Rare Ratkai Dressed Steiff Donkey

Rare 1950s era Steiff plush velvet donkey dressed by Helen Ratkai, a New York City artist. The tan/brown donkey has black glass eyes and black airbrushed accents on face, ears, back and hooves, mohair mane and rope tail. It wears what appears to be a dance costume of gathered white and black netting and black and silver sequins down its back and underside. Porcelain flowers and rhinestones adorn the ear. The head looks as if there may have been a hat on, and there may have been adornment on the right side. 5” H x 5.5” L. Steiff plush dressed by Ratkai had no buttons and appeared in fine toy and department stores in the 1950s. Her plush were known as The Steiff Couturiere. The Eisenhowers reportedly owned a gowned elephant and the Duchess of Windsor a dressed elephant.