Help me identify a Steiff bear.

[niviche]

Hello,

My girlfriend's Steiff bear, which was given to her when she was a child, was recently stolen, and I've been looking to identify its model, so as to find the exact same one.

I don't know if this is the right place to ask, but somebody here might help me to find more information, or point me to a place where I might get some help. I've looked around on the net, but without any luck.

This is a small (around 6 inches / 10 or 12 centimeters) long dark brown bear, on all four, with a white nose. It had the Steiff button and was very sturdy, so I definitely think it was made from Steiff. It's quite similar to their current "polar bear cub" model, except that it is a brown bear. It also looks a bit like this one (http://www.kerrisbundleofbears.com.au/images/products/mohair_bear_cub.JPG), but with a one nose and without the collar.
It was probably manufactured in the late 70's or early 80's, and was then bought in Germany.

Here are two photos of this bear. Sorry for the quality, I never thought I would look for this bear as I would for a missing person.

http://www.adnoiseam.net/nicolas/bear1.jpg

http://www.adnoiseam.net/nicolas/bear2.jpg

I would be extremely thankful if somebody could point me in the right direction.

[shebob bears]

It's quite a minefield trying to track down a specific Steiff isn't it! So far I have only come up with one Steiff made in Germany in the 1960s. It is either very dark brown/possibly black with a white muzzle but wears a red collar. It is available in the USA from a firm called Coppertone Lane Antiques and Collectables. I believe it was made as a souvenier at Yellowstone Park. Its eyes though look different to those in your photos as they appear very low down on the face.
Anyway, I shall keep searching for you and see what I can find.

Cheers,
Sheila

[niviche]

Thank you for your help.

Yes, it's really difficult to identify this precise bear, all the more since I never thought I would have to ever do it.

Do Coppertone Lane Antiques and Collectables have a websit? I couldn't find them through any search engines.

The people at Steiff pointed me to www.gaf-pfeiffer.de, which seems to have an archive through which you can look for Steiff bears. However, one has to pay to get access to this site. Has anybody used it, and if yes, is it worth the try, or is their archive too small or not relevant for such an item?

Thank you for your help.

[shebob bears]

Try typing "Ruby Lane Antiques" and see what comes up. I have just tried it on Google and it came up with various venues for Coppertone Antiques. The bear I saw last week on their site must have sold as it is no longer there.

They have in excess of 700 bears available (not all Steiff though) so it may be worth searching all the well known makers.

Good luck with your search.
Sheila :6034:

[niviche]

Thank you very much.

I guess you meant this one:
http://www.rubylane.com/shops/coppertonlane/item/6719

It's very close, but not exactly the one I am looking for, which had a somewhat better defined body and no real mouth. But I'll keep on looking, and thanks for your help.

[shebob bears]

Yes, I think it may have been that one, but I have looked at so many bears now, I am starting to go crosseyed. :eek:

Are you sure it is a Steiff? I shall keep searching all the major manufacturers and see what it comes up with for you.

Cheers,
Sheila

[niviche]

Thank you.

I would assume this bear to be from Steiff, as it had this little yellow ribbon on the ear (see the first image I posted). Isn't this something that Steiff always use (sorry for my total iliteracy as far as teddy bears are concerned). It was also particularely sturdy, even for an almost 30 year old teddy bear, and was bought in Germany, so...

[shebob bears]

I have checked on several Steiff bears regarding the yellow ribbon in the ear, and they all appear to have the "stiff, yellow, linen label behind the Steiff button" from the years 1967 - 1977. From the early 80's (and I quote) "they carry a woven label in the ear, attached by an incised, cursive 'button in ear' "

Do you recall seeing the Steiff button in the ear?
I will keep searching. Not a lot of four legged bears about.

Sheila.

[RainbowBits]

Hi :)
I'm a Steiff nut and have both Sortiments. Is this bear floppy? I cant see the body so im just going by the face and the way it appears to be laying flat.
Steiff Floppy Teddy 1978-1982

[eddiesteddies]

Hi,
could this be your bear? http://www.eddiesteddies.co.uk/catalog/steiff-browny-bear-rare-collectable-p-161.html
It looks a bit lighter in colour than the pics you sent, but the size is about right and the face looks similar.
Eddie

http://www.eddiesteddies.co.uk/catalog/steiff-browny-bear-rare-collectable-p-161.html

[CareBear]

I think that your girlfriend might have had a Steiff Cozy Teddy (or Steiff Cosy Teddy) from the 1980s. They didn't have much of a mouth - just an airbrushed brown dot. I saw one in the Teddy Bear Encyclopedia today and thought of you.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150475173771
(Sorry if linking to an eBay is not okay - I'm new and still figuring things out). There are several on eBay and the prices aren't as steep as I would have thought.

Good luck to you!:6080: