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.
