A beary merry Christmas: Workers at world famous Steiff teddy factory prepare for a bumper festive season

By Becky Evans

PUBLISHED: 15:58 EST, 25 November 2012 | UPDATED: 16:02 EST, 25 November 2012


They are known for producing the most collectable bears in the world.

And 110 years after the birth of the first Steiff teddy bear, the factory is as busy as ever producing fine toys in time for Christmas.

The Steiff factory is still based in Giengen an der Brenz, Germany - the birthplace of its founder Margarete Steiff - and with teddy bears still among the most popular toys, the company is hoping for a strong Christmas season.

Traditional: A completed teddy bear sits alongside the limbs and torso of another before it is assembled. The factory said each of the bears is hand-made 'with lots of love'.

Traditional: A completed teddy bear sits alongside the limbs and torso of another before it is assembled. The factory said each of the bears is hand-made 'with lots of love'.

Assembled: The teddy bear is put together by a worker at the Steiff stuffed toy factory in Giengen an der Brenz, Germany

Assembled: The teddy bear is put together by a worker at the Steiff stuffed toy factory in Giengen an der Brenz, Germany

Hand-crafted: After the limbs and body are put together, each bear is given a hand-stitched mouth and nose. The claws are also stitched by hand

Hand-crafted: After the limbs and body are put together, each bear is given a hand-stitched mouth and nose. The claws are also stitched by hand

Logo: Each teddy bear has a tag put into its ear. The three different 'button in the ear' trademarks are the original collection, pictured, a white and red limited edition tag and a white and black replica tag

Logo: Each teddy bear has a tag put into its ear. The three different 'button in the ear' trademarks are the original collection, pictured, a white and red limited edition tag and a white and black replica tag

Lovable: The completed teddy bear, pictured at the Steiff stuffed toy factory in Giengen an der Brenz, Germany, waits to be shipped out to a new home

Lovable: The completed teddy bear, pictured at the Steiff stuffed toy factory in Giengen an der Brenz, Germany, waits to be shipped out to a new home

Workers still craft each bear by hand - and give the cute creations a hand-stitched mouth and nose that gives them a unique expression.

They are also individually stuffed and stitched together using materials such as mohair, velvet and felt

 

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And like Santa's elves, workers at the factory have also been busy assembling some special toys in time for the festive season.

Among the Christmas creations are a giant polar bear, reindeer and a bear dressed in its own red Santa costume.

Historic: The world famous Steiff stuffed toy museum in Germany. The company was founded by seamstress Margarethe Steiff in 1880. Steiff has been making stuffed teddy bears since the early 20th century

Historic: The world famous Steiff stuffed toy museum in Germany. The company was founded by seamstress Margarethe Steiff in 1880. Steiff has been making stuffed teddy bears since the early 20th century

Stuffed: A worker stuffs teddy bears at the factory. Nowadays a synthetic filling is used because it is washable. Originally, bears were stuffed with excelsior, a wood wool

Stuffed: A worker stuffs teddy bears at the factory. Nowadays a synthetic filling is used because it is washable. Originally, bears were stuffed with excelsior, a wood wool

Manufacturer: A seamstress sews at the Steiff factory. After the stuffing process, the bear is put together piece by piece and the final seams are sewn shut

Manufacturer: A seamstress sews at the Steiff factory. After the stuffing process, the bear is put together piece by piece and the final seams are sewn shut

Inside out: Every Steiff bear is individually put together at a sewing machine. They are sewn inside out so the seams are hidden

Inside out: Every Steiff bear is individually put together at a sewing machine. They are sewn inside out so the seams are hidden

Steiff bears are among the most sought-after and pricely bears in the world.

According to the Guinness Book of Records, the most expensive teddy bear ever sold was the Steiff Louis Vuitton bear, which was sold in Monaco in 2000 for £125,831.

The company was founded by seamstress Margarete Steiff in 1880. Margarete, who was disabled after contracting polio as a baby, began by making stuffed animals. It then grew under the stewardship of her nephew Richard Steiff, who is credited with designing the company’s first toy bear.

Toy heaven: The stuffed toys line the shelves at the factory in Germany

Toy heaven: The stuffed toys line the shelves at the factory in Germany

Christmas specials: As well as the traditional bears, the factory produces a range of seasonal gifts, such as this giant Christmas teddy

Christmas specials: As well as the traditional bears, the factory produces a range of seasonal gifts, such as this giant Christmas teddy

Giant: This huge polar bear is being stuffed in time for Christmas

Giant: This huge polar bear is being stuffed in time for Christmas

Rudolph: A worker prepares the antlers for an almost life-sized reindeer

Rudolph: A worker prepares the antlers for an almost life-sized reindeer

Festive: Details, such as these red bows, are the final additions made to a bear before it is complete

Festive: Details, such as these red bows, are the final additions made to a bear before it is complete

It was born in 1902 and was the first in the world to have joined arms and legs and a year later took the world by storm after an American businessman placed an initial order of 3,000.

In 1904 the Steiff ‘button in ear’ trademark was created. It is still used today and comes in three varieties.

The yellow and red tag denotes the original collection, while limited edition bears sport the yellow and red button.

Replica bears wear a white and red label and shows the toy was produced exactly as their historic role models were.

110 YEARS OLD: THE ENDURING POPULARITY OF THE STEIFF TEDDY BEAR

Tagged: A Steiff bear is given its world famous logo

Tagged: A Steiff bear is given its world famous logo

1877 - Seamstress Margarete Steiff opens a ready-to-wear felt clothing business

1879 - Begins selling small elephants as pin cushions but quickly realises they are being used as  toys and begins to design other stuffed animals

1893 - The toys were showcased for the first time at Leipzig Toy Fair

1902 - The Steiff teddy bear is born. It was designed by Margarete's nephew Richard

1904 - The company's trademark 'button in ear' is developed 

1907 - Almost one million bears were produced by 400 workers

1947 - After suffering difficult trading conditions during the two world wars, Steiff goes from strength to strength and by 1947 employs 1,000 people

1980 - The Margarete Steiff Museum opens

1992 - The Steiff Club was founded as an organisation for enthusiasts of the bear

2005 - Steiff celebrates its 125th anniversary. It created more than 20,000 different animals during that period.

 
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The amazing thing about teddy bears is that, far from looking mass-produced, they take on an individual expression and develop theri own character, especially after they've been your faithful companion for a few years. My teddy-bear, although not a Steiff, has been my faithful companion for many years, travelling and living all over the world with me, he has his own little wardrobe, and is completely loyal and utterly discreet.

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Ah, the rich kids will still get their expensive holiday gifts while the rest of us struggle to make ends meet. - Ricky74 , Raleigh, 26/11/2012 16:16>>> I'm not rich, but bought myself a small bear for £60. I know it's not a necessity, but it's something I've always wanted, and I do love him (his wee face!). Occasionally, it's nice to buy things that you can't justify except to say 'it makes me happy' :)

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I`m not ashamed to admit that although i am 41 i love teddy bears and have a number of Steiff. I cannot afford though to buy them new so i buy mine on Ebay. Most Steiff are geared towards adult collectors and they are not really toys, however, when you look at the price of the plastic rubbish that passes for childrens toys nowadays a Steiff costs less, lasts longer and is also a good investment.

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Yes, please! I only ever want practical gifts now that I'm an adult, but I want a bear! Build-A-Bear has nothing on these.....

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I'll take the large Christmas teddy on the trolley.

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Ah, the rich kids will still get their expensive holiday gifts while the rest of us struggle to make ends meet. - Ricky74, Raleigh, 26/11/2012 16:16================= a typical socialist have not comment. You'll find that you can buy a new Steiff bear a lot cheaper than the latest battery powered gadgets most kids will get for Christmas, including the kids of "the rest of us" - whatever that means. PS I never bought my kids presents at holiday time !

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Ah, the rich kids will still get their expensive holiday gifts while the rest of us struggle to make ends meet.

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When i went to Disney Epoct we did stop at "Germany". Wanted to get my son a Steiff bear like i had when i was a kid. So when you are there read the tag. Made in China for Steiff.

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i think i might have found santa's workshop but there very big elves

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Wonderful, good to see they're doing well. Having a handful of Steiff myself I am very pleased to see the pictures of where my wonder collection came from, thank you DM... Philip Window...

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