Margarete 175th Birthday Teddy Bear by Steiff - 30cm

Margarete Steiff was born in 1847 in Giengen, Germany. After contracting polio as a child, she was destined to spend her life in a wheelchair with both legs paralyzed and pain in her right arm. After training as a seamstress, she was able to raise enough money to buy a sewing machine and she began making clothes, eventually opening her own store in 1877. Around this time, Margarete came across a sewing pattern for a toy elephant, as well as patterns for mice and rabbits. Using felt and lamb's wool, Margarete made many of these toys as gifts for friends, and later began to sell some. Proving popular, the scale of production steadily increased, as did the variety of toys. In 1902, the company began making a toy bear with moveable joints based on a design by Margarete's nephew Richard. Taking off in the United States, it was nicknamed after then U.S. president Theodore 'Teddy' Roosevelt and so, the Teddy Bear was born.

Crafted from the finest cream mohair, this beautiful teddy bear has been created to commemorate the 175th birthday in 2022, of Steiff's tenacious founder. This charming bear wears a double blue satin and delicate lace ribbon bow and a cameo pendant, carefully sculpted with the first company elephant on wheels emblem from 1897 on it. Her paws are detailed with Margarete's signature and the digits of her date of birth, 24th July 1847. She has a light brown hand embroidered nose and gentle dark eyes and has a gold plated 'Button in Ear'.

She is limited to 1,847 pieces worldwide and comes with her numbered certificate in a Steiff gift box with its original protective cardboard outer sleeve.

• Size: 30cm / 12 inches
• 5-Way Jointed
• Age: 14+
• Surface washable

Margarete Steiff GmbH is the oldest and most famous teddy bear and soft toy manufacturer in the world. Founded in 1880 by Margarete Steiff, the company motto is “Only the best is good enough for our children”. Credited with inventing the first teddy bear in 1902, the company is best known for its “Button in Ear” trademark.