These more affordable, cuddly teddy bears are the perfect introduction for children and new collectors.įor more than 100 years the shiny fur of the Steiff originals has come from one and the same supplier. Steiff has expanded their market to a more general audience by introducing Steiff Soft Cuddly Teddy Bears. The value of their stuffed animals and teddy bears increase as they age and continue to fetch top dollar on the auction market. Steiff is recognized worldwide for their quality stuffed animals. Manufacturing is still done by hand in Steiff’s 100-year-old factory in Giengen, Germany. The Steiff tradition continues to this day. The bears became extremely popular in the USA and from 1906 on were known as Teddy Bears after President Theodore Roosevelt. Soon an American trader discovered the bears and ordered 3000. When searching for the perfect covering for his bear, Richard discovered mohair from a local supplier which was cuddly and the perfect color for his bears. This was the world’s first stuffed toy with moving arms and legs. His sketches became the basis for many of Steiff’s creations.

Marguerite’s nephew, Richard Steiff, joined the company in 1897. Soon many other animal designs were added and the business grew. The Steiff stuffed animal business had started. Her brother Fritz began selling the elephants at a local market and soon they became a popular children’s toy. So many people commented on her pin cushion that she decided to turn the little elephant into a stuffed toy. One day, Marguerite saw a sewing pattern for a small elephant, which she thought would make an ideal pin cushion. Soon after, she started her own felt clothing business. She excelled at her craft and was rewarded by her father who converted part of the family home into a tailor shop for Marguerite. At 17, she enrolled in a sewing school and started training as a seamstress.

However, she did not let her disability hold her back. Marguerite suffered from polio, as a result, she lived her life in a wheelchair and had limited use of her right hand. The Steiff Company was founded in 1880 in Giengen an der Brenz, Germany by Marguerite Steiff. Each Classic, Collectible Steiff Teddy Bear is meticulously hand-sewn and hand-finished with jointed parts and silky mohair coverings by a team of talented artisans in Giengen, Germany. Steiff is famous for their hand-made German Teddy Bears with The Steiff Button In The Ear.

Steiff teddy bear