came off relatively easy over the years no doubt swallowed by some children. Few examples of a Gutta-Percha nose exist today in tact with the exception of a few early Steiff bears. (See PB28).

Hangtag: a thin card tag attached to a bear or hung around its neck to identify the manufacturer; see also: swing tag.

 

Heirloom: family possession handed down from generation to generation.

 

Hug: a collection of teddy bears.

 

Hump: a fleshy protuberance on the back of an animal, most often seen on early bears.

 

Ideal Novelty & Toy Co.: first U.S. bear manufacturing company, founded by Morris and Rose Michtom in 1903; see also: Michtom, Morris and Rose.

Inset Muzzle: nose and snout made from a separate, often different, piece of fabric from the rest of the head and face.

 

Insurance Value: generally twice the current market value, sometimes referred to as replacement value.

 

Jointed: generally discs are inserted at each of the bear’s arms and legs and at the neck allowing movement.

 

Kapok: a lightweight, hygenic and soft stuffing material mainly used in the 1920s and 1930s, sometimes used in combination with excelsior.

 

Limited Edition: offered in a restricted number.

 

Materials: in the antiques and collectibles business, refers to what an object is made from, such as mohair, felt or excelsior.

 

Michtom, Morris and Rose: inspired by Clifford Berryman’s cartoon, created “Teddy’s Bear” in 1902; founded the Ideal Novelty & Toy Co. in 1903; see also: Berryman, Clifford and Ideal Novelty & Toy Co.

 

Micro-Mini: opinions vary as to what should be considered a “micro-mini” bear, but typically a bear under 2 inches tall is regarded as such.

 

MIB: Mint In Box, a collector's abbreviation for an item in mint condition.

 

Miniature Bear: opinions vary as to what should be considered a “miniature” bear, but typically a bear under 5 inches tall is regarded as such.

Mohair: a silky textile produced from the hair of the angora goat. It is most often spun into a thread that can be woven, knitted, or crocheted depending upon the application. Mohair is durable, warm, insulating, and light. It also has moisture wicking properties that carry moisture away from the skin of the wearer. The hair of the Angora goat has been used to produce textiles for centuries, and the term mohair entered English usage from the Arabic mukhayyar, referring to a type of woven head cloth.

 

Mottled: to mark with spots or blotches of different color or shades of color as if stained

In describing a teddy bear, “he was mottled brown.”

 

Muzzle: snout.

 

Nap: soft or fuzzy surface of fabric, such as mohair; changing the direction the nap lies when making a bear changes the bear’s appearance.

 

Needle Felting: the process of poking into natural fibers with relatively long needles that have small barbs on them; “dry” felting technique is used to create soft-sculpture bears and other animals and is often incorporated into designs to add detail on paw pads and faces.

 

NIB: New In Box.

 

One Of A Kind: a unique design of which no others have been created (OOAK).

 

Ownby, James: credited as the founder of Good Bears of the World.

 

Paw Pad: covering at the end of a bear’s arm, often made from felt or suede; see also: foot pad.

 

PB55: name of the first jointed bear created by Richard Steiff in 1902; the “55” signifies the product size (55 cm), the “P” stands for plush and the “B” for beweglich, German for “jointed”; Steiff introduced a replica in 2002.

 

Pile: the surface of a fabric with cut or looped upright yarns, or one of the strands in such a surface; mohair comes in a variety of “pile” lengths.

 

Plush: sometimes used to refer generally to non-mohair manufactured bears; fabric of silk, rayon, cotton or other material with a thick, deep pile.

 

Poly-fil: brand name of a popular polyester stuffing used in bears; see also: fiberfill.

 

Port, Beverly: known as the “Mother of Teddy Bear Artistry,” she coined the term “teddy bear artist” and her designs would become the bridge between bears manufactured only as toys for children and the modern age of soft-sculpture bears created as originals for collectors; in 1976, she became the first journalist to devote an entire column to teddy bears; the stories were written with the help of her little companion bear, Theodore B. Bear.

 

Provenance: (1) the history of ownership of a bear, including who owned it, when, where and for how long—all of which, if known and verified, often adds significant value to an antique or collectible; the records or documents authenticating such an object or the history of its ownership; a photograph of a bear with a previous owner is an example. (2) Provenance — the known history of a bear, which may include original photos from the turn of the century with the bear and owner — can increase value by up to 50 percent. The documentation and story of an item is a valuable asset.

Recycled Fur: real animal hide that is repurposed from a coat, blanket or other item and made into a new item such as a teddy bear.

 

Repair: to bring to a good or sound condition after decay or damage; see also: restore.

 

Replacement Value: see insurance value.

 

Replica: a copy of an original, openly advertised as being a copy; in the 1980s manufacturers, such as Steiff, began making copies of their antique teddy bears; replicas are often made in limited editions.

 

Reproduction: see replica.

 

Resale Value: price to sell an item; usually slightly lower than fair market value since it is a “quicker” sale term.

 

Restore: to bring back to a former or original condition; see also: repair.

 

Rexine: the trade name for a leather cloth made by covering a woven cloth with cellulose nitrate; often used on bears’ paw pads and foot pads in the mid-1900s.

Rod Bear: a bear with metal joints that run through the body; style of jointing was introduced by Steiff and used only in their very early bears.

 

Roosevelt, Theodore: the teddy bear’s namesake, 26th president of the United States; see also: Berryman, Clifford and Michtom, Morris and Rose.

 

Sculpted Nose: noses formed from polymer clay sometimes seen on artist bears.

 

Sealing Wax: sometimes used to make molded noses for teddy bears.

 

Secondary Market: collectibles sold by private collectors or specialty “secondary market” retailers, not the original retailers.

 

Shoe-Button Eyes: black shoe buttons were typically used as eyes for the earliest teddy bears.

 

Soft Sculpture: refers to three-dimensional art such as teddy bears and other animals created with fabric or fibers.

 

Sotheby’s: London auction house that, in 1982, held the first collectibles sale to include teddy bears.

 

Squeaker: a voice box, often fitted in a teddy bear’s tummy, that emits a sound when pressed.

 

Steiff, Margarete: began Margarete Steiff GmbH in Germany in 1880; the company is credited for creating the first jointed mohair teddy bear.

 

Steiff, Richard: nephew of Margarete Steiff, he is credited for designing the first jointed mohair teddy bear in 1902 in Giengen, Germany.

 

Stick Bear: an inexpensive bear, with thin limbs, made in the United States, mainly during the 1930s.

 

String Jointed: bear’s limbs and/or head are attached with string or thread rather than discs; the first Steiff teddy bear was jointed with this method.

 

Sub: stuffing made from cotton waste and used during World War II when other materials, such as kapok, were not available.

 

Swing Tag: a thin card tag attached to a bear or hung around its neck to identify the manufacturer; see also: hangtag.

 

Tableau: (plural: tableaux) a picturesque grouping of objects. See vignette.

 

Tea-Dyed: material is soaked in tea to give it an old or vintage look.

 

Ted: short for teddy bear.

 

Theodore Society: organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of the teddy bear.

Ultra suede: a brand of washable, synthetic suede-like material frequently used for the paw pads and foot pads on artist bears.

 

Upholstery Velvet: a woven fabric with a very short pile, often used to make miniature bears or for paw pads and foot pads.

 

Ursa: Latin for bear.

 

Ursine: of or pertaining to a bear or bears.

 

Vignette: see tableau.

 

Vintage: characterized by excellence, maturity and enduring appeal; classic.

 

Webbed Claws: four or five large stitches that form the paw claws and are linked with a strand of thread to produce a webbed effect.

 

Wobble Joint: a very loose joint in a bear’s neck that causes the head to bob.

Wood-Wool: see excelsior.

 

Wool Batting: wool fiber in batts or sheets that is used in needle felting; see: wool roving.

 

Wool Roving: wool that has been twisted, attenuated and freed of foreign matter in the stage before its conversion into yarn; used for needle felting, it is more refined than wool batting. See wool batting.

 

Yes/No Bear: first introduced by the German bear company Schuco in 1921, the bear has a mechanism in it causing it to nod its head “yes” when the tail is moved up and down and shake its head “no” when the tail is moved side to side.