Many of you have asked why there are two different Titanic Mourning bears being produced by Steiff to commemmorate the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.
Richard Steiff produced a black bear prototype as early as 1907 but felt it was to scary for young children.
Again in 1908 another black bear prototype was made.
Neither of these bears were put into production.
When news of the Titanic's sinking was received in Giengen, black "Mourning" bears were immediately put into production.
There were two types produced.
The first type was made of long, curly black mohair.
It was produced in five sizes:
EAN CM Inch Year # Made
5320 30 12 1912 240
5325 35 14 1912 139
5328 40 16 1912 27
5332 46 18 1912 6
5335 50 20 1912 82
This made a total of 494 pieces made in 1912.
An additional 161 bears were made as follows:
EAN CM Inch Year # Made
5320 30 12 1917 8
5325 35 14 1917 17
5328 40 16 1917 15
5332 46 18 1919 56
5335 50 20 1917 65
This made a total of 655 Black Bears of long mohair. Many had red felt behind the eyes.
As this pattern was also used for bears of other colors, a number of black bears were produced with center seams which made them even rarer!
"Othello" EAN 403088 would be the same as the 5335 (50CM) long curly mohair bear made in 1912.
Only 82 bears were made in this size. Othello is an original "Mourning Bear" owned by Ian Pout of Teddy Bears of Witney in Witney England.
The second type produced when Titanic sank was made of short pile plush or "Sealskin".
This bear was also produced in five sizes as follows:
EAN CM Inch Year # Made
5217 25 10 1912 583
5220 30 12 1912 372
5225 35 14 1912 78
5228 40 16 1912 12
5235 50 20 1912 69
This type totaled 1,114 pieces. All had red felt behind the eyes and were only produced in 1912. Thus a total of 1,608 black "mourning" bears were produced in 1912 and an additional 161 between 1917 and 1919.
Cathy and I own an original "Sealskin" "Mourning Bear" EAN 5225 (35CM) made in 1912.
Only 78 bears were made in this size.
The Titanic Commemorative Centenary Bear #664151 is the replica for this bear.
I hope this has helped clear up some of the mystery surrounding the differnt types
of black mourning bears made by Steiff in 1912. |
