In short: Stepa is a tiny teddy bear, about 5 cm (2 inches) tall, crocheted by hand by Natalia Semenova in her studio in Siberia. He wears a removable hand-knitted green sweater and comes with a miniature wooden sled. He is listed on Like Art, a marketplace for real handmade dolls, teddies and art animals by 700+ artists.
How small is he, really?
The artist gives his size as about 5 cm, roughly the height of a matchbox standing on end. Miniature bears like this are made for shelves, shadow boxes, dollhouses and desk corners, and they are small enough to sit in the palm of your hand.
How is a bear this small made?
He is crocheted with a special faux-fur knitting yarn, which gives the surface a soft, furry texture even at this scale. He is filled with polyester batting, and his face is tinted by hand with dry pastels, which is how the artist adds shading around the muzzle and eyes.
Can he be posed?
Yes. According to the artist his limbs are reinforced with wire, so you can bend them to sit him on the sled, wave a paw or lean him against something.
What comes with him?
The listing says Stepa arrives in a vintage-style cardboard box (unscented), with the miniature wooden sled, a passport and care card in three languages, and a postcard from Siberia. The green sweater is removable.
Is he part of a series?
The artist calls him the "brother" of an earlier tiny bear of hers named Rostik, so collectors of her miniatures may recognise the style. Each one is crocheted by hand, so the faces and proportions vary from bear to bear.
Is he a toy for small children?
Better not. A 5 cm bear with wire inside and a tiny sled is a collectible for adults or a gift for someone who loves miniatures, not a toy for little kids.
Where can I see more photos?
The listing has eight photos from the artist, plus the current price and shipping details.