Steiff is the famous name brand for plush teddy bears and stuffed animals with more than one hundred and twenty-five years of experience in the plush toy industry. The company's heritage dates back to 1877, when founder Margarete Steiff began selling household items and felt clothing. She created her first felt toys soon after, and the business expanded accordingly to include a range of plush toys, including the first famous Steiff bear in 1902, created by Margarete's nephew Richard.
Since then, the Steiff teddy bear has been a staple for fine collectors all over the world who purchase the prestigious, well-crafted stuffed animals for themselves and as gifts for family members, children, and loved ones they care for. In 2005, the company celebrated one hundred twenty-five years in business, and the rock-solid reputation of the company, along with the support of its American distributor in Raynham, Massachusetts has allowed Steiff to achieve tremendous success throughout their history.
Each year, the company designs limited and special edition models for holiday seasons and other occasions, and 2009 has been no exception. The German brand's extensive collection now includes a number of worldwide and North American exclusives, including suitcase bears, farm animals, childhood favorites like parakeets, chimpanzees, and rabbits, as well as classic designs like Steiff Kinder dolls and the mohair bears from the early 1900's that helped establish the Steiff brand.
These toy bears have a timeless attraction and universal appeal, such that the earliest available editions have been known to fetch auction prices over £100,000. For the majority of Steiff's customers, however, owning a Steiff teddy bear is quite affordable, and the durability of these lovable and highly personal plush animals make them attractive to kids and adults alike. Best of all, many of the company's products are machine washable.
The company produces over fifteen million stuffed toys annually, and the company has remained Germany's largest manufacturer of these items for many years. In the beginning, Steiff bears were very basic, made from mohair in shades of brown, identifiable by their trademark button tag in the left ear and chest tag.
Today, the company's arsenal of plush animals include such notable children's characters as Kermit the Frog, Piglet, Snoopy, Golly, as well as iconic popular figures like Karl Lagerfeld and American President Theodore Roosevelt. Each holiday season, a number of Christmas-themed bears and animals are featured as part of the Steiff teddy bear family. Modern children who wish for Steiff stuffed toys have more choices than ever. The firm's modern animal kingdom now includes ponies, puppies, pigs, cats, lamb, donkeys, camels, kangaroos, koala, lions, foxes, penguins, and many more.
This year's new additions also include a special Steiff teddy bear to commemorate the 100th anniversary of company founder Margarete Steiff's death. This beautiful gold-coloured mohair bear proudly displays a portrait of the late entrepreneur on its belly, one designed by Australian artist Lisa Rosenbaum. This special edition product measures an impressive 26 inches, and is limited to one thousand pieces available for sale.
Rest assured that if you choose a Steiff teddy bear as a gift or a collector's item, its value, charm, and quality, durable construction can become a lasting source of memories for years to come.
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