Posted 11 years ago
keeperofth…
(1 item)
This is an old teddy bear my girlfriend got from a grandparent and I've seem it before but we don't know anything about it and o can't find it on the internet. It would be great if any one could tell is about it
Hi,
Check the left ear. Is there a little metal button in there, or evidence that there was one at one time?
I will and reply momentarily
Yes it's a plain metal button on the left very small ear
Stieff bear 1948-50 they used a plain grayish button . Can you photo it and also him without clothes ? If a Stieff he is wonderful ! Other years had name Stieff on button .
Correction he is earlier than that . He has signs of Stieff with triangle shape head ,I can't see how long his nose is and does he have a hump on his back. That is why more photo's are needed nude and from different angles. He is well played with for sure :-)
Check for a elephant on button ok
Ok I will
How do I load another picture or should I email you
Go to edit your photo you will see that you can upload 4 photo's there so you can add 3 more to this post . You will upload same as you did first one but just click edit button first ok
It is not "Stieff" but Steiff, from Margaret Steiff. The button diameter in millimeters and what is stamped on it defines the era in which the toy was produced. For example, if the button is 8 mm in diameter and is stamped "STEIFF" and looks really old (from aging), you COULD have a pre-WW1 bear that COULD be valuable.
The hump on back also likely signifies that it is of prewar era OR one of the reproductions made in the past 35 years by Steiff themselves. Removing the clothing will also reveal if there is a seam in the center of the body, on front and back. The sizing is also important in valuation: extended and seating size.
Last, is the head turning on the body or fixed.
I am sorry I was typing and make error in spelling of Steiff . They knew what I meant :-) t54 Thanks for poiting that error out . This dates them
http://www.steiffnews.com/history_steiff_button.htm
I just checked a Bonhams auction catalog from May 2013 where they have a very similar Steiff bear, from the 1920s, 16" tall. Sure looks the same, but who knows... valuation about $1100.00.
It doesn't appear to have a stamp on the pin. I didn't know the name of the bear but I saw a picture of before I got my hands on this one. After you told me the name I looked it up. Sorry for the time frame , new smartphone. Smarter than me
That's about what I figured
The head is fixed
Are you saying you can not photo the ear tag ? if not you can send photo's to my email if you wish . I do not give values since they are ever changing and we don't appraise . But I have worked with many bears at museum . I will say if it is a steiff there are many factors that collectors look for in them not all are created equal and condition counts unless very rare one . I would keep him from getting moths on him or dirty and handle only if you have to . You may want to take off clothes since they will wear on mohair and not original to him. You could keep them in a box near him :-)
Did you see the picture of the ear tag or was it not good enough, I can retake it. I Did figure the estimated value. After I found the name. Now need to find some for furniture. For insurance purposes
Looking at the added pictures and still not knowing the diameter or the detail on the button, I think it is a 1920s version because of its construction. I do not think it being a rare version but it still is valuable, pretty much at the level of the recent Bonhams estimate.
Let me see of I can take a better picture
Ok look now it's a lot better
I cannot see what is stamped on the button. It looks like there is nothing on it on the picture... but it could be the lighting. What is its diameter please?
That's because there isn't any stamp and it doesn't seem like there was on it in the first place it seemsms like Maybe 4 mm
I can't see back neck well but are you sure head does not swivel it should and also the eyes are they glass or shoe button, just a dull black color ? Is nose stitching black or dark brown ?
The neck does swivel, it seems to have brown stitching to sew it together and the eyes are hard to tell it looks like glass but it feels like hard plastic oh and the nose is black stich
This is a beautiful bear. Steiff had blank buttons in the early 1900's and then again post war around 1948. There was one post war bear that they made using the pre war pattern. This may be one of them. If he is a turn of the century bear he is in remarkable shape. Your girlfriend is very lucky! Take good care of him.
Thanks for the info
nice 1904 blank buttton stieff bear you have they started making the printed bear with the trailing f in 1905. your bear is from 1904. great bear