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.

 

PROVENANCE 102

Types of Documents Used to Establish Provenance

In a previous entry on this blog, I wrote about Provenance 101. Now the question is, “What types of documentation are used to establish Provenance?”

1)      Was your item bought at auction? If so, it was probably featured in the Auction Houses’ catalog. This would be part of the provenance. It may also help in tracking down more history.

2)      If available, a letter authored by original owner describing the item, what it meant, and how it was acquired/received by him/her is a valuable document.

3)      Certificate of Authenticity (COA). This would typically come from the manufacturer. The manufacturer would be the most credible source for this type of document.

4)      If your item has a serial number, provide that serial number to manufacturer. They most likely will be able to verify its authenticity and model number, along with the production dates.

5)      Bill of Sale with the date of sale, purchase price, who sold it, who bought it, in what city and of course a description of the item itself.

6)      Photographic records of the item along with its owner.

7)      A written narrative of the current and/or original owner describing what we are looking at. Who gifted it? Who received the gift? Is/was there a bigger historical significance to the item? Be sure to add significant events or changes in status as time goes on that would be of importance to the item’s provenance.

 

Anderson Cooper, reporting on “60 Minutes”, shows in $80 Million Con what can happen when provenance is ignored or taken for granted.

If you have other examples of any other types of documents to establish provenance, email Harald Mallwitz. It may be included in a possible future entry in this blog.

 

Harald Mallwitz

General Manager

Coppell Collectibles, L.L.C.

http://coppellcollectibles.blogspot.com/

email: harald.mallwitz@gmail.com

 

PROVENANCE 101

Definition:

The history of ownership of a valued object or work of art or literature

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/provenance

 

What does it involve?

Establishing provenance involves collecting evidence that the item is what you say it is. Examples of such evidence includes, but not limited to, pictures, bill of sale, verification thru manufacturer of serial number. Pertaining to the last one, with some items like guns, if you provide the serial number to manufacturer they will verify its authenticity and model number, along with the production dates. Another example would be symbols on pottery or porcelain – these would identify the manufacturer and many times the production dates.

 

How much?

How much depends on the history of the piece. If you just acquired a brand new item, there is not going to be much history, and just a little bit of provenance. In this case, be sure to keep and include the original Bill of Sale – this will establish when, how much was paid, and who it was sold to. If you newly acquired an older piece like a Civil War Confederate gun, you will have a Bill of Sale of the just completed sale and hopefully one or more Civil War era documents.  Additionally, you should be getting an establish provenance from the previous owner. If not you should get as many details as possible from the previous owner. The rest you will probably have to research on your own.

If you own a family heirloom that has been handed down from generation to generation you may have an accurate accounting of the item’s history, or maybe not. You may or may not have any documents like a Bill of Sales, pictures, certificates of authenticity, signatures (like that of an artist on a painting), or symbols on pottery or porcelain. Start with what you have and go from there. If you have an artist’s signature on a painting, go from there. If it is a recognized artist, the rest may fall into place. If the artist is not recognized, it may take some time and digging to find out the rest.

 

Who cares?

There are intended audiences. Future generations of your family would be one example. It is harder to research and attain good history and provenance as time slips by. For family heirlooms, the sooner you establish the provenance and history of your heirloom, the better.

For items intended for sale at auction or otherwise outside of your family, provenance becomes crucial. Verified provenance often commands a premium, as history and verification of the item is established (the casual observer of Antiques Roadshow recognizes this).

 

The Next Step

If you bought a brand new item, you probably have the Bill of Sale, and the circumstances surrounding the purchase (e.g. bought by Mom for Junior’s 10^th birthday). The only thing left to do is take a picture of Junior with the item on his 10^th birthday. Be sure to add significant events or changes in status as time goes on that would be of importance to the item’s provenance.

If you have an older item, you may already have some provenance. Verify and document that provenance. During the verification and documentation process, you may find more information relevant to your particular items’ provenance. Be forewarned – the process may take some time and effort in gathering the needed information and related documents. Much of it will depend on whether there is an established market for your item. As noted in “Who Cares?” it is harder to research and attain good history and provenance as time slips by.