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For nearly 100 years, toys are being produced in Bad Kösen. Käthe Kruse founded the company in 1911/12 as doll-making workshop. About 100 employees were busy, producing her world-famous dolls. Käthe Kruse left Bad Kösen in 1949 to set up a new company in Donauwörth together with her children.

Founder Käthe Kruse

After a period of fiduciary administration by the state, the company was expropriated in 1953 and nationalised as People's Enterprises (VEB) Doll-Making Workshops which continued producing traditional dolls.

The first plush animals were shown together with dolls at the Leipzig Trade Fair in 1958. These plush toys met with high demand so that production was expanded, and doll production seized in 1964. In 1969, the company was renamed as VEB Kösener Spielzeug. Up to 80% of the plush animal production was exported. The number of employees, mainly women, grew to 195. For ten years, the company was subject to Burg Giebichenstein - College of Art and Design in Halle. These close ties resulted in many creative products, and some of its fine designers have worked for Kösen. The turning point in 1989 led to Kösen's markets disappearing virtually overnight.

Like many other companies, VEB Kösener Spielzeug was left with no hope for survival. Awaiting privatisation under the Treuhand Agency, Steiff showed an interest in Kösen which led to a two-year co-operation and a transfer of know-how. When Steiff decided not to buy Kösen, the local family business Schache stepped in to prevent the demise of company, rich in tradition. Dr. Schache was mayor of Bad Kösen at that time. Kösen changed direction and concentrated on producing high quality, lifelike plush animals. Graduate designers developed their own distinctive style in order to develop new plush animals.

Today, the Kösen collection of life-like plush animals is regarded as one of the best in the world. Kösen Fairytale Characters are a line extension which is particularly aimed at collectors. The true-to-nature design of our products is the basis for our Fairytale Characters which demonstrate another use of our plush animals.

In 2000, Kösen acquired the Silke brand which is a collection of high quality textile dolls and animals for infants and toddlers. Production was relocated from Munich to Bad Kösen where the collection has been further developed. Silke is an ideal complement for our true to nature plush animals. The products are nearly exclusively made of natural materials according to old traditions. When deciding about materials and production, we place great emphasis on quality and safety. We firmly believe that only the best is good enough for children, enthusiasts and collectors.

Our products comply with EN71 and carry the CE mark. TÜV Thuringia is carrying out stringent tests not only of our products but also of our manufacturing processes.

Many Kösen products have received design awards and have been awarded "SPIEL GUT" distinction, these ones are marked on our website with the SPIEL GUT logo.

Our plush animals, dolls and baby products are washable. The gentlest treatment is washing by hand at 30° C, but baby products are machine-washable up to 60° C. Washing temperatures are indicated on our labels.

We are working together with environment and nature protection organisations around the world and so do our bit for the protection of nature and animal life.

Be enchanted by our Kösen animals and dolls which are elaborately hand-made in Bad Kösen. We invite you to join us for a tour through our manufactory in Germany where you can see it for yourself!

    

     


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