Steiff—the German-based toy company—began in 1880, started by Margarete Steiff who had amused her friends by making plush elephants which were to be used as pin cushions. Soon, Steiff found that her friends’ children began playing with the cuddly elephants, and she realized that her talents could be employed to encourage the comfort and fun of children. Dogs, cats and pigs soon entered her menagerie of animals. In 1897, her nephew, Richard, joined the company and in 1902, they introduced a line of teddy bears which solidified the firm’s popularity. Operating under the motto, “Only the best is good enough for children,” Steiff has always used the finest mohair and materials in the production of their toys. In order to stand out from their growing number of imitators, Steiff introduced an “ear button” on each animal which proved each animal was an authentic Steiff creation.
This bassett hound is a Steiff creation from the 1950’s and once belonged to my mother who gave it to me when I was a child. With her sweet eyes and long face, the bassett captures the expression of the breed. She wears a green leather collar with a tag stating, “Bassett.” The toy still has its original “ear button” which bears the Steiff name and states, “Made in Germany.” Just as soft and adorable as she was fifty years ago, this bassett hound is testament to the beautiful craftsmanship of Steiff and a reminder that, “only the best is good enough for children.”
No comments:
Post a Comment