Steiff Bear Ernst: A Tribute to Leica’s 100-Year Legacy

Leica Camera pays homage to its rich heritage with the limited-edition Steiff Bear “Ernst”, a collectible item that celebrates the company’s 100-year milestone. The bear is a tribute to Ernst Leitz II, the visionary behind the first Leica camera. Designed in collaboration with Steiff, a world-renowned manufacturer of handcrafted teddy bears, “Ernst” merges nostalgia with Leica’s legacy in photography.

Price: $600 USD / Sold Out

Limited edition of 500.
Two teddy bears in the series: “Ernst” and “Elsie”.
Meticulously crafted from 100% mohair teddy fur.
With exquisite details, including a miniature replica of the legendary Leica I.
Height: 28 cm, weight: 420 g

Leica x STEIFF: Ernst — Leica x STEIFF “Ernst”

Ernst Leitz Company: A Legacy of Optical Innovation and Humanitarian Impact

The Ernst Leitz company, established in 1849 in Wetzlar, Germany, is renowned for its pivotal contributions to optics and photography. Starting as the Optical Institute under Karl Kellner, it gained prominence under Ernst Leitz’s leadership by shifting to serial production of microscopes, making them widely accessible for scientific research. The company’s innovations led to the development of the groundbreaking Leica camera, which revolutionized 35mm photography.

Beyond its technological advancements, the company demonstrated a remarkable humanitarian spirit during WWII, as Ernst Leitz II and his family helped Jewish employees escape Nazi Germany. The company evolved through mergers, forming Leica Microsystems and Leica Geosystems, and continues to lead in optical and imaging technology today.