Speaker Series: Can You Bear It?
The Field House Museum welcomes blogger Rebekah Kaufman on December 9, 2020 at 6:00 pm for “Can you Bear It? A Steiff Teddy Master Class.” Learn the story of the Button-in-Ear teddy bears designed and manufactured by Margarete Steiff GmbH of Giengen, Germany. These universally beloved cubs were an immediate worldwide sensation upon their debut and remain a childhood and collector mainstay nearly 120 years later. Join us as Kaufman examines the Steiff teddy bear’s history, tying its design evolution to historical events, popular culture, and the company’s strategic and business priorities.
About the Speaker
Rebekah Kaufman is a 3rd generation Steiff enthusiast. Her collection of treasures numbers north of 2,000 and focuses on examples from 1905 to 1944, uncatalogued rarities, cloth dolls, and display animals. Although Rebekah has no formal affiliation with Steiff today, she was Steiff’s North American archivist through 2017, where she identified and valued vintage items on behalf of the company.
Rebekah’s award-winning blog, My Steiff Life is updated weekly and focuses on vintage Steiff finds, Steiff antiquing and travel adventures, international Steiff happenings, and the legacy and history of the Steiff company. It can be found on her website, www.mysteifflife.com.
Rebekah has consulted for HGTV, CBS (Inside Edition), History.com (Pawn Stars), E! Entertainment, the BBC, and the radio program The Antiques Airshow. She is a contributor to DOLLS, Doll News, The Steiff Club Magazine, Teddy Bear Times & Friends, Worthpoint, and Auction Daily.
Making the Connection
As the year draws to a close so too will the exhibit Steiff Everlasting, on display at the Field House Museum until January 3, 2021. There is still time to come see the wonders of Steiff on display from the Zork Collection. Tours of the museum are available both in-person and online.
How to Attend
Simply visit the “discussion” section of the event page or visit the Field House Museum Facebook Page to view the video feed during the event time. Recordings will be available on the Museum’s Facebook, Website, and Youtube Channel.