Saturday, January 20, 2018
Sunny with clouds
+3 C 37.4 F
Sunny with clouds
+3 C 37.4 F
William Bunch Auctions
& Appraisals
About William Bunch Auctions
William H. Bunch , the owner of the auction house and appraisal business bearing his name, had a passion for auctioneering spanning thirty years. After growing up in Northern Delaware, and attending the University of Delaware, he found himself living in a charming Cecil County, Maryland farmhouse and attending local auctions looking for appropriate furnishings. Soon after, he began planning a future in the auction business. Becoming certified as an auctioneer by attending The Reisch College in Mason, Iowa was the beginning of his formal training as an auctioneer and appraiser. Bill has built a nationally respected antique & fine art estate auction business based in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania (USA).
A Brief History of the Steiff Company (Courtesy of Wikipedia)
Richard Steiff (1877-1939) was a German designer, best known for helping create the teddy bear.
As an adult, he entered his aunt's toymaking business in 1897. He attended the School of Arts and Crafts in Stuttgart, and he would regularly visit a nearby zoo, where he spent lots of time, sketching the bears of the zoo. His sketches were used to create a prototype of a bear in 1902.
The manufactured bear was introduced at the Lipzig Toy Fair in 1903, but attracted very little attention. However, an American toy buyer bought the entire lot of 100 bears and ordered another 3000 bears. Thus began the popularity of the Steiff company. In 1904, at the At. Louis Word's Fair, the Steiffs sold 12,000 bears and received the Gold Metal, which was the highest honour at the event. The Steiff bear became associated with legends of Teddy Roosevelt, and thus the bear took on the name "Teddy".
Over the years, the company has expanded from bears into all kinds of animals., as you will see below. These Steiff animals are famous worldwide both as toys to be played with by young children as well as people who collect them both for interest and as investments.
"Real" collectors make sure that the Steiff tags are part of their purchases. The tags include the Steiff name and the catalogue number of each toy. As well, original labels are very important. For sure, in this condition with the labels and tags, collectors do not let their children or grandchildren near these wonderful toys.
I 've only presented 10 wonderful and well-taken photographs of different Steiff animals. However, to see more of these wonderful toys, please visit either Liveauctioneers or the William H. Bunch Auctions & Appraisals website.
From the Steiff website
Steiff animals used to be made from mohair, alpaca, cashmere, 100 percent cotton velvet, 100 percent wool felt, wood shavings, Kapok and valuable woven plush – a material usually reserved for the high fashion industry. Manufacturing is still done by hand in our 103-year-old factory in Germany.
In the 1940's Steiff switched over to woven plush and synthetic materials. They still use some Mohair as well as cotton and polyester. Steiff products are often considered family heirlooms and are passed from generation to generation.
In the 1940's Steiff switched over to woven plush and synthetic materials. They still use some Mohair as well as cotton and polyester. Steiff products are often considered family heirlooms and are passed from generation to generation.
Steiff toys last so long because they are extremely well-made and vigorously tested – surpassing all U.S. and international toy safety standards. Vintage Steiff toys from the company’s earlier years have sold at auction for more than $100,000. Collectors treasure Steiff products for their artistry, beauty, and lasting value. Children love their friendly faces, cuddly fur, and realistic designs. When "only the best" is good enough, Steiff is the only choice.
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