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YO U R M AG A Z I N E F R O M T H E W en d t & K ü hn WO R K S H O P S

7 th E d ition

2013

Dear R ea d ers ,

S e l e c te d c ontent

4 What really counts Gift idea for birthdays & anniversaries

5 Wildflowers and silk blouses From our photo archives

I for International Grünhainichen Lexicon

Collectors and enthusiasts around the globe have long wished to see additions to the famous Wendt & Kühn Blossom Kinder series. This year we have finally made their dreams come true: Welcome the cheerful girl with starwort blithely setting off from our workshops into the big wide world. Appropriately enough, we debuted this figure at a trade fair in Paris – the very city from which Wendt & Kühn figurines began to take the world by storm in 1937 as Grete Wendt won the International Exposition Grand Prix and gold medal for her “Angel Mountain with Madonna” composition. Our girl from the 2013 Blossom Kinder series is an exacting continuation of historical originals, its artistic form and coloring wholly reflective of the creative legacy left by my great-aunt, Grete Wendt. Each of the meanwhile 19 Blossom Kinder exhibits the captivating charm of harmoniously complementary colors and a love for detail. As readily seen in the girls’ colorful decorative aprons and skirts and the boys’ imaginatively designed trousers. The suspenders and bows are applied by the steady hands and fine brush strokes of our painters. No figurine from the Blossom Kinder series is exactly like another, each has its own individual charm. And as everybody knows that the greatest pleasure comes from anticipation, allow me to share with you that we also plan to put other colorful flowers into the hands of more adorable youngsters over the coming years.

6 Of merry messengers and exuberant dancers 2013 collection additions

11 Farewell Leaving the collection at year’s end

12 With imagination and elegance Wendt & Kühn Christmas decorating

14 My Wendt & Kühn Even more selection

16 Wendt & Kühn lets the flowers bloom Our Blossom Kinder

20 Two Blossom Kinder for Rosemarie Continuing tradition

21 The secret of the golden quill The Gold Edition Poet

When it comes to decorating one’s home for Christmas, each of us has developed his or her own personal style. How does the long-awaited atmosphere of cozy conviviality take form in the last few weeks of the waning year? We look to inspire you in this edition of the eleven dot post with many tips and photos on memorably showcasing your Wendt & Kühn figures whether on a festively set table, adorning a Christmas tree or wreath, or twinkling in the window.

22 Come, Experience, Wonder Open house days 2013/2014

Wishing you great pleasure while reading and browsing through our magazine.

This year’s Gold Edition was likewise highly anticipated. The Poet arose from our commitment to artistically express life’s most eloquent moments. In a sentimental gesture, the angel reaches out to us with a book and a delicate pen, both plated in 24-karat gold. Just like the metal base on which it stands. This edition is limited to 22,222 worldwide. The individual serial number of each figure is imprinted on its bottom, in its beautifully designed accompanying booklet and on the underside of its premium splinter box. Making each angel a valuable original. I hope you’ll have many inspired moments with your figure, because it is alone the thoughts of each observer which determine what is of most value to preserve forever.

Claudia Baer, née Wendt

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GIFT IDEA

What really counts … are the people who think of us on special days and add a little happiness – for example with the number girls from Wendt & Kühn.

t doesn’t always have to be a big cake. Even just a little cupcake can spark great enthusiasm. Especially when there’s an utterly unique surprise to accompany it. For example one of the adorable Wendt & Kühn number girls. In their sweet polka dot dresses, they happily become the focal point of any festive birthday table.

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Each girl comes with a complete set of numbers from 0 to 9. The bright yellow numbers cheerfully announce a new year of life. One number bearer handles the first nine years, while a second girl makes a most welcome gift for the tenth birthday. Together, the two girls have every possible number combination covered up to the 99th big day!

The Wendt & Kühn number girls are also a beautiful gift idea to celebrate other big days – from company anniversaries to silver or golden wedding anniversaries heralding 25 and even 50 years of true love. Children are especially captivated by the number girls – these lasses will accompany them through life, evoking wonderful mem ories of each birthday along the way.

FROM OUR PHOTO ARCHIVES

W i l d f l owers an d si l k b l ouses

photo from the ages: Grete Wendt in her living room. The hint of a friendly smile on her lips reflecting her gentle nature. Small details reveal those things most important to her in life: the tasteful furnishings, the coziness – and of course the fresh flowers throughout the entire room. Wildflowers she likely picked herself – just like those clutched by her Blossom Kinder. The photo radiates warmth, friendliness and modesty. Just by looking at it, one gets a sense of from where Grete Wendt drew her strength for creating such expressive figures – which still spread so many precious moments of joy decades later. Typically Grete Wendt: a white silk blouse with an elegant bow. That was her style, the way she loved to dress.

The room in which she is standing was her living room until the end of her life. She lived here for more than sixty years. Today the room is the office of Claudia Baer, née Wendt. Together with her brother, she represents the third generation of the family to manage the factory founded by her great-aunt Grete Wendt.

GRÜNHAINICHEN LEXICON

I for internationa l

n 1937, the Wendt & Kühn figures first set their sights on conquering the world. At that time, Grete Wendt had just won the Grand Prix and a gold medal for her “Angel Mountain with Madonna” composition at the World’s Fair in Paris. The awards gave particular recognition to her creative achievement and created worldwide enthusiasm for her little green-winged angels – from Australia to America. 76 years later and the fascination has never ceased among enthusiasts and collectors around the globe. Internationally more than 250 retailers in 25 countries appreciate the product quality and offer the lovingly manufactured “made in Germany” Blossom Kinder, music boxes and

angels. The majority of international shipments leaving Grünhainichen are destined for North America. Demand is particularly strong there for our Angel Musicians, Blossom Kinder and limited editions. Austria, Switzerland as well as the Scandinavian countries statistically follow in second place. Familyrun Wendt & Kühn also has an excellent reputation in the Netherlands, France, Poland and Australia. Meanwhile, the Marguerite Angels are the most popular articles in Japan and they have recently been welcomed into the legendary “Mitsukoshi” department store in downtown Tokyo. Gold medal from the 1937 World’s Fair in Paris

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2 0 1 3 C O LL E C T I O N A DD I T I O N S

Of merry messengers and exuberant dancers Each year, a handful of figurines are selected from the Grand Sample Cabinet at our Grünhainichen headquarters to be reintroduced into our collection. Faithfully reproduced according to the historic designs of Grete and Olly Wendt, their nostalgic charm and unmistakable appeal still captivate today. We hope you enjoy this overview of our 2013 returnees.

G ir l with starwort

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L O N G - AWA I T E D A DD I T I O N

A big dream has finally come true for collectors and enthusiasts as the Blossom Kinder family welcomes its latest member. With her bright pink dress and little white cap, the girl with starwort sets off into the world. The figure has been meticulously developed from historical samples, its coloring and artistic form reflecting Grete Wendt’s creative legacy. Additional youngsters with hand-picked blossoms will surely also be delighting us in the coming years.

Cheery d an c ers

M usi c b ox “ T wo d an c ers in the gar d en ”, with 3 6 -tone musi c works M e l o dy: Wa ltz of the f l owers

5336/52A

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A girl in a pink polka dot dress and a garland of flowers in her hair happily shares a dance with her young friend. Ringed by bright white blossoms, sheltered under an arch of green pearls. Completing the scene, Tchaikovsky’s “Waltz of the Flowers” rings out from the 36-tone Swiss music works. Music and motif in perfect harmony. Grete Wendt first designed this enchanting springtime music box in 1956 – much later than most of the other music boxes which had already been developed in the 1920s and 1930s. The timelessness of the design still delights to the present day – a masterpiece of figurative composition.

Lantern pro c ession

Bunny musi c ian

with c ym b a l s

with harp

Bunny musi c ian with triang l e

5350/11

5350/14b

5350/16

STRIKING BUNNIES

Angels are not the only creatures making beautiful music in Grünhainichen. These Easter bunnies have also been striking melodic chords again recently. The bunnies were first created in the 1920s – thus ranking among the earliest designs to flow from Grete Wendt’s quills. Their slender slatted limbs are an artistic distinctiveness harkening back to that era, making the bunnies quite a rarity today and so popular among collectors. The three current reissues add a harp, triangle and cymbals to the bunny ensemble, now having grown to nine musicians eager to jazz up any Easter celebration.

E n d earing we l l- wishers

The adorable number girls are a sweet rediscovery from Wendt & Kühn’s Grand Sample Cabinet. Given new life, they’re once again going out into the world to spread smiles among birthday boys and girls everywhere. In their red or green dotted dresses, they joyfully announce a new year of life. They’re also making quite the mark for anniversaries. Each girl comes with a complete set of numbers from 0 to 9. The bright yellow numbers are set onto the pole and easily interchanged, allowing these two girls to depict any number combination between 1 and 99.

G ir l with set of

S et of num b ers from 0 to 9

num b ers , re d

num b ers , green

634/18

d otte d d ress

634/19r

634/19g

A magical display of lights against the summer sky. When evening steals over the meadows, the children come out with their colorful lanterns. Grete Wendt took this vision and developed it in the 1930s into a group of six small lantern children. First presented in the 1937 catalog, they remained a constant fixture of the collection until 2006. Now two of them are being brought back to lead the gala lantern procession – and who knows, perhaps their friends will soon fall in line behind them. With their brightly colored lanterns rivaling the stars, the attentive details of these figures like the delicate edging of flowers on the dress or the ribbons in the hair, charm all around. The lanterns themselves are also masterful design features. Each one requires the honed skill of a painter with a good eye and the highest measure of precision.

G ir l with roun d ,

Boy with short

stripe d l antern

l antern , stripe d

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6228/N/2

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00001

G o l d E d i t i o n N o– 6

L i m i t e d G o l d E d i t i o n N o– 6

P oet, ange l with go l d - p l ate d

P oet, ange l with go l d - p l ate d b ook

b ook an d q ui l l

an d q ui l l on a go l d - p l ate d meta l

6 5 0 / 119

b ase in a sp l inter b ox

6 5 0 / 119 / L E

POETIC GEMS

A pause for poetry: A Poet reaching out to us with gold-plated book and gold-plated quill. Documenting all that moves and inspires us. Each observer determines for themselves what is considered of most value to preserve forever. The limited Gold Edition Poet with gold-plated base is restricted to exactly 22,222 originals worldwide. You can identify which of the coveted individuals is all your own by the figure’s unique number found on its base, in its beauti fully designed accompanying booklet and on the premium splinter box serving as its distinctive packaging. The Poet with grey base is not limited in quantity. The gold-plated elements are clearly the highlights of our Gold Edition N 6. Particularly the quill is a masterpiece of sculpted form.

☞ To learn how the quill is gilded, see the article on page 21 for a goldmine of information.

A nge l with pot

A nge l with b e l l

an d f l ower

wreath

f l owers , knee l ing

650/152

650/73

650/153

WINGED CHERUBS

As every year, 2013 also saw the collection of Grünhainichen Angels® being supplemented by a number of endearing creations. Adding a further resonance to the grand orchestra, the angel with bell wreath celebrates its debut, captivating one and all with the highly detailed craftsmanship to this tiny instrument. In addition to the orchestra angels, other designs have been continuing the tradition of the Grünhainichen Angels® for several years now. The gift-bearing angel and the angel with gingerbread heart

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A nge l with l etter an d

met with such overwhelming collector approval that they have now been joined by an angel with a flower and a white speckled pot. Another new companion is the kneeling angel extending a bouquet of artistic and colorful flowers while the other hand grasps a letter. The cheerful message or words of love safeguarded inside remain forever a secret, although the look on the angel’s face lets us know it must be something extremely momentous indeed, something that necessitates such a very special delivery.

Litt l e suspen d e d ange l with sheet of musi c

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Christmas tree ange l in a ring , with c ym b a l s

A nge l with

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transverse f l ute , suspen d e d

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A nge l with b aton , on c l ip

TREE OF DREAMS

Perched on golden rings and metal clips, suspended from golden threads and sitting on yellow crescent moons, the Grünhainichen Angels® welcome add itional recruits. Because continually more people are discovering these heavenly creatures make glorious decorations on Advent wreaths and Christmas trees. The impressive photograph on the inside cover of this magazine illustrates the stately splendor a tree decorated with Wendt & Kühn figurines displays. The entire tree is simply awash in the brilliance of the bright yellow celestial bodies, accentuated by the gleaming white of the little angels. Our Angel Musicians play that much sweeter when perched atop branches and boughs. This year’s added members have blended into the orchestra in perfect harmony: With transverse flute and saxophone, the eleven dot angels float in the air while the clip angel keeps time. A small Marguerite Angel with sheet music descends from the heavens to accompany its sibling in the shiny golden ring setting the rhythm with cymbals. An elegant ensemble which turns any Christmas tree or wreath into an extraordinary showpiece.

☞ For more inspiration, see our decorating tips starting on page 12.

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A nge l with saxophone , in moon

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A nge l , sma l l ,

with man d o l in

with b ook

A nge l , sma l l , with two stars

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650/k/12a

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W E E S I BL I N G S

The Grünhainichen Angels® make room for three little siblings, who have taken their place on matching pale yellow benches. At four centimeters (1.5 inches) in height, they’re somewhat smaller than their already famous relatives. The blend of large and small enables you to create striking decoration possibilities. These smaller Grünhainichen Angels® grasping a book, mandolin or stars continue the tradition of the eleven dot angels and at the same time bring new perspectives. One of them being: Further siblings already poised to take wing.

Please note: While our products are available for purchase at your local specialist retailer or at the Wendt & Kühn outlets in G rünhainichen and Seiffen, Germany, we cannot accept private mail orders.

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RADIANT HIGHLIGHTS

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M arguerite A nge l ,

sitting , with d o l l

sitting , with miner

sitting , with a l arm c l o c k

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F O R T H E L O V E O F D E TA I L

S T Y L I S H TA BL E D E C O R AT I O N S

A hair ribbon for the doll, a mini-screw for the alarm clock, a skilled brush stroke for the miner – our industrious Marguerite Angels have their hands full again this year as they proudly join the ranks of Santa’s little helpers gaining ever more devoted fans. No wonder – they never cease to charm us anew with their cheery lightheartedness and childlike charm. Particularly fascinating: the wealth of detail and diminutiveness of their dainty accessories which help the Marguerite Angels share stories from the land of Christmas.

Wendt & Kühn adds two new designs to our very popular napkin edition series to satisfy some of the demand for unique and elegantly set tables. A festive Christmas dinner table thereby becomes a stylish total experience. We set our figurines into beautifully designed scenes to create each pictorial motif: a deep red background complementing the divine splendor of the richly painted angel and the eleven dot angel with gingerbread heart and bird posed to whet the appetite for special Christmas goodies.

The shining light of the Christmas table – literally: The first themed candles from Wendt & Kühn. Thanks to a special manufacturing process, these candles only burn down on the inside so that the image remains intact until the end. A fire stop at the base of the candle ensures the flame will extinguish at just the right time. You can thus sit back and relax, enjoying how the warm light of the candle illuminates the enchanting scene and how new stories continually unfold in the flickering of the flame. The themes presented on these 12 centimeters (4.7 inches) tall candles also match the design of our new napkins. Thus allowing you to conjure up truly elegant Christmas decorations, which, when coupled with the unique figures from Wendt & Kühn, create an unforgettable overall impression of the season.

Can d l e

paper N apkins

Can d l e

paper N apkins

“ R i c h ly painte d ange l s ”

“ G inger b rea d ange l”

W K / 5 5 3 Not available in the USA

526/22/553

W K / 1 5 0 Not available in the USA

526/22/150

Leaving the c o l l e c tion at year ' s en d

| 2013

Farewell 5 -tiere d ange l mountain , without c an d l e ho l d ers , 7 0 x 3 5 x 9 . 5 c m / 2 7. 5 X 1 3 . 7 5 X 3 . 7 5 in

550/B5OHN

These five Angel Musicians are about to take their leave for some time to come. The last ones we are producing can only be purchased until the end of 2013. Thereafter, they will be welcomed into our historic Grand Sample Cabinet and remain there for at least five years. In our Grünhainichen headquarters and the Wendt & Kühn World of Figures in Seiffen they will continue to be available.

5 -tiere d ange l mountain , with 1 4 c an d l e ho l d ers , 7 0 x 3 5 x 9 . 5 c m / 2 7. 5 X 1 3 . 7 5 X 3 . 7 5 in

5 5 0 / B 5 Not available in the USA

A nge l with sma l l

A nge l with man d o l in ,

trumpet on b en c h

sitting

650/3b

650/4a

E l e c tri c l ighting for ange l mountain 5 5 0 / B 5 O H N , 1 4 c an d l es , 6 9 x 2 7 c m / 2 7. 2 5 X 1 0 . 5 in

7 5 0 / 5 Not available in the USA

TIERED GRANDEUR

In response to high collector demand, Wendt & Kühn now also offers a 5tiered version of our traditional Angel Mountain. Supplementing the 3, 4 and 6 tier versions, this new 5-tiered model now allows for even more eye-catching decorating options – a grand stage for the angel orchestra.

A nge l with F ren c h

A nge l with mouth -

horn , sitting

organ , sitting

650/17a

650/26a

A nge l with pan f l ute , sitting

650/27a

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W I T H I M A G I N AT I O N AND ELEGANCE S T Y L I S H C H R I S T M A S D E C O R AT I N G W I T H W E N D T & K Ü H N

For many Wendt & Kühn collectors and enthusiasts, Advent is the most beautiful time of the year: The angels are retrieved from their Slumber Vault, the music boxes unpacked and grand decorations begin to take shape. But how to best showcase these unique figurines? Our decorating tips share ideas and inspirations for creative Christmas decorating with Wendt & Kühn.

A dream in green and white Forest green branches, white candles, an ethereal white ribbon – and Wendt & Kühn clip angels as highlights. With their white frock and green wings with the eleven dots, they are the crowning glory of this green/white dream. Those who are particularly into celebrating the magic of Advent clip another angel onto the wreath on each Advent Sunday – until the full Advent series is complete on the fourth Sunday. By the way: It doesn’t always have to be fir! In this wreath, delicate dwarf Alberta white spruce branches magnify the regal appearance and underscore the elegance of the angels.

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Miniature worlds The prettiest decorations are those that tell a story – and those that recreate our big world in miniature, especially if they do it with a merry twinkle. The Marguerite Angels are just right for this. Set these little helpers into a scene befitting them and in which their accessories add the perfect touch. Like these bakers on a kitchen shelf. One angel rolls out the dough, the other decorates the finished cookies. And voilà – they’re already magically stored in the adjacent jar! The Marguerite Angels got their own inspirations from the little recipe book, which also gives them an unusual platform. With a few ideas and a little playfulness, imaginative decorations like these make great impressions.

Musical Figure Processions Wendt & Kühn music boxes always set the perfect tone – alone or combined with other figures eager to expound on the particular story of a music box. Which figures might that be? Let the scene on the music box itself be your inspiration. Many of the figures you see on top are also available individually – including the trees which you can arrange next to the music box. What’s important: Choose an odd number – as with a bouquet of flowers. The small pixies lend additional charm to the scene – as if observing Santa Claus hauling his huge sack filled to the brim with presents for all the children.

Winged boughs An entire Christmas tree decorated with Wendt & Kühn Christmas tree angels – the dream of untold collectors. And actually a magnificent decoration, as the large photo on the inside front cover shows. Yet those who also start small enjoy a generous measure of pleasure: The angels exude just as much celestial charm on a pretty Advent bouquet. This allows you to grow your collection gradually – and your bouquet right along with it, until the angels can ultimately decorate an entire tree. Elegant golden bows attached to the ribbons of the Christmas tree angels accentuate the regal appearance of the Advent bouquet.

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Even more selection –

My Wendt & Kühn

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Our painters have been busier than ever in this year adding customer requests in ornate lettering to many figures and clocks, creating unique one-of-a-kind items.

xclusive. Unique. Individual. From the birth of a child to the first day of school to a wedding – distinctive pieces with personal dedications are gifts of timeless beauty and lasting value. The result is a companion through life, one which forever keeps the memory of special moments and those associated with them alive.

We’ve added two more figurines to the items available for customization this year. Our schoolchildren as well as the organ with and without music works can be individualized – with predefined colors and numbers of characters. Please allow at least three weeks for the handcrafting of your personalized item plus the transit time between our workshops in Germany and your local retailer, ensuring us enough time to finish your gift right on schedule.

You can certainly appreciate that we are limited to the precisely stipulated number of letters for each respective article so as to uphold Grete Wendt’s artistic intention and integrity as well as the legibility. Please see your Wendt & Kühn specialist dealer to place your customization order. He or she will directly forward it on to us. Your retailer will also be able to give you an exact quote for this service.

O ur S c hoo l c hi l d ren are symbolic of starting a new phase in one’s life. Both the little girl and boy can be personalized with the name of your new little learner – a lasting reminder of one of the most momentous days of early childhood. The day the child first entered school can also be inscribed on the base.

White lettering Rear of base: date, max. 4 characters Front of base: max. 10 characters 5241/5, 5241/6

O rgan with / without musi c works

On the rear of our organ, we can also add a personal inscription. A beautiful gift – for example for a birth or baptism. For those who give from the heart. Blue lettering, maximum 6 lines with up to 18 characters each 6 5 0 / O r, 6 3 6 / O r M

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T hree steps

to an utter ly persona l one - of - a - kin d pie c e

It couldn’t be any easier to turn an exclusive article from the Wendt & Kühn collection into a personalized treasure.

1 From among the five articles

currently being offered for this special service, select the one which best fits your occasion. You can choose from among the large girl with coloring book, the schoolchildren, the yellow and blue wall clock, the stork with baby and the organ.

2 Let your thoughts run free and 3 Your Wendt & Kühn dealer will formulate words directly from your heart. Then put your ideas into sure hands and place your desired order with your trusted Wendt & Kühn specialist dealer who will forward it directly to us.

let you know when we’ve finished your uniquely personal showpiece.

M y W en d t & K ü hn in l iving Co l or

A stork in South Africa

torks are well-known for flying south for the winter once the days begin to shorten. It was a little different with the stork owned by Gisela Eisenmann from Bergisch Gladbach, Germany: He began his journey in spring – and went by airplane. The avid Wendt & Kühn collector wanted to send an utterly special gift to her niece, who lives in South Africa, to celebrate the birth of her daughter. “A stork delivering a baby wrapped up all safe and sound is a life-long remembrance,” as Gisela explains her choice.

Of course the stork carries its special delivery in its beak, with a dainty pink ribbon announcing the precious bundle to perfectly match little daughter Emma Sonea. “When I learned from the eleven dot post that we could now get our own personal inscriptions added to the figure, I couldn’t shake the idea,” relates the Wendt & Kühn enthusiast. The traditional workshop’s skilled painters beautifully inscribed “Emma Sonea 7.3.12 South Africa” on the green base. Yet the South African stork was not the only one that Gisela released out into the world. A few years ago she also sent a stork to her nephew in Belgium.

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Spring Children

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WENDT & KÜHN LETS T H E F L O W E R S BL O O M Virtually no other product group so vividly embodies the spirit of Grete Wendt’s life’s work as her Blossom Kinder: unpretentious, kindhearted, with a sense of contentment. The carefreeness of childhood, people and nature in harmony. Take a journey back through time into the cheerful world of the Blossom Kinder, touching the same chord in us today as they did in 1929.

rete Wendt loved flowers. Especially the simple delicate ones dotting the region’s fields and meadows. She also enjoyed wandering though the large beautifully designed garden behind the workshop. Behind a sea of red peonies there were bright yellow lilies and numerous shrubs, later also two rosebushes – planted on the occasion of the birth of Olly Wendt’s twins in 1930. There was even a gardener back then to tend to the flowers. Grete always had a basket with her when she strolled out to the garden or through the nearby meadows and fields. She never returned without flowers, which she would then lovingly arrange in vases and jugs – or hand out among her coworkers. Olly Wendt also shared this love for nature. She once said: “Always keep your eyes open in the meadows. There’s always something to find.” Both women often worked hand in hand at their designs. Their favorite flowers were marguerite daisies – which is why it’s no wonder that the first Blossom Child brought into the world in 1929 as article no. 1 of all the Blossom Kinder was the little girl with the marguerite daisies. The 1933/34 catalog supplement illustrated the first six Blossom Kinder, who still grace the Grünhainichen Workshop’s collection

without change and without interruption to the present day. These are the Spring Children, proudly presenting their perfect blossoms: marguerite daisy and cowslip, bluebell and snowflake, lily of the valley and snowdrop. Further children followed in the years up to 1937 to spread even more joy with summer and autumn flowers. The dimensions of the flowers may be quite an unusual feature. Grete Wendt stylized them into something significant, symbolic: The child ren aren’t just simply picking the flowers, they’re also giving them away. An idyllic pastime. A fact that anyone can see – it’s written all over their faces! It’s reflected in their bright eyes and lively step, their adorable curls, colorful hats and pretty frocks. No blossom figurine is like another. Each is unique, lovingly created as an individual – with its own distinguishing traits, body language and T H E BL O S S O M K I N D E R held a very special place in characteristic outfit. Grete’s heart (illustrated above: 1937 catalog). The It’s fun to closely ex- tiny little good-luck charms also decorated the cards amine the Blossom Wendt & Kühn used in the 1930s to welcome guests to the Leipzig Trade Fair (large photo at left and small Kinder and discover illustration to the left on this page). all the many details Grete affectionately gave to each and every one of them to establish their own personalities: the tiny edging of flowers on the hem of the girl with four-leaf clover, the pretty pattern to the bonnet of the girl with bluebell, the vibrant cap of the boy with poppy, the gingham skirt and blue hair ribbons of the girl with pansy and the white polka dots on the dress of the girl with sunflower. The flowers themselves reflect the same love for detail. What a bounty of color, what a glory of design! Grete put her entire soul and powers of observation into this so as to design them as true to nature as possible. It’s

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T H E BL O S S O M K I N D E R A L S O E N J OY E D W I D E P O P U L A R I T Y A S P O S T C A R D S , as this one from the 1930s shows. Like many of her other friends, the girl with snowdrop pulls a beloved toy along behind her. Nice detail: The snowdrop has a small upturn at the top of its stem, resulting from a minute splitting of the rattan – here, too, nature was Grete’s teacher, and what an attentive pupil the designer was.

hard to believe the flowers are made from wood, as real and natural as they look. To achieve this, Grete made exacting studies of nature and innumerable sketches in order to analyze each individual blossom and ferret out the secrets of their styles and forms. Then she weighed her technical options for faithfully recreating nature down to the last detail. One of the secrets: The razor-thin petals are planed from strips of wood whose profile represents the shape of the leaf. The strips are first moistened to make them sufficiently supple. The tiny leaves are planed transverse to the grain as mere wisps less than half a millimeter thick. Once glued on as petals at the base of the flower or on the stem, they curl slightly upward – just like real foliage does in nature. This detail is particularly noticeable in the petals of the marguerite daisy or the curving leaves of the anemones – intricate marvels made from paper-thin wood. Even the stems of the

GRETE WENDT IN HER BELOVED GARDEN:

Flowers gave her strength and inspiration. The company grounds are still a captivating scene today with scores of flowers and floral bushes – a vibrant, colorful sea of blossoms.

flowers tell a story. They are made of rattan because this material splits easily and is very pliable when warm, which makes it perfect for the curved stems of the bluebell and cowslip for example. FLORAL NOTES

Master Roland Stanzel invites us into the turning department for a biology lesson: “Grete Wendt observed nature very intently and she tried to recreate its beauty in wood as faithfully as possible with the technical options she had at her disposal,” he explains. “Pansies and violets sit, as Grete Wendt used to explain, ‘on five chairs’, meaning each of the five petals has its own connection to the base of the flower. To realize this, the top of the wooden base is split five times and the five miniscule ends are bent outward. The petals are then glued on afterwards.” How close to Grete’s heart the Blossom Kinder were can be delightfully noted from a historical April 7, 1935 article published in the “Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten” newspaper. A valuable historical document which gives first-hand insight into the fine nuances of life at that time: The way Grete Wendt laughed, the lilt to her voice, the love with which she spoke of her Blossom Kinder. The reporter asked her: “‘Can we see how they’re made?’ ‘Of course,’ replied Grete in her clear, warm voice. She stood slender and diminutive in her white work coat next to the wide bright cabinet [...]. One watches her tiny, steady hands and knows exactly where the Blossom Kinder come from.”

G R E T E W E N D T ’ S P R E C I S E O B S E R VAT I O N S O F N AT U R E she documented in numerous still lifes and sketches which went on to form the basis for her designs. She turned to advanced technologies to perpetuate the flowers’ naturalness in wood.

How they’re created can still be experienced first-hand today at the workshops in exactly the same unchanged manner. From turning the many individual parts to gluing and painting, everything is still done exactly the same as ever. A specialty are the legs of the boys’ pants. Here as well, the design diversity to the Blossom Kinder is readily apparent: No pants resemble any other. Whether in knickerbockers or short or long trousers, each boy is suitably dressed for the season. The trousers start as nondescript slats from which the pant legs are turned in pairs. After a straight cut at the soles of the feet, the heels are formed, the knee areas shaped and then the two legs glued together. Sanding and polishing by hand gives the pant legs their unique form. “Turning to create maximum motion” is the secret, as Grete Wendt clued the reporter back in 1935.

hainichen workshops have been delighting us for more than 80 years. As the proud bearers of their blossoms, they convey cheerful greetings on birthdays, Mother’s Day, new births and whenever people simply want to spread a little joy. As blossoms of love – true to the spirit of Grete Wendt.

Decorations celebrating the splendor of spring: The Blossom Kinder and Spring Children frolic happily on the green meadow. The arrangement is stylishly crowned by the inspired deciduous tree with the little bird on top.

A great love of detail also follows the Blossom Kinder into the painting department. Kerstin Lorenz, master workshop painter, confirms: “The Blossom Kinder are something special. They boast an exceptional number of colors. Each has its own specific shade. And red is not just red – even close shades are mixed differently.” The detailing requires great dexterity. For instance, the dots on the polka dot dresses are painted on with a precisely trimmed brush – “so that they become nice and round,” explains Kerstin. With their bursts of color and exceptional wealth of detail, the timeless charm and childlike carefreeness of the Blossom Kinder from the Wendt & Kühn Grün-

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LIVING TRADITION

| Pa r t 3

Two Blossom Kinder for Rosemarie Like a treasure, Rosemarie Harend gently cradles her “girl with starwort”. Visibly moved by the 2013 Wendt & Kühn blossom figurine, she relives a special moment from her childhood. When she was a little girl, Rosemarie was once given a Blossom Kind: a flower girl bearing a lily of the valley. It was the first gift she got after all her toys were burned in the war. And she received it straight from the hands of Grete Wendt herself right in front of the Grand Sample Cabinet in Grünhainichen during the winter of 1944. the Gold Medal at the World’s Fair in Paris, Wendt & Kühn returned to the French capital in 2013 to present the latest collection at the “Maison et Objet” trade fair. Rosemarie Harend is overwhelmed by the girl with starwort.

76 YEARS AFTER WINNING

s if it were only yesterday, the spry retiree, today living in Paris, remembers every single detail of her first encounter with the charming figures of Wendt & Kühn. She was nine years old when she was forced to flee her hometown of Leipzig with her mother and her older sister after the 1944 air raid. Fortunately, her family had relatives in the village of Borstendorf. With just two suitcases of clothes and shoes between them, all the war had left them, the family stepped off the train in the little village neighboring Grünhainichen in February. “I can still see it all so clearly: We stepped out into three feet of snow and bitter cold. But the Erzgebirge air was pure and healthy. We all took long deep breaths.” Their accommodations were not pretty – one dark, damp room at street level, but it was home for nine months. The girls easily made new friends. One of them was Sigrid Wendt, one of her sister’s friends and the daughter of Olly Wendt. One day, the children were invited to spend the day with Grete Wendt in Grünhaini chen. “She opened up the Sample Room for us. We were in such disbelief and fascination as we stared at all the beautiful things in the big cabinet. I was at a complete loss for words,” Rosemarie distinctly remembers. To her unbridled joy, Grete Wendt ended up giving her the flower girl with the lily of the valley. “Can you imagine what it’s like for a child to watch all her toys burn up right before her eyes?” asks Rosemarie. “I carried my figure home like the prized treasure it was. It was the first and most beautiful gift I

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had gotten since we had to leave Leipzig.” From then on, the tiny figure accompanied her through every move she ever made: Leipzig, Solingen, Essen, Dijon and ultimately Paris. In that city in which Grete Wendt won the gold medal at the 1937 World’s Fair for her “Angel Mountain with Madonna” and received the “Grand Prix”, a young Rosemarie arrived in 1966, married, and worked until her retirement as a language teacher at the Goethe Institute. Long since Rosemarie has visited the homeland of her small goodwill ambassador again. Even if the hale Parisian is not technically a collector, she has nevertheless since added a few more Blossom Kinder, suspended angels and angels in rings. She did, however, make a “gift of the heart” of her original flower girl with the lily of the valley: to her granddaughter in Brussels for her ninth birthday – along with a letter explaining the origin of the little flower girl and just what it meant to her grandmother. The fact that 69 years later, in January 2013, she was presented with Wendt & Kühn’s newest Blossom Kind at the international “Maison et Objet” trade fair in Paris by none other than Wendt & Kühn creative executive Katrin Wojtkowiak, is rooted in Rosemarie’s search for traces of her childhood and a most remarkable twist of fate. In 1989, while attending a gathering of German teachers, the Paris resident managed to squeeze in a quick visit to Borstendorf. The house in which Rosemarie’s family once lived is today the home of Katrin Wojtkowiak. She brought the flower girl with starwort to life based on historical samples. There could not be a more perfect ending to the saga surrounding Rosemarie Harend and her Wendt & Kühn Blossom Child.

THE SECRET OF THE G O LD E N Q U I LL The Gold Editions from Wendt & Kühn – superlative creations as the ultimate in skilled craftsmanship. Exclusive and elegant, for connoisseurs and collectors who treasure the exquisite. But how are these select accessories created? Production manager Enrico Schwalbe discloses the secret of the golden quill.

ow are quills turned into gold? Enrico carefully positions a tiny wooden quill on the table.

Hand-carved, of course. A study of delicate curves with very few straight sections. “This wooden quill is our most important sample,” states the production manager, relating how its form is honed with a woodcarving knife until it’s perfect in every detail. In countless rounds of fine-tuning among design, production, foundry and gilder, every aspect is considered right from the very beginning to ensure all will run smoothly during manufacture. “Yes, you heard right: Even a foundry is involved,” smiles Enrico. “The gold-plated parts are all metal.” But how does a wooden quill become a metallic quill? “That’s where molds come into the picture,” explains Enrico, pick-

ing up a piece of red molding compound, in which we can just make out the ultrafine outlines of the quill. “We work with an experienced mold maker. Our parts are just as small as they are in modelmaking – you really need to develop a feeling for their minuteness.” The basic form is created from high-alloy tool steel, the delicate details chiseled by hand. Enrico supervises the process every step of the way with a strict eye: Does the mold match the form? Is it the right size? Is the surface perfect? Not until all the requirements are met are the first pieces cast. Molten metal trickles into the form. Now there’s a waiting period for the castings to harden. The quills are then carefully removed from the mold and sent on to barrel finishing. This was the method selected for the high-quality metal parts because it results in a particularly smooth surface – the basis for gold-plating. The

1 . T he sket c h

2 . T he woo d en samp l e

First in 2D, later 3D – a detailed sketch forms the basis for all further steps.

Hand carved and honed until it’s perfect in every detail.

quills are now placed by hand into a specially manufactured frame – then it’s bath time! More precisely: They’re galvanized. The quills take three galvanizing baths – that’s how they get their extraordinary radiance: First copper, then bright nickel and then the supreme finishing touch: the gold bath. Genuine gold envelops the quill. The moment of highest perfection. From this instant on, the pieces are only touched by gloves so as not to damage the precious surface. The gold-plated quills then make their way from the gilder to Wendt & Kühn in a velvet-lined case – neatly arranged next to each other as in a box of chocolates. Once at our workshops, assembly follows. Finally the Poet can take up the quill, thus joining together that which belongs together. Enrico Schwalbe carefully picks up a Poet with a golden quill and smiles: “Gold plating has a bright future at Wendt & Kühn. Just wait until you see what we come up with next!”

3 . T he c asting

4 . T he go l d p l ating

Poured from a skilfully crafted mold and requiring extensive coordination between design, production, mold making and gold plating.

The surface is finished by galvanizing in three baths: Copper, nickel and lastly gold provide the regal brilliance.

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FROM OUR READERS

I’

m writing today to thank you for sending me the eleven dot post which I devour every single time. When I’m reading it, the world around me falls away and I become completely immersed in yours.

O pen house d ays

Come, Experience, Wonder

elcome, come on in! That is the oft-repeated refrain heard during the popular Open House Days of Wendt & Kühn at our Grünhainichen manufactory and our World of Figures in Seiffen, Germany. Thousands of visitors gladly seize the opportunity to get a glimpse behind the scenes. Whether in the turning, glueing, dipping or painting departments – guests visiting Grünhainichen watch our famous figures being handcrafted right before their very eyes. The chance to try your own skills in our Tinkerer’s Row, a beautifully decorated Photo Corner and one-on-one conversations round out the entire Open House experience. We look forward to seeing you! Wendt & Kühn Grünhainichen workshops, Germany All dates: 10am to 5pm 30 Nov – 01 Dec 2013 29 May – 01 Jun 2014 29 Nov – 30 Nov 2014

I . RANDOLF

| Gmunden, Austria

few days ago, the latest eleven dot post came in the mail. I always enjoy looking at the pictures and reading the articles. For my 12th birthday, almost 45 years ago, my mother gave me my first eleven dot angel with guitar. My orchestra has grown steadily ever since. Unfortunately, my mother passed away a long time ago, but each year when I set up my orchestra in the living room for another Advent, I feel her very close to me and that fills me with joy and gratitude. Joy, because your figures reconnect us time and time again, even beyond death. And gratitude that I was allowed to grow up with such an intelligent and affectionate mother who taught me to see the beauty and joy in nature. S . SENDERS

ach year at the start of Advent, we prominently display our large orchestra in our children’s room so we can all enjoy a visual and audible treat in the weeks leading up to Christmas. It’s always such a joy! Our collection of tiny Christmas angels began many years ago (1979) in Berlin rather involuntarily, but has since become a beloved undertaking. No doubt the fact that we lived overseas for a long time (two decades in Canada) has something to do with it because over there, our diminutive musicians were like treasured ambassadors from home. D . Las c hinsky

| A m s t e rd a m , Ne t h e r l a n d s

I mpprint e l e v e n d o t p o s t · 7 t h E d i t i o n

Wendt & Kühn World of Figures, Seiffen, Germany All dates: 10am to 5pm 19 Apr – 20 Apr 2014 18 Oct – 19 Oct 2014

G r ü n h a i n i c h e n , Ge r m a n y, O c t o b e r 2 0 1 3 Publisher: Wendt & Kühn KG, Chemnitzer Straße 40, 09579 Grünhainichen, Germany Telephone: +49 37294 86286, Telefax: +49 37294 86129, www.wendt-kuehn.de Chief Editors: Claudia Baer, Thomas Rost, Wendt & Kühn Editor: Lena Tetzner, Wendt & Kühn Design: schech.net | Strategie. Kommunikation. Design. Content: Sylva-Michèle Sternkopf (4-13, 17-19, 21, 22), Ines Nebelung (20) Translation: Sternkopf Communications Photography: S+M Rümmler (1, 2, 4, 12, 13, 15, 23), René Pech (22), Wendt & Kühn (5, 16-20) Printing: Gutermuth, Grünhainichen

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| Wa k e n d o r f , Ge r m a n y