Are these real steiffs?

[Jellucy92]

Hi,

Just came across this forum in my search to figure out whether these are really steiff bears or fakes. I bought them about six years ago from a toy shop in Germany, for around 80 euros (together - also thought they were just cheap as I believed they were intended for children and modern ones rather than the old ones going for hundreds). Both have tags in their ears, but they don't match... Bear's tag says
'Knopf im ohr
Steiff (logo)'

and the boar's
'Made in Germany by
Steiff (logo)
Knopf im ohr'

The white bear has a tag saying original cosy friends, but no name. The boar has a tag saying Wutzi. The back of the tag for the bear says it's designed by steiff germany, but made in China under quality control of steiff Germany. The back of the boar tag just has the materials it's made of.

Can anyone help me? Wanting to sell them on Ebay but I don't want to get in trouble for selling counterfeits if they are.

(Picture attached)

Thanks. :)

[Rich1988]

I'm by no means an expert on Steiff but my instinct is that these are not real Steiff.
Steiff bears by and large are jointed and the little bear looks to be a more simplified pattern. Beyond this, the materials don't appear to be recognisably Steiff.
I would also note the tags are so different. Not entirely unreasonable given potential age differences but does raise me some doubt.
Sorry that this might not help much and as I say by no means can I say for certain. If you have a shop near by you may be able to ask them or I might recommend e-mail Daniel Agnew of Teddy Bear Times.

Richard
x

[Jellucy92]

Thanks Richard :)

Yeah, my grandmother collects the older steiff bears and these feel nothing like them. They're not mohair, think the tags said polyester and something else. Don't have the normal joints/hardness and such either - however, I thought this might be as they were aimed specifically at children. It's starting to seem like they really are fakes though...

I'll wait for more replies and if nobody knows then I'll email the person you recommended. :)

[bearlover777]

Steiffs don't have to be mohair or jointed. I have had one for years that sits on my bed who is neither and isn't large. I also have a large Panda who isn't mohair or jointed so I wouldn't hold stock with the materials or lack of joints.

there is a website that you can put the Steiff EAn number in and it will tell you what the item should be and sometimes give a photo http://www.collectorvalues.com/steiffsearch.asp?whatfor=steiff%20teddy%20bears

[Beartrande]

I have seen Steiff looking like your white bear. They are, as you say, aimed at children rather than adult collectables.

[Jellucy92]

Oh, that's great, thanks! :) The boar is real by the looks of it, a much newer one though. The code for the bear doesn't come up with anything though.

[Jellucy92]

I have seen Steiff looking like your white bear. They are, as you say, aimed at children rather than adult collectables.
Sorry, didn't see your post.

Yeah, must be that. He probably isn't worth much, might give him to a charity or something.

[wubbiebear]

I hope I don't sound stupid, but can someone please explain to me what a fake bear is?

[Beartrande]

A fake bear would be a bear that pretends to be made by someone else. So if you put a button in the ear of a bear that has been made to look like a Steiff bear with the aim of passing the bear off as a Steiff that would be a fake bear.

[wubbiebear]

Oh, I see. Why would someone do that? If someone wanted to sell their bear, don't they think their bears could sell on their own without claiming to be a Steiff bear? Of course this is coming from someone who couldn't give the slightest whooptydoo about labels. I love all bears and don't really care what the tagh says.

[Jellucy92]

People who do it will be specifically making the bears to look like steiff bears, so they can sell them for hundreds (or more? Not sure if they go into the thousands). They won't be people simply wanting to sell bears as they are. It's the same reason you get people trying to copy designer clothes, jewellery, etc.

I agree about labels too, though steiff bears do look and feel unique (or compared to what I've seen anyway).

[dutchy.bears]

Sadly like lots of other things there is a business in selling fakes.. As long as something could be worth a lot con artists copy, how many forgeries of paintings or other pieces of art are out there? And if someone tries to sell you a fake strict for real steiff money you wouldn't be happy. Although the only return you get from bears are unconditional love and hugs.

I love the stiff animals at harrods but sadly they remain a dream, maybe in the future.
-xxx-
Annette