Featured Steiff Bear

I keep telling myself not to buy anymore larger items, but I couldn't resist this. it's heavy and firm, leaving me to believe it's stuffed with excelsior. The button is brass and signed Steiff, and there are the remnants of a yellow tag trapped behind it. Any thoughts on authenticity and age?

 

nice bear......may end up as a family bear-heirloom ...!!

I'm sure there are sites for telling this guys age....

 

VINTAGE-80s-STEIFF-FIRM-BODIED-JOINTED-BLONDE-MOHAIR-

 

Considering how it's unholy stare is already giving me the creeps, probably not, haha.

I keep trying to find one, but I haven't had any luck. I know that the button has changed throughout the years though

 

That looks a lot like it Thank you!

 

yellow flag is normally post WWII.
http://www.sammler.com/spielzeug/steiff-tiere-datierung.htm

what color is he ? a light gray or gold ?

 

More like a light ash-brown color, not as blonde as the other bear, but greyer.

Looks like it might be from the 70s-80s. Thanks!

 

Well...I see his face as saying.." won't u take me home...I'll be your friend ! "

 

Barn Owl, I LOVE him! I still have mine from the late 1950's. His name is Beary (hey, I was a very imaginative kid!) Here he is:

 

So cute...

 

If you scroll down, you will see the use of the button....."silver" first, then to brass.

https://hobbylark.com/collecting/How-to-Identify-Steiff-Bears

Early tags were made of paper.....cloth in 1980.

Info from my Steiff book , Wilson and Conway.

Can you tell by the tiny remnant whether cloth or paper?

 

It's cloth, so I think it's safe to say it's from the 80s. I was hoping it would be older. Do more recent bears like this one even have value?

 

yes.....but maybe only in the 30 to 60 range....& they require full tags..

 

That is just a startled look, he's found himself in new surroundings, yet again. Give the bear a break.

 

Mine is a late 50s Steiff bear, like SBS's, and has a cloth tag.
On the site Fid posted it says paper tags in the period of 1948-50, after that various yellow cloth tags until 1980, from 1980-86 yellow or white cloth tags, etc.

What about that thing it has around its neck, is that original? If it is, that is something to date it by. What does it say on the badge?

 

"Papier-Fahnen stammen aus der Zeit zwischen 1948 und 1950. Bis 1980 werden gelbe Leinenfähnchen unterschiedlicher Art verwendet."
paper 1948 to 1950. then till 1980 yellow linen.
and guess whom I trust more when it comes to Steiff...

 

I don't think it's original. There's nothing on the badge. It has a small acorn charm hanging from it, and the bottom has these little coin dangles shaped like Austrian 1/4 FL coins.

 

there were so many special and limited editions and re-editions since the 1960s. I'd try and ask directly at the Steiff museum or Steiff club.