Steiff bears earn five-figure sums at Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion
Steiff brass center seamed mohair cub, $36,341
LADENBURG, Germany, – Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion‘s 367 lot mid-autumn signature Steiff Special Auction sale, held November 6, was an unmistakable success. All prices have been converted from Euro to US Dollars.
Outstanding, early turn-of-the-previous-century Teddy bears took many of the top lot slots in this exciting sale. Chief among them was a large and appealing brass center seamed mohair cub, which was estimated at $1,368-$2,736 and sold for $36,341. Its period features included black shoe button eyes and a prominent back hump. It retained its long trailing “F” ear button as its Steiff ID.
Circa-1905 Steiff white mohair bear, $23,761
Also performing well was an unusual white mohair bear from circa 1905. Estimated at $855-$1,710, it realized $23,761. It was detailed with black shoe button eyes, a brown embroidered nose and mouth, and a very fuzzy muzzle; bears from this era usually have shaved muzzles.
Steiff white mohair Dicky bear with all its IDs, $20,966
A white mohair Dicky bear with all its IDs, and carrying an estimate of $4,788-$9,576, traded hands at $20,966. This marvelous circa-1930 example had stenciled velvet paw pads and pink airbrushed facial highlights. The only other white Dicky bear with a chest tag Steiff experts know of resides in the Steiff archives in Giengen, Germany.
Late 1920s Steiff Petsy bear, $14,676
A fourth teddy bear highlight was a Petsy bear from the late 1920s, estimated at $969-$1,938 and sold for $14,676. Always popular with collectors, this charming cub retained its Steiff ID button and featured long tipped mohair, blue and black glass pupil eyes, large rounded ears placed low on its head, and a prominent center seam face.
Hand-painted velvet Bonzo cartoon dog with IDs and its original Steiff archive tag, $46,125
One-of-a-kind archival treasures also caught the attention of bidders worldwide. A standout was a fully jointed, hand-painted velvet Bonzo cartoon dog with IDs and its original Steiff archive tag. Estimated at $16,530-$33,060, it achieved $46,125. This example from 1927 mirrored its namesake with black and blue glass eyes, a red leather collar, and a red felt tongue. Bonzo was a figure by the English author G. E. Studdy, who personally marketed the success of his character. Steiff wanted to produce Bonzo through a licensing agreement, but Studdy selected the firm Chad Valley instead. This Bonzo toy is one of only 115 produced by Steiff in total.
Early 1930s white begging Putzi cartoon character, $12,300
Another head-turner was an early 1930s white begging Putzi cartoon character, estimated at $433-$866 and sold for $12,300. It is only one of 2,542 examples produced by Steiff.
Steiff sitting cat with distinctive mottled mohair, $6,150
Steiff’s beloved prewar dogs and cats also triumphed at this auction. A sitting cat with distinctive mottled mohair, estimated at $296-$592, traded hands at $6,150. Its cat features included green and black slit pupil eyes, a pink embroidered nose and mouth, and red claws. This 1930s era example with IDs was from the collection of German Steiff experts Edith and Johan Koskinen.
Early 1930s Steiff Siamy Siamese cat, $5,451
A second early 1930s cat toy, a Steiff Siamy Siamese cat, scampered past its $513-$1,026 estimate to achieve $5,451. Made from tan and brown mohair, it featured stunning blue and black glass slit pupil eyes.
Steiff fully jointed white mohair monkey, $9,784
Prewar apes and primates were another premier category. A fully jointed white mohair monkey, estimated at $1,003-$2,006, realized $9,784. Produced at the turn of last century, this particular toy monkey had black shoe button eyes, a felt face, ears, hands, and feet, and retained its original blank Steiff button.
Orange mohair Steiff Mimocculo baby orang-utang, $7,967
In addition, an unusual orange mohair Steiff Mimocculo baby orang-utang, estimated at $627-$1,254, made $7,967. This early 1930s fully jointed primate novelty featured lifelike, rolling glass eyeballs that were activated by pulling or twisting its felt ears.
Circa-1913 Steiff Record Teddy pull toy with Steiff ID, $8,386
Antique button-in-ear dolls, novelties, and other animals earned the auction spotlight. A “Record Teddy” pull toy with Steiff ID, which carried an estimate of $478-$957, realized $8,386. This circa-1913 legacy plaything consisted of a fully jointed mohair bear riding upon a cart with a metal carriage and four wooden wheels.
Sitting velvet and mohair squirrel, $5,730
Also of note was a sitting velvet and mohair squirrel from circa 1905-1906. It was estimated at $205-$410 and climbed to $5,730. It was detailed with black shoe button eyes and brown painted contouring and held a red pompom as a nut between its two front paws.
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