Steiff and friends

Ever since its birth around the turn of the last century, the teddy bear has been a beloved companion in the nursery. It has been equally cherished by adults, who have elevated the teddy bear to the status of an iconic figure—most notably through characters like Winnie-the-Pooh and Paddington. Naturally, this has led to a passionate, global culture of teddy bear collecting. When the prestigious British auction house Sotheby’s began hosting teddy bear auctions in 1983, it marked the emergence of the teddy bear as a highly sought-after collectable, with rare specimens fetching high prices.

The most highly collected and coveted teddy bears come from the German firm Steiff, and this auction features many pieces from this legendary manufacturer. Steiff began producing teddy bears in 1903; just four years later, it is reported that no fewer than 975,000 bears left the factory—a remarkable success! Today, a Steiff bear from this early period is an extreme rarity. Other renowned makers, such as Gebrüder Hermann and Schuco, are also represented in the auction, alongside Swedish sheepskin bears from Merimex and the occasional mechanical tin bear from Japan. Others are of unknown origin, relying solely on their inherent charm to capture the interest of collectors.

The auction includes teddy bears—as well as a number of closely related monkeys and other animals—sourced from four Swedish collections. Hidden here are many unusual and exceptionally fine specimens of the teddy bear family, alongside a few that are more worn—partially loved to pieces. As they now go under the hammer, we at Formstad hope they will find their way to new, loving homes.