Soft Toy
1950s (manufactured)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This penguin was made by the German company Steiff in the 1950s. Steiff was founded in 1877 by Margarete Steiff. Richard, one of her nephews, designed the first jointed teddy bear in 1902. This design was perfected in 1905. The company became the leading exporter of bears from Germany with Britain and the USA its biggest customers. Today, the company still maintains links with the Steiff family.
Steiff introduced their first penguin, King Peng, in the 1920s after Admiral Byrd's expedition to the South Pole in the 1920s made the headlines worldwide. Many different characters, based on Byrd's adventures, soon filled the toy shops. Steiff also introduced other animals who live in or around water to their production line, such as seals and frogs.
Steiff introduced their first penguin, King Peng, in the 1920s after Admiral Byrd's expedition to the South Pole in the 1920s made the headlines worldwide. Many different characters, based on Byrd's adventures, soon filled the toy shops. Steiff also introduced other animals who live in or around water to their production line, such as seals and frogs.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Mohair, felt and glass |
| Brief description | Soft toy, penguin, mohair, felt and glass, made by Margarete Steiff GmbH, Germany, 1950s. |
| Physical description | A small toy penguin consisting of stuffed mohair. It is predominately cream with a green back. Its beak and feet are made of felt which are stuffed and stitched. The beak is orange and the feet are light brown. There are slight yellow markings under each wing and the head is mainly black. The wings are sewn onto the body and stick out at almost a horizontal angle. |
| Dimensions |
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| Summary | This penguin was made by the German company Steiff in the 1950s. Steiff was founded in 1877 by Margarete Steiff. Richard, one of her nephews, designed the first jointed teddy bear in 1902. This design was perfected in 1905. The company became the leading exporter of bears from Germany with Britain and the USA its biggest customers. Today, the company still maintains links with the Steiff family. Steiff introduced their first penguin, King Peng, in the 1920s after Admiral Byrd's expedition to the South Pole in the 1920s made the headlines worldwide. Many different characters, based on Byrd's adventures, soon filled the toy shops. Steiff also introduced other animals who live in or around water to their production line, such as seals and frogs. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.149-2010 |
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| Record created | May 25, 2010 |
| Record URL |
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