I spent Sunday morning arranging a diorama for a friend's baby shower. The theme is the Teddy Bears' Picnic. Immediately Steiff's Anniversary Limited Edition Teddy Bear Tea Party came to mind and a dining room scene was born.
Now before anyone has a heart attack about the bears not being in their original packaging, let me advise you that when I found the set in 2005, in the back of an antique emporium, the box had sustained significant water damage and was moldy; the bears and the certificate though were unscathed.
The House of Steiff created the set to celebrate their 102nd anniversary. It contains four bears that replicate the 1903 Steiff bears in an 8 inch size. The white, dark brown, beige, and caramel color mohair bears “conform as closely as possible to the history model of 1903.” The set is accompanied by a china tea set decorated with Steiff teddy bears. The original box completes the vignette with a darling tea party scene.
(Paragraph updated 12/7/13) In 2011, unopened sets could go for as little as $165 to $195. Today in 2013, the same DL-2034 sets go for around $295. On eBay sets can go for upwards of $400, or with inexperienced antique toy sellers for around $100.
Would you open a NOS (new old stock) box so that your child could play with the tea set?
Ciao Bella!
Eden!
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Credits: All layouts designed by and images taken by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.
