Dick Franz: Videos from the internet

For those of you who maybe missed seeing Dick Franz yesterday,I wanted to make you feel like you were part of the fun as well--- and this is what I found:

 This great video is from July 2010.  Here Dick introduces part of the new 2010 Fall line. Here is another one from 2011, rather short but it shows just how warm and friendly Dick always is with all of his fans and followers. Lars is 15 inches long and can be easily found on E-bay, if your looking to buy him as well.
Here is another short video of Dick talking about Twinkle-- The Swarovski Bear.  This is also from 2011.  Are you enjoying these "clips" as much as I am? This delightful video shows Dick unveiling the Karl Lagerfeld Steiff Bear.  This incredible bear was an "End of Edition" piece and was priced at $999.00, a true masterpiece of work and collaboration. Steiff teamed up with Karl Lagerfeld, director and head designer of the famed Chanel Fashion House and the Karl Lagerfeld Bear was born. From the video you see just how much they look alike!  The top of the head, the sunglasses, the suit, everything.   He came with a custom stand and was made exclusively for Neiman Marcus although I believe Steiff did sell some themselves at the end of the edition. 

He was more expensive than most Steiff bears but the detail, work, and presentation is truly amazing. I am of the understanding that Lagerfeld actually designed this bear himself.  The bear's clothing replicates what he is known to wear.  The suit is made of Italian wool.  The belt is leather.  The sunglasses have his name on the arms.  Everything was made to become a reflection of Karl himself.  You can easily find this bear on E-bay if your in the mood to buy him. And finally, I couldn't find the feature to cut and paste this video in which Dick Franz appears on "The Martha Stewart Show" but I had to include that as well.  So provided below is a link to that video.  

 http://www.marthastewart.com/914381/collection-steiff-company-stuffed-animals

It is my hope that you enjoyed these as much as I did.  Dick will be back in autumn for the Fall Steiff Event.  Date and time will be announced at a later date.  So if you missed him this time around, or would like to meet him again you will have a chance to do so. Until then remember Keillor's A Teddy Bear Shoppe is your place to find Steiff!

In Memoriam: Ken Yenke

By Charlie Dale

Ken Yenke, teddy bear historian, museum curator and appraiser who graced the Bears & Buds Teddy Bear Magazine web pages, attended Bright Star Promotion's teddy bear shows and many called him dear friend.  Ken succumbed to Leukemia after a six onto battle, on March 19th, 2014.

Ken's job allowed him to travel the world, where he began his teddy bear education at museums, art galleries and antique shops. His appetite grew for books about Teddy Roosevelt, and this helped establish him as an expert. To this day he reads and traps images of bears in his memory, plus adding old bears to his personal collection. Ken enjoys the history behind each bear he sees or reads about and absorbs this information like a sponge, which is crucial for appraising bears.

Ken Yenke, a native of Cincinnati, moved with his wife Brenda first to Indianapolis as a sales manager, then on to Philadelphia and finally settling in the Cleveland area.

A corporate account manager by day, he soon found himself devoting time to his passion of teddy bear collecting. Brenda and Ken share their love for teddy bears. Brenda is an accomplished seamstress who can historically correct and restore original teddy bears.

Ken will remain in our hearts and we'll have many fond memories of him.  We'll mis his smiling face and warm manner.

He had a remarkable recall of teddy bears, which he loved with all of his heart and admired the talented artists who create such wonderful collectibles.

Ken shared his knowledge with everyone.  Ken was a huge supporter of Good Bears of the World, and appeared in many issues of Bear Tracks.  Getting a big bear hug from Waldorf, Ken graces the Winter 2012 cover.

Sharing his extensive bear collection with the public, he became the curator of the Chelsea Teddy Bear Factory's Teddy Bear Museum located in Chelsea, Michigan.

Our heartfelt sympathy goes to his lovely wife Brenda, his children and family.

If you care to send a card to Brenda, here is her address:

Brenda Yenke
16983 Stag Thicket
Strongsville, OH 44136-6272

His books include:

Teddy Bear Treasury Vol. 1

135 pages in full color with a special introduction by Terrie Stong, Executive Director of Good Bears of the World. Teddy Bear Treasury follows the history and development of the teddy bear. Each chapter is full of stories and beautiful colored photographs which can help you identify and price your bears, books and other bear treasures.

Bing Bears and Toys with Price Guide

The Bing story comes to life with the skillful writings of Ken Yenke. Beautiful full colored photographs of Bing bears and toys helps you learn more about bear collecting and price your treasures. Ken's knowledge of early soft toys is remarkable. He shares his research with you, within the 176 pages of this extraordinary book.

Teddy Bear Treasury Vol 2

This book is a natural extension and continuation of Vol 1. No bears are repeated. Photos of original bears with their owners. Chapters include bears from friends too. Free appraisal form in the back. Over 160 full color pages consisting of bears from Ken's extensive Teddy Bear collection.

Charlie Bears: Mohair

Keillor's A Teddy Bear Shoppe is proud to be the only Ohio distributor of Charlie Bears, since 2008.  Charlie Bears is a very popular and trendy bear to collect.  Made from limited stock plush and mohair fabrics.

I love this time of year when the company launches new bears.  I am always excited to show our newest in stock collection.  I am proud to announce that Keillor's will be carrying all 43 new characters (bears) throughout the year.

So in this post I wanted to share our current collection of adorable mohair bears.  This group of bears are some of the finest available.  Mohair bears are always limited and numbered.



Charlie Bears: "Minimo" Cutie Pie.  7 inches, limited edition to 2000 pieces.  This adorable bear is number 439.  Real feather wings, adorned with beads, ribbons and silk ribbon rosette's.  This is priced at $120.00 plus tax. Call, e-mail or come in to purchase.  SOLD

Charlie Bears: Drizzle.  10 inches, limited edition to 200 pieces.  This adorable bear is number 73. Adorned with beads, ribbons and a heart charm.  This is priced at $180.99 plus tax. Call, e-mail or come in to purchase

Charlie Bears: Lupin.  10 inches, limited edition to 200 pieces.  This adorable bear is number 96. Adorned with beads, ribbons and a metal, flower charm .  This is priced at $170.99 plus tax. Call, e-mail or come in to purchase. SOLD

Charlie Bears: "Minimo" Cutie Pie.  7 inches, limited edition to 2000 pieces.  This adorable bear is number 439.  Adorned with beads, silk ribbons and metal, flower charm.  This is priced at $104.99 plus tax. Call, e-mail or come in to purchase

Charlie Bears: Periwinkle.  10 inches, limited edition to 200 pieces.  This adorable bear is number 52. Adorned with beads, ribbons and a metal bell.  This is priced at $170.99 plus tax. Call, e-mail or come in to purchase. SOLD

Charlie Bears: "Minimo" Piper.  7 inches, limited edition to 2000 pieces.  This adorable bear is number 439 and a perfect match to his twin Minnie.  Adorned with beads, silk ribbons and metal, flower charm.  This is priced at $104.99 plus tax. Call, e-mail or come in to purchase

Charlie Bears: "Minimo" Tiffin.  8 inches, limited edition to 2000 pieces.  This adorable bear is number 439.  Adorned with beads, silk ribbons and metal bell.  This is priced at $130.00 plus tax. Call, e-mail or come in to purchase

 Charlie Bears: "Minimo" Twinkle Toes.  7 inches, limited edition to 2000 pieces.  This adorable bear is number 439.  Real feather wings, adorned with beads, ribbons and silk ribbon rosette's.  A real companion piece to Cutie Pie. This is priced at $120.00 plus tax. Call, e-mail or come in to purchase.

As always all of our bears at Keillor's A Teddy Bear Shoppe are looking for caring, loving "forever" homes.  So take the time to either e-mail, call or drop in to make your purchase.  Once again, thank you for your business.  SOLD

A Brief History of the Teddy Bear

The teddy bear is a soft toy in the form of a bear. Developed apparently simultaneously by toymakers Morris Michtom in the US and Richard Steiff in Germany in the early years of the 20th century, and named after President Theodore "T.R." Roosevelt, Jr., the teddy bear became an iconic children's toy, celebrated in story, song and film.  Since the creation of the first teddy bears which sought to imitate the form of real bear cubs, "teddies" have greatly varied in form, style and material.

They have become collector's items, with older and rarer "teddies" appearing at public auctions. Teddy bears are among the most popular gifts for children and are often given to adults to signify love, congratulations or sympathy.

The name Teddy Bear comes from former United States President Theodore Roosevelt, who was commonly known as "Teddy" (though he loathed being referred to as such). The name originated from an incident on a bear hunting trip in Mississippi in November 1902, to which Roosevelt was invited by Mississippi Governor Andrew H. Longino.

There were several other hunters competing, and most of them had already killed an animal. A suite of Roosevelt's attendants, led by Holt Collier, cornered, clubbed, and tied an American Black Bear to a willow tree after a long exhausting chase with hounds. They called Roosevelt to the site and suggested that he should shoot it.

 He refused to shoot the bear himself, deeming this unsportsmanlike, but instructed that the bear be killed to put it out of its misery, and it became the topic of a political cartoon by Clifford Berryman in The Washington Post on November 16, 1902. While the initial cartoon of an adult black bear lassoed by a handler and a disgusted Roosevelt had symbolic overtones, later issues of that and other Berryman cartoons made the bear smaller and cuter.

Morris Michtom saw the drawing of Roosevelt and was inspired to create a new toy. He created a little stuffed bear cub and put it in his shop window with a sign that read "Teddy's bear," after sending a bear to Roosevelt and receiving permission to use his name. The toys were an immediate success and Michtom founded the Ideal Novelty and Toy Co.

 

At the same time in Germany, the Steiff firm, unaware of Michtom's bear, produced a stuffed bear (pictured left is a re-production) from Richard Steiff's designs. Steiff exhibited the toy at the Leipzig Toy Fair in March 1903, where it was seen by Hermann Berg, a buyer for George Borgfeldt & Company in New York. He ordered 3000 to be sent to the United States^] Although Steiff's records show that the bears were produced, they are not recorded as arriving in America, and no example of the type, "55 PB", has ever been seen, leading to the story that the bears were shipwrecked.

However, the story is disputed - Gunther Pfieffer notes that it was only recorded in 1953 and says it is more likely that the 55 PB was not sufficiently durable to survive until the present day. Although Steiff and Michtom were both making teddy bears at around the same time, neither would have known of the other's creation due to poor transatlantic communication.

By 1906 manufacturers other than Michtom and Steiff had joined in and the craze for "Roosevelt Bears" was such that ladies carried them everywhere, children were photographed with them, and Roosevelt used one as a mascot in his bid for re-election.

American educator Seymour Eaton wrote the children's book series The Roosevelt Bears, while composer John Walter Bratton wrote an instrumental "The Teddy Bears' Picnic", a "characteristic two-step", in 1907, which later had words written to it by lyricist Jimmy Kennedy in 1932.

Early teddy bears were made to look like real bears, with extended snouts and beady eyes. Modern teddy bears tend to have larger eyes and foreheads and smaller noses, baby-like features that enhance the toy's cuteness. Teddy bears are also manufactured to represent different species of bear, such as polar bears and grizzly bears, as well as pandas.

While early teddy bears were covered in tawny mohair fur, modern teddy bears are manufactured in a wide variety of commercially available fabrics.

(Please note that the Steiff bear pictured is NOT for sale and was used for illustration only.)

Some Basic Steiff History

by: Charlie Dale
March 11, 2014

I've decided to provide some background information on the history of the Steiff history, based on the fact that Keillor's A Teddy Bear Shoppe is having their annual Steiff Spring event coming at the end of the month.  I also felt that a basic history lesson in where Steiff started might be of some interest to the followers of this new blog and Keillor's A Teddy Bear Shoppe.

Steiff is a German-based plush toy company known for its excellent, high quality stuffed toys.  It began in 1880 by Margarete Steiff, who was later assisted by her brother Fritz.  Margaret, a polio victim learned to sew with one hand and despite her infirmity, she was able to build an internationally successful company that thrives to this day.

The toys began as elephants, and were originally a design Steiff found in a magazine and sold as pincushions to her friends.  However, children began playing with them, and in the years following she went on to design many other successful animal-themed toys for children, such as dogs, cats and pigs.  She designed and made of the prototypes herself.

The company's success lies in its lack of willingness to compromise on quality.  Every item is still handmade using century-old manufacturing techniques in their factory of Giegen, Germany.

Richard Steiff, Margarete's nephew, was responsible for developing the Steiff brand in the US and in the beginning demand has so high more than one million pieces have currently shipped to our shores.

Richard Steiff joined the company in 1897 and gave the company an enormous boost in popularity by creating the teddy bear in 1902.  In 1907, Steiff manufactured 974,000 bears, and has been increasing its output ever since.

The Steiff company motto, as styled by Margarete Steiff, is "Only the best is good enough for children."  Steiff products are subjected to meticulous testing and inspection.  They are required to be highly flame resistant and, among other things, smaller pieces such as eyes must be able to resist considerable tension, wear and tear, etc.

The most common materials used in Steiff toys are alpaca, felt, mohair and woven fabrics.  Eyes are generally made of wood or glass, and the stuffing is commonly wood shavings or polyester fibers.  A large amount of the work is done by hand, from design sketches to the airbrushed highlights.  The final touch on any Steiff toy is the trademark "button in the ear" (assuming the animal has one; in  any case they'll find a spot/hole for it).

The famed "button in the ear" was devised by Margarete's brother Franz in 1904, to keep counterfeits from being passed off as authentic Steiff toys.  It is metal and originally had the symbol of an elephant, later that was replaced by the name Steiff  The button is still used to distinguish Steiff toys from fakes.  Some special current toys have both the elephant and the name.  These types of toys are considered highly collectible.

Richard Steiff (February 7, 1877- March 30, 1939) Richard was born in Giengen, and entered his aunt's toy making enterprise in 1897.  WHile attending the Arts and Crafts (Kunstgewerbeschule) in Stuttgart, he would regularly visit the nearby Nill'scher Zoo (which was closed in 1906) and spend much of his time drawing the residents of the bear enclosure.  Is sketched were incorporated into the prototype of the toy bear he created in 1902 and code-named Steiff Bar 55 PB (where 55 equals the bear's height in centimeters; P which equalled Plusch, plush; and B equalled beweglich, moveable limbs).

At its debut at the Leipzig Toy Fair in 1903, the bear initially attracted little attention, but its fortunes were saved when an American buyer snapped up the entire lot of 100 bears and another 3,000 just before the exhibition finished.  The heyday of Steiff company thus began.  At the Saint Louis World's Fair in 1904, the Steiff's sold 12,000 bears and received the Gold Medal, which was the highest honor at the event.  The kind of toy bear they pioneered acquired the appellation "teddy" from several legends about President Theodore Roosevelt.  Steiff bears, with a small metal Steiff clip in the ear, can now be quite valuable.

Richard Steiff also  attained several other technological milestones.  He developed the Roloplan, a kind of kite, which could take aerial photographs of the Steiff factory and its surroundings in  Giengen.  The Imperial German Army expressed an interest in the Roloplan for aerial reconnaissance purposes, but abandoned such plans when it proved to be unreliably slow.

In 1903, Steiff also planned and erected a factory building of concrete and steel called the Jungfrauenaquarium (Virgins' Aquarium), which allowed all the workers inside to enjoy ample natural light, a first for its time frame.  He equipped the building with a ramp so that his aunt could reach the upper levels in her wheelchair.  Richard Steiff died at the age of 62 in Michigan.


There have been Steiff collectors fro almost as long  as the company has existed.  Early on, adults realized the high quality and exceptional value of Steiff Collectibles, so soon both adults and children were avid fans of these "toys."  There are more than two dozen quads on how to collect Steiff, but our advice is simple:  Collect what you love.  Collecting Steiff, both new and vintage, is a hobby that thousands of people around the globe enjoy.

How to identify Steiff

All Modern Steiff products and virtually all Steiff products are marked with the famous "button in the ear" trademark that identifies Steiff animals as genuine.  Through the years, it was silver colored and quite small.  Many items also include an ear tag or flag.  White tags with black type mean the piece is an exact replica of an earlier item.  White tags with red type indicate that the item is a limited edition.  Yellow tags identify that item as from Steiff's general assortment.

Other information

The Steiff range is divided into two segments: (1) collectibles and (2) toys.  While there is some overlap, most products fall into one of these two categories.  The collector range includes high quality Teddy Bears and animals made from mohair, alpaca, wool felt, cotton velvet and other natural products of valuable Woven Fur.  Now, 125 years later, this simple truth "Only the best is good enough" still guides our company in the production of both lines for collectors and children.

(Please be aware that the antique Steiff pieces pictured in this article ARE NOT available at Keillor's A Teddy Bear Shoppe, and were only used to illustrate this article.)

Steiff Event: March 29th featuring Dick Franz

I am so excited to announce the Spring 2014 Steiff Event in which I will be hosting the incredible Steiff US based archivist Dick Franz.  Dick is the author of "The Readers Service for the Steiff Club Companion".  Dick is also a long time collector and has been featured on Martha Stewart Living, Antiques in the Attic and QVC.

Our event is March 29th, 2014 from 10- 6 p.m.  Dick Franz will be from 11-2 only and will be appraising up to two items that you currently own.  Dick will also be more than happy to sign your pieces you either bring in (limit to two) or your purchases made that day.

Come see what's new at Steiff for 2014 as many new items will be on view.  The adorable, Steiff 2014 Event Bear, Bert (pictured left) is artificial silk plush , dark beige, five joints, surface washable, 21 centimeters tall  (approximately 8.5 inches), limited to the year 2014, gold-plated "button in the ear" and only available for club events.  Bert is $99.00 plus tax.

Currently I have nine available for purchase.  I will, however, take orders the day of the event.  Bert looks wonderful with last years 2013 Event bear Flora who also happened to be artificial silk, which I have currently for sale as well for $99.00 plus tax.

Bert would be a handsome addition to any Steiff collection, as well as any Teddy bear collection.  As we all know some people only collect the event pieces so this is a not to missed opportunity.


Light refreshments will be served that day, goody bags while they last, and Steiff Door prizes.

Also available is the 2014 Steiff Club Edition Chestnut. Chestnut is made of the finest green mohair, five joints, pads covered in lace, black shoe button eyes, felt "chestnut" leaves, surface washable, and production is limited to the year 2014 with a gold plated "button in the ear".

 Chestnut is 33 centimeters tall and only available for purchase if your a Steiff Club Member.  Steiff Club Membership  is $69.  Membership includes the free Annual Gift. Chestnut, however, is ordered that day and is priced at  $225.00 plus tax.

  Please come to visit, share your teddy bear stories, and  give one of our teddy bears a new "forever home".  Hope to see you that day.


~ Linda

Welcome.....

I would like to take the time and welcome you to not only to my business, Keillor's A Teddy Bear Shoppe, but also to my newest venture----- into becoming more of a presence on the internet.  Within this space I will talk about new arrivals, events, interviews with collectors and artists.  I will also be giving input into the teddy bear world, with articles about certain brands, what to look for when you collect "teddy and his friends".  Within this space I will be selling bears.  I take credit cards: American Express, Discover, Visa and Master Card.

Hopefully you will enjoy your stay here, enjoy what you find here, and finally it is my hope that you will return often.