The Art of Play: A Steiff Donkey on Wheels, 1910

Donkey on Wheels
Steiff
1910
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Donkey on wheels! What could be bad about that? This just isn’t just any wheeled donkey, either. This is an original Steiff soft toy (from Germany, of course). He still has the tag in its left ear stating that it is made by Steiff. The Steiff Company was founded in 1877 by one Margarete Steiff and quickly became the chief exporter of soft toys (especially bears) from Germany. Their biggest customers were the U.K. and U.S.


What sets this donkey apart from other Steiff donkeys is its previously mentioned wheels. Occasionally, Steiff produced different animals on wheels (usually dogs and horses) and in a variety of sizes. The largest ones were large enough to carry a teddy bear as a rider. Originally, the wheels would have been made of cast iron, or even bronze, but those proved treacherous. Later, the wheels were changed to the far gentler medium of wood. Figures made after this sometimes featured rubberized wheels. This unusual mobility allowed a newfound sense of free play for children who enjoyed pulling these toys around. Consider it an early interactive toy.