How to Store Vintage Steiff Bears

Vintage Steiff bears are the star in many toy auctions and collections all over the world. They not only hold the title to being the pioneer teddy bear manufacturer but they too come with so much history and art making them truly exceptional and charming to say the least. Owning one to several pieces will however require utmost care and ample maintenance. Apart from having lived through several decades, these pieces come packed with value too so leaving them unattended and uncared for would be truly silly.

One of the first care requirements to be had when it comes to vintage Steiff bears would have to be storage. It is one of the main if not the topmost priority when collecting such pieces.

Storage not only provides for display but also protection for the collectible toys. They act as a functional and display tool so choosing a type of system is really crucial. To help with such task, we’ve rounded up some of the best tips when it comes to vintage Steiff bear storage.

Determine your pieces. Not all vintage Steiff bears are the same. Because these pieces have been made in different years and decades, their condition and type of material varies thereby requiring owners to have adequate knowledge about particular models and how they are to be handled.

Establish height and size. Some collectibles are pretty small; many come in the regular sizes while there are those that are quite unconventional in terms of size. When planning a storage system, put the items’ dimensions in consideration.

Make it durable. It is important that the storage units last regardless of their type and size. It would be inconvenient to have to remodel and buy another system when the old one easily wears off.

Keep it out of easy reach. To keep children and pets from harming the said toys, shelving and cabinets must be kept high enough to prevent easy access for them. It’s better to be safe than sorry. These bears are for display not exactly for play or worse food.

Stir clear of humidity and moisture. This is done to avoid the growth of molds and the infestation of bugs and rodents. Pick an area that is not prone to humidity and moisture.

Keep temperatures normal. Vintage Steiff bears, just like any other stuffed toy, does not take high temperatures lightly. Excessive heat such as exposure to the sun can cause its colors to fade and dull out.

A Thing or Two on Steiff Collectible Bears

When it comes to the manufacture and production of stuffed bears and animals, the Steiff Toy Company has surely dominated the market for decades now. In fact, a number of vintage Steiff collectible bears are sought after by many collectors worldwide, both young and young at heart. If you look closely, the said collectors date back even up to the creation of the company itself and their prized possessions are passed from generation to generation. Apart from bears, there are even other collectible toys like the skittle and animals on wheels to name a few. In fact, Margarete Steiff, the founder of this infamous toy line, started making elephants instead and sold them as pin cushions but later on became a toy than a sewing buddy.

Steiff Collectible Bears - Louis Vuitton and Titanic Editions

To give you a little trivia, did you know what item sold and cost the most? Of course, one could deduce that it was a teddy bear and these happened during the year 2000 where it sold for $2.1 million at a charity auction at the Teddies de L’An in Monaco. It was a designer bear called the Steiff Louis Vuitton. Other notable sales include the Steiff Titanic mourning bear for £91,750 in the same year, the Steidd Rod for £82,000 in 2002, the Steiff Elliot for £49,500 in 1993 and the Steiff Teddy Girl for £110,000 in 1994.

When buying one, you must make sure that they are still in good condition. You were a kid once and it is but common that the most favorite and well loved toys suffer the most damage from wear and tear.

The most sought after models are those that were unpopular with the kids in the past indicating that their number of availability is at a low. Some of these vintage stuffed animals are even produced only at certain period of time such as the panda bears manufactured from the 1930s to the 1960s. 

Steiff Trademark - Button In Ear

Steiff collectible bears are identified by an embossed trademark button or tag in their left ear that is the “Steiff” name, an elephant logo or both. To identify a limited edition from a replica, try to check the tags at the ear too. White ones with a red lettering mean a limited one of a kind edition toy while a white tag with black lettering mean that the toy is a replica of the limited edition variant. In general, the toys have yellow tags attached on their ears.