Good morning!
Well it seems like nearly the whole country is coping with frigid temps and even snow in the south. I'm fortunate. I have a nice puppy to cuddle when it is cold. But if you don't have a pet, I'll bet you are looking for something nice to snuggle with--what about a teddy bear!
Today's post is about a woman who once said, "Freedom is believing in yourself."
Most of us know about Steiff bears, we see them on the Antique Roadshow, marvel at how collectible they are and how Richard Steiff "invented" the Teddy Bear which he named after Teddy Roosevelt. The rest is history. But is it the whole history?
Margarete Steiff was born in 1847 in Germany. At only a year and half years old, she contracted polio; both of her legs were paralyzed and she had difficulty raising her right arm. Fortunately for Margarete she had parents who encouraged her to live as normal a life as she could. Despite the pain in her arms, she became an accomplished zither player...
And despite her handicaps and the pain in her right hand, she took needlework lessons; by 17 years old, she completed her training. The zither was a useful skill; she gave zither lessons and that money enabled her to buy her first sewing machine. She opened a felt store and made felt underskirts which was all the rage at the time.
But in 1879, she widened her focus. She found a pattern in a magazine to make stuffed animals--like rabbits, mice, and elephants. She gave her original toys to children of family members and friends. By 1892, she even applied for a patent for the making of animals and playthings.
Five years later, her nephew Richard joined the company and designed more toys. In 1902, Richard's design for a bear with movable joints and soon became the most popular toy in the United States (named after Teddy Roosevelt).
1907 ad, Lancaster, PA
1908 Christmas ad, Rochester, NY
In 1909, Margarete Steiff passed at the age of 61. I keep her in a mental file of "heroes with needles"; her determination overcame her physical disabilities and enabled her to become not only a great seamstress but an early woman entrepreneur.
I never looked at teddy bear quite the same way after I heard her remarkable story. Maybe you won't either.
Have a safe and happy day!
Wow I've never read about her! She was remarkable, especially when I think about all the excuses I find not to complete projects. That is such a neat story behind the teddy bear.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting! Thanks for providing the story.
ReplyDeleteI never knew the story of the Steif company. My husband had a teddy bear (he spent some time in Germany as a child) and our son had a similar one. My mother had rhinos - a mother and baby - my father bought for her at some point. I have them.
ReplyDelete