Steiff – Jocko Chimpanzee 0020/25 – 25 cm – Mohair – c.1968-1973

Description

An original vintage Steiff Jocko chimpanzee, made in Germany in brown mohair plush and retaining the original Steiff Button in Ear together with part of its yellow manufacturer’s flag.

Jocko is one of Steiff’s longest-established primate designs, the character having its origins in the early twentieth century and subsequently appearing in numerous sizes and forms. This example corresponds with the 25 cm fully jointed Jocko, Art. No. 0020/25, produced during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Contemporary catalogue conventions describe the model by its nominal 25 cm size, although the present example measures approximately 28 cm from the top of the head to the foot.

The chimpanzee is made from rich brown mohair, with a contrasting white mohair chin and extensively modelled peach-coloured felt face. Particularly characteristic are the eyes, large felt ears and exceptionally long shaped felt hands and feet, each individually stitched to suggest fingers and toes.

All four limbs and the head are articulated, allowing Jocko to be posed in a variety of seated positions. An internal press squeaker is present but no longer functions.

The surviving yellow Steiff ear flag is worn and no longer sufficiently legible to read the complete article number, but the combination of size, materials, construction and period identification corresponds with the documented 0020/25 pattern. The later Jocko introduced from the mid-1970s differs in construction, being recorded with dangling limbs and washable fabric, making the fully articulated mohair construction of this example useful in dating it to the earlier production.

An expressive and highly recognisable vintage Steiff design, retaining considerably more character than many later Jocko variants.

Condition

Good vintage condition. The brown mohair remains reasonably full overall, with general age-related wear, flattening and some thinning. The felt face, ears, hands and feet show surface marking, rubbing and discolouration consistent with age and handling, with some wear particularly evident to the extremities. The eyes remain firmly positioned and the joints operate correctly. The internal press squeaker is present but no longer works. Original Steiff button and a substantial fragment of the yellow ear flag survive. Please refer to the photographs for the precise condition.

Maker

Margarete Steiff GmbH, Giengen an der Brenz, Germany.

Date

Circa 1968–1973.

Height

Approximately 28 cm from head to foot as measured. Steiff catalogue size approximately 25 cm.

Material

Brown mohair plush with felt face, ears, hands and feet, white mohair chin and inset eyes.

Construction

Firmly stuffed chimpanzee with fully articulated head, arms and legs; internal press squeaker; shaped and stitched felt extremities; Steiff Button in Ear and surviving yellow manufacturer’s flag.

Why Buy from Hornseys?

Every item offered by Hornseys is handled, inspected and catalogued in-house before being offered for sale. We take particular care to identify manufacturers, edition details, materials, accessories and condition accurately, using the object itself and its surviving original documentation wherever possible.

Hornseys has been established in Ripon, North Yorkshire, since 1976, and our stock encompasses fine art, illustration, rare books, collectables, toys and unusual decorative objects.

We provide free UK delivery, carefully packed tracked shipping and a 14-day unconditional return guarantee, provided the item is returned in the same condition in which it was supplied.

(BR)