Steiff Teddy Bear
Datec. 1930s
Dimensions13.3 × 5.1 cm (5 1/4 × 2 in.)
Credit LineGift of Mary Anne Alexander, Arthur, Ontario, 2021.
Object number2021.019.002
Label TextThe Steiff teddy bear belonged to Ina Matilda Bucke Seaborn (1877-1968), daughter of Dr. Richard Maurice Bucke and wife of Dr. Edwin Seaborn. The Margrete Steiff Felt Toy Factory began production of teddy bears in 1902. That year, Richard Steiff, nephew of business founder and owner, Margrete Steiff, proposed a bear as the next best animal for a toy, adding it to their long list of stuffed animal toys. While other toys were made of felt, Richard found “the cuddly and good for coloring mohair plush produced by the Florweberei Schulte (Schulte pile weaving mill) in Duisburg.” According to the company website, “the breakthrough came when an American trader discovered the bears and ordered 3,000 of them. The bears began an unprecedented selling success in the USA from 1906 under the name of Teddy Bear - named after the American president Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt.” As for the button in the ear marked “Steiff,” the company introduced that in 1904 to differentiate their high-quality product from less expensive knockoffs. By 1907, “400 employees and 1,800 home workers produced 973,999 teddy bears and a total of around 1,700,000 toys.” The company is still producing stuffed toys today.
NameBear, Teddy
1999-2000
