24. Sonneberg Museumsbear 2017 38 cm Teddy Bear by Hermann-Coburg

Teddy Bears stuffed with excelsior
a true treasure

Teddy Bears stuffed with excelsior belong to the rarity treasure of the Teddy Bear world and are only rarely offered on the collector’s market today. What used to be the daily work of the Teddy Bear makers in former times, has become a valuable and rare treasure today. Worldwide there are only a handful of experts who are still familiar with the traditonal art of excelsior stuffing. Years of training, muscle strength and an artistic sense for styling are necessary to carry out this very time-consuming work. Only very old and long-standing manufactures have still the knowledge today, how Teddy Bears can be stuffed with excelsior according to old example, so that nowadays excelsior stuffed Teddy Bears are hardly to find.

For almost 100 years, we have cultivated the tradition of stuffing our Teddy Bears with excelsior and we have preserved for us this knowledge untill today. This gives our Teddy Bears their exceptional value and makes them to uncomparable and unique creatures with value-preserving character.

Mohair is made from one of nature`s finest  sources for natural fiber, the Angora goat. This special fur is very long and naturally wavy. When sheared (this usually occurs twice a year) it is called mohair. The term "mohair" is derived from the Arabian word "Muhayar" which literally means "the fabric of goat hair". Despite the name similarity there is no relation to the Angora rabbit.

The collection of this noble hair does not require any animals to be harmed!

Angora goats are a delicate animal and are very sensitive to temperature change. This requires a dependable mild climate. Summers not so hot that the meadows dry out and winters not too cold. In the entire world there are only three regions that consistently meet these ideal conditions: Texas, USA, South Africa and Turkey.

The fur of the Angora go at is naturally white, curly and shiny. Its fibers have a remarkable strength when made into a pile fabric. These characteristics together with the noble appearance, silky feel and sheen make mohair one of the finest  fibers offered by nature.

HERMANN-Spielwaren, now located in Coburg-Cortendorf / Germany, is one of the oldest still existing Teddybear companies worldwide. Founded 1920 in Neufang near Sonneberg / Thuringia the history goes back to the year 1913, when Max Hermann manufactrued his first Teddybear together with his brother Arthur and his sister Adelheid.

The company is famous for there extraordinary designs, there craftmanship, there exclusive small editions and that each bear, made in Coburg / Germany is a own personality. Each bear is made by highskilled longtime employees, many of them work over 10 years for HERMANN-Spielwaren.

Each wellknown teddybear book features the designs and also the Teddybear magacines are in close contact the the company for new styles. Des Chef-Designer is Ulla Hermann, granddaughter of the founder. Her Teddybears won famous Awards, like the TOBY Industry’s and Public’s Choice Award, the Golden Teddy Award or the TED worldwide Award.