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Stuffed Bears - Steiff Bears
Steiff - the brand name - was founded in 1902 by a German seamstress named Appolonia Margerete Steiff. It is the world's oldest plush company and is widely acknowledged as the leading manufacturer of teddy bears and stuffed animals. All authentic Steiff bears are handmade in Germany. Steiff is regarded as the original collectors' bear. The Steiff line features classic teddy bears, as well as a wide range of other stuffed animals, including cuddly animals, pets and farm animals, wild animals, and studio animals.
Steiff Bears rose to prominence as teddy bear when President Theodore Roosevelt placed the stuffed toys on each table at his daughter's wedding reception. Also, it was learned much later that President Roosevelt once refused to shoot a bear, in 1902 which coincided with the Steiff bear's arrival on United States.
Since then Steiff teddy bears and animals, with their 'Button in Ear' identity, have been a family favourite for generations. Nearly a million teddy bears were made by Steiff for buyers in many countries, and their popularity has continued. Steiff is recognized as an ideal traditional gift for children, but is also well-loved by adults, representing old fashioned family values and evoking happy childhood memories.
Among avid collectors, Steiff bears are classified and valued by a complex combination of factors including animal number, year of introduction, introductory price and year retired. Steiff collector items include miniatures, "Classic" products and replicas of former favorites - some in limited editions complete with numbered certificate and presentation box. One of the earliest Steiff creations is a 1903 mohair Ape which has string jointed head and limbs, stuffed with wood shavings, 60 centimeters in height.
And it is ever true that up to 30 small sections of fur fabric are sewn together for each product. And that, a teddy bear's nose can take 15 minutes to sew by hand.
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