Saturday, May 2, 2020

The Steiffgal (AKA Rebekah Kaufman)

Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Overcast
12 C  54 F


The Steiffgal (AKA Rebekah Kaufman)

     I've written many times about about Steiff, the famous manufacturer of mohair  dolls, and their famous bears. The company is still in existence today, and was founded in 1880 by Margarete Steiff in 1880 in Germany. She was a seamstress by trade, but in 1879, she saw a pattern for a small stuffed elephant. She made the first one as a pin cushion, but the cushions became popular among children as toys. By 1886, Margaret had sold 5000 elephants from the original pattern that she had discovered by chance. By 1892, there was already a catalogue featuring all kinds of stuffed animals. After that, as they say "the rest is history"!

 I've also come across a very well-known blogger and specialist on these most-endearing dolls, by the name of Rebekah Kaufman. Rebekah  has a very interesting CV (Curriculum Vitae/Resume). 

Rebekah worked as rthe club manager for the German company Margarete Steiff GmbH in the United states from 2003-2006. Through the end of 2017 she was Steiff's North American archivist, where she identified and valued vintage Steiff on behalf of the company.

She does not have any affiliation with Margarete Steiff GmbH or Steiff North America today,She has managed valuations and sales for unique auctions specific to vintage Steiff dolls, and is also a prolific writer on vintage Steiff.

 Rebekah writes articles( print and online) for DOLLS, Doll News, The Steiff CLub Magazine, Worthpoint, and Auction Daily. Rebekah also sells these unique stuffed animals on her website below.





Copyright  © 2020           Rebekah Kaufman
Please do not copy without her written permission

Copyright  © 2020           Rebekah Kaufman
Please do not copy without her written permission

The toy above is one item that is currently for sale on Rebekah's website. 
You can see from the description below, just how knowledgeable Rebekah is in her specialty of Steiff merchandise.

"Here we have a totally charming example of Steiff's beloved prewar Molly puppy on wheels. 
She is standing, head jointed, and measures 6 inches tall and 8 inches long, not including her wheels or tail.
 She is made from long tipped tan mohair and brown tipped mohair. Her floppy ears are "folded over" as they have been since her launch in the mid-1920's. She has oversized brown and black pupil eyes and a black hand embroidered nose and mouth. She rides upon four red wooden eccentric wheels."

Molly on eccentric wheels was made in 7, 19, 12, 14, 17, and 22 cm from 1927-1943 overall. 
This example is mostly likely the 17 cm version. She would look beyond awesome posed with a medium 
to larger scaled doll from any era.

Below is beautiful donkey, also for sale.
"Here we have Steiff's classic Esel or Donkey. He is 22 cm, standing, unjointed, and made from grey mohair.
Esel was manufactured in 12, 14, 22, and 28 cm; the smallest size was made in velvet from 1950 through 1969 while the larger sizes were made in mohair overall from 1950 though 1961. This fellow has a wonderful, kind, and friendly look to him, and presents in a most charming way."
Copyright  © 2020           Rebekah Kaufman
Please do not copy without her written permission

Copyright  © 2020           Rebekah Kaufman
Please do not copy without her written permission

I'll be writing more in the future about Rebekah Kaufman, but for now I thought I'd finish with a sampling of just some of here Steiff animals that she has for sale at her store on the Internet.

You can visit Rebekah's nice store at the address below


And you can also visit her very interesting and informative blog at:


Thanks for dropping by,
and as always,
Have a great part of the day or night,
wherever you may be.


 I can always be reached at:


Stacey Bindman








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