Teddy bear
Not on view
Dateca. 1930
Mediummohair; wood wool; wool; glass
Dimensionsoverall: 7 1/2 in x 4 1/2 in
ClassificationsToys, Games, Recreational Object
Credit LineGift of the Holzer Family
Object number2020.2.1
Object DescriptionA light-colored teddy bear with articulated limbs wearing hand-knit blue-green sweater with sleeves rolled up. The bear fur is made of mohair, and he has small brown and black glass eyes. He is stuffed with wood wool, also known as excelsior, and the body is firm. The sweater is not original to the bear and was handmade. He was made by the German plush toy company Steiff in the 1930s. This bear would have been catalogued by Steiff as a 7-inch bear, as Steiff measurements do not traditionally include the ears. The bear was carried by Eva Holzer on Kindertransport to England in 1939 when she was 10 years old.Collections- Toys, Games and Souvenirs
NotesFollowing the Kristallnacht pogrom, Britain launched the Kindertransport program, allowing unaccompanied Jewish children under 17 from Germany and annexed territories to enter on temporary visas. Influenced by public opinion and refugee aid groups, including the British Committee for the Jews of Germany, the government allowed unaccompanied minors entry on temporary visas. Private sponsors covered their care, education, and future emigration, with the expectation that they would return to their families once the crisis ended. Parents were not permitted to accompany them, and older children cared for infants during transport. (“Kindertransport, 1938–40.” United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/kindertransport-1938-40. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.) Rebekah Kaufman, the leading expert of Steiff and other European plush toys, was consulted on 2021-03-11 to confirm that this bear was made by Steiff. She was able to confirm a rough age – the 1930s - as well as the materials used. Rebekah had the following details to share about this bear: 1. This bear, at 7" tall, would be the largest size Steiff would make WITHOUT felt foot pads, and it is clear that he does not have felt footpads. 2. The proportional eyes, placed on or near the facial seams, are very typical of Steiff. 3. The mohair on the muzzle is not trimmed, which is reflective of the period. 4. His nose stitching pattern is consistent with the nose stitching pattern of Steiff bears of his size, age, and design. 5. His arms and wrists are "clunky" with four black claws on each. 6. He is "relatively" long and lean - compared to previous generations of these bears - which is also typical of his era of production. 7. The only thing that is not extremely "Steiff-like" is his foot claw stitching. There should be four black claws on each foot, but the stitches just look large/out of scale from the photos. This could be an artifact of the photo, or these could have been restitched, or just got a little funky over time with playwear and love.Exhibitions
