Steiff Appraisal Day Planned

WASHINGTON — A special Steiff appraisal day will take place Saturday, January 22, at Gunn Memorial Museum.

The public is invited to bring their Steiff bears and animals to be evaluated by Sandy Booth and Shelley Smith, both longtime collectors whose toys are on display in the museum’s current exhibit. They will answer questions and verbally appraise items for estimated age and value.

There is no charge for admission or appraisal. Visitors can drop in between noon and 3 pm. The snow date is Sunday, January 23, at the same time.

The museum’s exhibition of Steiff toys in “Washington Winter Wonderland” that began in November has been extended to Sunday January 30, by popular demand. Visitors to the appraisal day will be able to view whimsical displays of more than 130 vintage Steiff stuffed animals.

Steiff is best known as the company that invented the teddy bear. John Pitts, a former scenic artist at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, has also painted a stunning winter mural on the walls of the museum.

The museum is at 5 Wykeham Road, the intersection of Route 47 and Wykeham Road, on Washington Green. For information, call 860-868-7756 or visit GunnLibrary.org.