Nutcracker teddy bear by Steiff - 32cm

Russian composer Tchaikovsky wrote the music for a two-part ballet based on the fairytale The Nutcracker and the Mouse King written in 1816 by author E. T. A. Hoffmann, in which young Marie Stahlbaum's favourite Christmas toy; the Nutcracker, comes alive and, after defeating the evil Mouse King in battle, whisks her away to a magical kingdom populated by dolls. Before the first performance, Tchaikovsky took some songs from the ballet for a concert performance known as The Nutcracker Suite.

The ballet takes place in Germany in the early 19th century. The curtain rises on a Christmas Eve party in the Stahlbaum home. The guests arrive and the children get their presents, then dance about the room. A strange little man named Drosselmeyer arrives at the party. He is a toy-maker. He is also Clara Stahlbaum's godfather. He has four dancing dolls for the children and a special surprise for Clara. It is a nutcracker. She loves it, but her brother Fritz breaks it. She puts the Nutcracker in her doll bed to get well. The Nutcracker is actually Drosselmeyer's nephew Hans-Peter, who was transformed into the wooden doll by the Mouse King's evil mother. The party ends and everyone leaves and the family go to bed. Clara creeps back to the room. She needs to be certain her Nutcracker is resting quietly. All of a sudden, mice start running about the room. The dolls, the tin soldiers, and all the other playthings come to life to fight the mice. The Christmas tree rises higher and higher and the Nutcracker jumps out of the doll bed to fight the Mouse King. When the Nutcracker is in danger, Clara saves his life by throwing her slipper at the Mouse King. The Mouse King runs out of the room with all the other mice. The Nutcracker transforms back into his human form. Clara and Hans-Peter set off through the snowy woods for the magical Land of Sweets. The beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy rules this land and she welcomes them then orders her subjects to dance for them. Dances about Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate are presented. and the ballet ends with everyone dancing a waltz

Steiff's Nutcracker teddy bear takes inspiration from this enchanting character. Made from the finest cinnamon brown mohair; he is dressed in a lavish wool felt soldier's uniform embellished with embroidered patterns, a matching hat and black boots with gold trim around the top. His hand embroidered nose is delicately stitched in black thread and he has endearing boot button style glass eyes. 

Limited to only 1,225 pieces (the digits of Christmas day), he comes with his numbered certificate in a Steiff gift box with its original protective cardboard outer sleeve.

• Size: 32cm / 12.5 inches
• 5-Way Jointed
• Age: 14+
• Surface washable

Margarete Steiff GmbH is the oldest and most famous teddy bear and soft toy manufacturer in the world. Founded in 1880 by Margarete Steiff, the company motto is “Only the best is good enough for our children”. Credited with inventing the first teddy bear in 1902, the company is best known for its “Button in Ear” trademark.