Teddy bear | stuffed animal (1905) by SteiffThe Strong National Museum of Play
On 24 July 1847, Margarete Steiff was born near Ulm, Germany. As a young child she suffered from polio, and lost the use of her legs and struggled with her right arm. After leaving school, she took up a job as a seamstress, which allowed her to work in a chair at home.
By 1879, Steiff was running her own dressmaking business. That year, she started producing small fabric pincushions in the shape of elephants. They proved very popular, though not as pincushions, but as childrens' toys. This inspired her to move into toymaking.
Plush animal, cat (1890/1910) by SteiffMcCord Stewart Museum
In just a three years, the company produced a catalogue of children's toys. The original elephants were joined by monkeys, donkeys, horses, camels, pigs, mice, dogs, cats, rabbits and giraffes. But it would be another decade before the most famous Steiff product would arrive…
Teddy bear (1904) by Margarete SteiffThe Strong National Museum of Play
In 1903, the Steiff company presented their new bear toy at the Leipzig Toy Fair. The year earlier US President 'Ted' Roosevelt had famously refused to shoot a bear cub while hunting. In Leipzig, an American businessman saw an opportunity and ordered 3000 Steiff bears.
Teddy bear | stuffed animal (1905) by SteiffThe Strong National Museum of Play
By 1907, the bear was renamed the Teddy Bear, in honour of Roosevelt, and Steiff had sold nearly one million of them. The bear would go on to be Steiff's most memorable and best-selling toy.
Cat | plush (1925) by SteiffThe Strong National Museum of Play
But the story of Steiff doesn't end with bears. Throughout the 20th Century, Steiff produced all sorts of soft toys, and always stayed true to their motto, "Only the best is good enough for children".
Plush:Jocko (ca.1925) by SteiffThe Strong National Museum of Play
Following Margarete's death in 1909, the company passed to her nephews. The product line was expanded, and production lines were introduced to meet the soaring demand. The First World War put pressure on supplies, but the company survived.
Stuffed animal:Mickey Mouse (ca. 1930) by Steiff Co.The Strong National Museum of Play
In 1931, Steiff started a collaboration with Disney to produce soft toys of their most famous characters - Mickey and Minnie Mouse. This turned out to be one of the best decisions for the businesses, and the partnership continues to this day.
stuffed animal: Steiff: Mockie Hippo (1950-1963) by Margarete SteiffThe Strong National Museum of Play
The Second World War was catastrophic for the Steiff Company. The war all-but stopped toy production as materials, machines, and staff were requisitioned. After the war, the company had to rebuild itself almost from scratch.
stuffed animal: Cosy Molly (1950s) by SteiffThe Strong National Museum of Play
Despite the austerity of the post-war years, Steiff revived some of their most popular products, such as Molly the Dog, alongside licensed characters including Zotty the Teddy Bear and Mecki, the hedgehog mascot of German TV guide magazine Hörzu.
stuffed animal: Golden Age of the Circus: Crocodile Bandsman stuffed animal: Golden Age of the Circus: Crocodile Bandsman (1988) by Margarete SteiffThe Strong National Museum of Play
In 1980, Steiff celebrated the company's 100th anniversary. The Margarete Steiff Museum opened in Giengen, Germany, and the company began to make limited edition toys for Steiff enthusiasts.
teddy bear: Muffy VanderBear: Artist at Work (1999) by North American Bear Co., Inc.The Strong National Museum of Play
In 2005, Steiff celebrated another milestone with their 125 anniversary. A new museum experience The World of Steiff was opened, and the company launched a special edition '125 Carat' bear, with fur made from gold thread, sapphire eyes, and of course, the Steiff 'button in ear'.
The company has come a long way from its humble haberdashery origins, yet from those early days to the present day, they have always insisted that, "Only the best is good enough for children."
