It all starts with an old Korrex proofing press, a print format of 50 x 70 cm, and a magician.
The story of Fernando the Magician - a circus fairy tale. Hand-printed and hand-bound in an edition of 500 copies. We sold the "Magician" at flea markets because, in 1978, there were no craft fairs yet.
Sitting on our first sales stand was an old teddy bear wearing an even older top hat. He held a bell in his hand, and a string ran from his arm to behind the stand. We would pull it, the bear would ring, and people would look—the "Bärenpresse" (Bear Press) was born.
Life on the market circuit is tough; in Nuremberg, our chiming bear was stolen while we were packing up.
However, the Bärenpresse did not go under. New children's books were created, along with large-format prints, postcards, and stationery. And because old teddy bears were still cheap at flea markets back then, we soon had a new market bear and a rapidly growing family of bears watching us work at home.
Throughout the eighties, craft fairs began springing up all over Germany, and the Bärenpresse took its "paper circus" on the road. The Bärenpresse also made its way to major Christmas markets such as those in Cologne, Aachen, and Essen, delighting audiences everywhere.
In 1998, Dirk Lampe joined the Bärenpresse. He took over the craft sheet publishing business from Steffen Mühlhäuser and Roland Adam and has successfully managed the company ever since. Production, marketing, and distribution relocated with him to Halle/Westphalia. With renewed energy, he expanded the distribution reach of the Bärenpresse. The two "old gentlemen" retained the pleasant task of developing new products.
In 2006, Dirk Lampe began expanding his workshop and developing the first "Living Cards" using lamellar technology. These innovative cards quickly captivated many people and soon became the core business.
About ten years later, Dirk Lampe co-founded the brand Curiosi with Hilke Arends. Under this name, they create puzzles that are far more than just a pastime. With a high standard of quality, extraordinary motifs, and loving attention to detail, they are aimed at everyone who sees puzzling as a genuine experience—from creative casual puzzlers to discerning collectors.
In 2022, Sabri Mustafa joined the team. Finally, in 2026, Curiosi GmbH was founded together with Dirk Lampe and Hilke Arends. This brought together what had long belonged together: creative ideas, craftsmanship, and a passion for unique products.
Both brands continue to exist and are now managed together under the umbrella of Curiosi GmbH.
Visit us at markets and fairs and discover for yourself just how much joy, creativity, and attention to detail can go into a single product.
Dirk Lampe, Hilke Arends & Sabri Mustafa
