yo U R m Ag A z i N E F R o m t h E w E N D t & k ü h N wo R k s h o p s
2 ND E D i t i o N
2018/2019
D E A R F R i E N D s o F o U R C o m pA N y
sELECtED CoNtENt
4
Inside the Christmas Bakery Decorating tip
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A world of beautiful pictures Pinterest Once around the whole world … Photo campaign
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Of courageous globetrotters and merry angels 2018 collection additions
12 Walt Disney, Cinderella and the figurines from Wendt & Kühn From history 14 Graceful decorative pieces painted by master craftsmen Cover story 17 Goodie-filled cones for school send-offs Typical German 18 Fairy tale magic Sterntaler Girl
I am sure you will agree with me that the Richly Painted Angel on the front cover of this eleven dot post combines perfection of form and color in a most impressive fashion. The painstaking work that has gone into the unique paint effects makes it a true masterpiece of figurative craftsmanship. Even more so with its striking height of 6.75 inches. Together with another heavenly musician in blue robes, it is a worthy addition to the Wendt & Kühn collection, full of grace and elegance. Delicately they stroke the strings of their violins – as if they are one with the music. Do you recognize this new Angel with Violin? You are quite right. Its many smaller “siblings” have for many years impressed music enthusiasts and lovers of festive Christmas decorations alike. I wonder whether Walt Disney himself would have been intrigued by these Angel Musicians and the many other new products from our workshops this year. This is something we can only surmise. What we do know is that visitors to the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco now come face to face in the Museum Store with figurines from Wendt & Kühn. They may well ask themselves: Why are these figurines here? What do they have to do with Walt Disney? After all they do not appear in any of his stories, nor do they have a starring role in any of his movies. And yet they are part of their own heart-warming Walt Disney story, one we share with you on pages 12 and 13 of this magazine. Maintaining values handed down over generations and preserving traditions – this is what our family company has stood for, for more than 100 years. This does not mean however that we do not embrace the new and modern. So from now on we will be publishing particularly fine photos of successful decorations not only in this magazine, but on our Pinterest page too, at www.pinterest.de/wendtundkuehn. Please feel free to share your ideas with fellow enthusiasts all over the world, and show us where and how you have used our figurines at home to striking effect. I hope you will enjoy reading this latest edition of the eleven dot post.
20 Angels in America Living tradition 21 From our readers Personal messages
Claudia Baer, née Wendt
22 Farewell Leaving the collection at year’s end
D E C o R At i N g t i p
Inside the
Christmas Bakery What would Christmas be without the heavenly smell of cookies and gingerbread? Inconceivable! Every year, young and old everywhere gather to turn normal kitchens into bustling bakeries: The industrious Marguerite Angels are already right at home in such scenes: Merrily decorating the goodies and mixing fresh eggs, sugar and cocoa powder into chocolate icing on the stove.
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nd because they take so much pleasure in this work, they feel most happy when surrounded by their baking utensils. Therefore, arrange these little bakers to set the scene in front of a colorful gingerbread house or an old-fashioned cookie jar – as if they just finished creating their masterpieces. Pastry cutters, anise stars and cinnamon sticks also make for appealing holiday settings. Or position the cher-
ubic little dough-pros atop your favorite cookbook – as a charming reminder to whisk your batter just a few times more. And since the more is always the merrier, the Marguerite Angels will only too gladly convey cheerful cookie baking invitations. And who knows, they may meet some particularly industrious helpers themselves at Christmas – as utterly personal Christmas gifts straight from the baker’s heart.
A woRLD oF BEAUtiFUL piCtUREs
S
ocial networks such as Facebook, YouTube and Instagram have become such an integral part of so many of our daily lives, as routine now as reading the newspaper or listening to the radio. Pinterest has also captivated many people. On this platform, users can pin their favorite pictures to virtual pinboards and share them with other like-minded enthusiasts. The network has become a huge digital pinboard with something new to discover every day – and as of this year, that also includes a world of Wendt & Kühn imagery. Regardless whether you seek inspiration for a child’s birthday, the rebirth of springtime or a little Christmas magic, we endeavor to illustrate how to spread joy among yourself and others by decorating with and gifting our items. We invite you to browse, to find inspiration and to follow us at www.pinterest.de/wendtundkuehn. We’re already showcasing exquisite decorating suggestions from enthusiasts all over the world there – if you’re a registered Pinterest user, we’d love to see how you create your own perfect settings for our figurines. Simply pin your photos to your board under the hashtag #wendtandkuehn.
p h oto C A m pA i g N
oNCE ARoUND thE whoLE woRLD … “To travel is to live” was something known not just to the Danish poet and writer Hans Christian Andersen, but also to designers Grete and Olly Wendt. Equipped with a joyful heart in their breast and a suitcase in their hand, they travelled to many countries and found ideas for their creative work. Our new Gold Edition, the Globetrotter, also aims to discover the world – accompanied by you! Simply photograph your Globetrotter in prominent locations or in front of tourist attractions around the globe and upload your picture directly to our website www.wendt-kuehn.com by 01 August 2019. Select the “Experience” tab and from the drop-down menu select “Globetrotter on Tour”. You can also send us your picture by email to globetrotter@wendt-kuehn.de or through the post. We would like to publish your pictures on our Pinterest board, too. If you have a Pinterest page, you can pin your photo to your board using the hashtag #globetrotter. In that way we can find your picture and pin it to our profile. As a thank-you we will enter all participants into a prize draw to win one of ten examples of the 2019 Gold Edition.
CoLLECtioN ADDitioNs
Of courageous globetrotters and merry angels Every year a handful of figurines are selected from the Grand Sample Cabinet at our Grünhainichen headquarters to be reintroduced into our collection. Faithfully reproduced in accordance with the historic designs of Grete and Olly Wendt, their nostalgic charm and unmistakable appeal still captivate today.
ANgEL with BALALAikA
G o l d E d i t i o n N o– 1 1
L i m i t e d G o l d E d i t i o n N o– 1 1
650/77
gLoBEtRottER, ANgEL with
gLoBEtRottER, ANgEL with sUitCAsE
s U i t C A s E , g o L D - p L At E D
o N A m E tA L B A s E , g o L D - p L At E D ,
650/124
iN A spLiNtER BoX
650/124/LE
A mUsiCAL ADDitioN
FoR gLoBAL EXpLoRERs
The brief description of the instrument played by this year’s new Grünhainichen Angel® is that it has just three strings and a triangular-shaped hollow body. Our Angel will show that the balalaika can be used to play more than just Russian folk music when it joins its friends in the orchestra.
Every journey begins with a first step. The “Globetrotter” strides out full of courage. He carries in his hand a 24-karat gold-plated suitcase and in his breast a joyful heart. Lovingly fashioned by hand, this precious figurine is yet another example of skilled craftsmanship creating an exclusive work of art. Precision is essential not only in making the Angel, the suitcase, too, is very elaborate and is made with great attention to detail. The metal base on which the Angel stands is also plated in 24-karat gold. Produced in a strictly limited edition, only 22,222 of these figurines will be travelling around the world. The
Please note: While our products are available for purchase at your local specialist retailer or at the Wendt & Kühn outlets in Grünhainichen and Seiffen, Germany, we cannot accept individual mail orders.
individual serial number is printed on the underside of each figurine, on the base of its attractive splinter box, and also in the lovingly designed leaflet that accompanies it. This makes every angel a valuable and unique piece – as meaningful as the memories of the journey itself. For those travelling around the world and those returning home, as a gift for someone special you got to know on your travels. Or as a faithful companion to strange lands, or simply a memento of a happy holiday. The Globetrotter is also available on a grey base – not in a limited edition.
gARDENiNg with swiNg
mUsiC BoX “two giRLs” with
Whether Grete Wendt was enjoying working on her flowerbeds when she had the idea for the design of this music box remains a secret. What is well known is that she loved flowers. This is how to make gardening fun: while the cheerful gardeners are diligently tending their flowers and beds, they are accompanied by the gentle sounds of the high-quality Swiss 18-note musical movement. The melody “Ward ein Blümlein mir geschenket” (a German folk song about the joy of the garden) fits the scene perfectly. This 5.5-inchhigh music box will delight keen gardeners, lovers of flowers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. It is also perfect as a musical thank-you for any kind person who helps out in the garden.
18-NotE mUsiCAL moVEmENt
5318/28A
A m U s i C A L tA s t E R : To hear a preview of the melody on our website, simply visit www.wendt-kuehn.com.
thE mAgiC oF FLowERs mARgUERitE ANgEL, sittiNg, with smokER
634/70/38
FRAgRANt DUo
The scent of Christmas coming from the mouth of a smoker creates a really special atmosphere, especially during Advent. And so the small Marguerite Angel quickly places the tiny pipe of his smoking companion in its proper place. Does he know that he is holding in his hands a design steeped in history? The miniature smoker is based on an original design. The original smoker is nearly eight inches tall – in the hands of this Marguerite Angel he reaches one. Despite this he still has the hair-thin moustache, the tiny spots on his cheeks and minute buttons on his coat. A perfect work of art in miniature.
giRL with sCiLLA
5248/24
Real pleasure is to be found in discovering the many fine details that lend such charm to the girl who this year swells the number of happy Blossom Kinder: the cheeky braids, the polka-dot dress and the fine collar on her blouse. A love of detail also distinguishes the scillas that she carries in her hands. Six graceful petals come together to create delicate star-shaped blooms that shimmer in different tones through the use of translucent paint. But beware. Tempting as these flowers are, they are protected (at least in Germany) and cannot be picked. What is more, according to an ancient superstition, you should not even smell them as that will give you freckles. Rest assured, however, the scilla that “grows” in our workshop is not known to have any freckle-inducing properties. And so we invite you to treat yourself to a fresh floral decoration.
A n g el w i t h t w o C andle s
O w l , S m all , F ly i n g
O w l , Med i u m
O w l , L ar g e ,
650/157
5262/1
5262/2
w i t h C andelabra
5262/5
P R O U D L IGHT B E A R E R
M A ST E R LY T R IO O F OW L S
Who provides the atmospheric lighting when the large orchestra of Angel Musicians strikes up? The answer is the Angel with two Candles. Proudly it holds two wooden candles in its hands. It already featured in a supplement to the 1925/26 catalog – back then with candle holders for tiny wax candles. After resting in our archive of samples for 80 years, the candles burn even brighter on its return. Truly splendid and brilliantly enlightening.
Owls in Germany are regarded as symbols of wisdom and prudence. Olly Wendt was fascinated by them, and in July 1926 she designed her loveable night owls. They impress us with their timeless design, unique coloration and enigmatic aura. The painstaking use of translucent paint makes them true masterpieces of figurative craftsmanship. The trio comprises the small owl (1.5 inches), the young owl (2 inches) and the wise candle bearer (3.5 inches). D I L IG E N T G A R D E N H E L P E R S
Last year the gnomes made themselves useful inside the four walls of the home, now they are turning their attention to the garden, and they are very welcome here, too. While the first of them car-
ries a large tray of delicate little plants, the second one is standing by with the watering can. The third member of the group makes this cheerful garden scene into a colorful painting. Which member of the plant family the six young plants the Gnome is carrying belong to cannot be exactly ascertained from the records in the archives – this is left to your own imagination. With their mischievous but cheerful nature, these busy little helpers will appeal not only to talented art lovers, young and old. All those who love flowers or own a garden will also be delighted to have them as cheerful companions, as in their own charming way they remind us to look after our plants.
C A L E N D A R 2 0 1 9 , c o m p le t e
2 0 1 9 · i n Ge r m a n L a n g u a g e
3 6 5 day s o f p lea s ure
A travel-loving globetrotter, an indu strious Marguerite Angel and joyful night owls will accompany you month by month in the 2019 calendar. A small Angel with a lantern has settled itself down on the frame. This and the Calendar Sheets are also available separately.
Gn o m e w i t h
Gn o m e w i t h
Wat er i n g C an
B ru s h and Pale t t e
L i t t le Plan t s
5243/1
5243/3
5243/17
Gn o m e w i t h
A n g el w i t h Tru m p e t,
A n g el w i t h B ell and
L i t t le Su s p ended
Su s p ended
C andle , i n S tar
A n g el , w i t h
650/130/36
650/80/53
Tr i an g le
6307/16 C h r i s t m a s Tree A n g el in ring, with Songbook
6308/12a
A n g el i n t h e T oy V i lla g e
A n g el , Pray i n g , o n C l i p
650/90/5 A n g el w i t h Ly re , o n C o m e t
650/70/68
O C h r i s t m a s Tree
The Christmas tree was serenaded for the first time in 1824 in the German Christmas song “O Christmas Tree”. Some 100 years later, Grete Wendt made sure that the tree can also be beautifully decorated with Christmas tree decorations from Wendt & Kühn. In the children’s supplement of one of the Leipzig newspapers from November 1933 it was reported that the star children played music so energetically that the eyelets of the heavenly bodies came loose and they fell to earth. However, “A giant spruce caught them and held them fast in its branches”. From this year you can find the Angels with Lyre, Trumpet, Bell and Triangle there, too. The small Angel in Ring with Songbook is looking quickly for the words of a song while the praying Angel retreats into itself.
A n g el , S m all , w i t h L an t ern o n Stick
The Angel holds the wooden box on its lap as if it were treasure. In it are stored the Angel’s favorite toys: a house with a red roof, a well-grown tree and a small wooden horse with even smaller ears. This scene reminds us of the worldfamous wooden toys from the Erzgebirge that still today bring happiness to children all around the world. These are usually packed in a wooden splinter box. This story is now recounted by the two-inch high Grünhainichen Angel®, bringing to life the toy-making tradition of the Erzgebirge. The tiny horse, house and tree are only a few milli meters high, but this makes the joy they spread with their charm all the greater.
650/k/51a
S h i n i n g br i g h t ly
Brightly shines the lantern that the small Angel has placed at its side. And, as befits an Angel from the Grünhainichen workshops, before putting the lantern into use in the dark, the Angel used a fine paintbrush to painstakingly paint it with tiny moons and stars that glow with the inner light from the lantern. They light the way for the Angel’s small friends and larger siblings, and invite them along for an evening walk.
A n g el i n T oy V i lla g e , S i t t i n g
6 5 0 / 1 5 8 · Joining the collection in October
S t ern taler G i rl
5285
S tar m a g i c
When stars fall from the heavens and turn into coins, it is fairy tale time at Wendt & Kühn. Sitting in a moonlit glade, the Sterntaler Girl from the famous German fairy tale “The Sterntaler” spreads out her apron – five stars have already landed in her lap. Grete Wendt designed the figurine before 1930 and nearly a century on she still impresses us with her modest demean or. An enchanting gift and exactly right for lovers of fairy tales, star gazers and those we wish to thank for their selflessness and helpfulness. And because we can not only catch the stars but puzzle with them, the Sterntaler Girl has now arrived on a 24-piece fairy tale jigsaw puzzle. You can look forward to the further continuation of our fairy tale collection which next year will be just as magical.
3 You can read more about the fairy tale world of Wendt & Kühn on page 18.
Pu z z le “ s t ern taler g i rl”
24 pieces, 6 x 8.25" MP/5285
R i c h ly Pa i n t ed A n g el , L ar g e ,
R i c h ly Pa i n t ed A n g el , L ar g e ,
w i t h V i o l i n , R ed
w i t h V i o l i n , B lue
553/4R/2R
553/4R/2B
Ma g n i f i cen t p i ece s
inclined as if in thought, they delicately stroke the strings of their violins – as if they are one with the music. Standing on their own on a sideboard or shelf, these Angels create a real focal point all year round.
With their long flowing robes the Richly Painted Angels from Wendt & Kühn are both graceful and elegant. Now for the first time two musicians playing violins, each an impressive 6.75 inches in height will be joining this exceptional product group. Few other Wendt & Kühn figurines combine perfection of form and color as impressively as the Richly Painted Angels. The striking way in which they are painted is quite unique and makes them true masterpieces of figurative craftsmanship. The translucent paint that is used creates a sea of color which reflects the light in all directions. On the wings of the Angels tiny dots and hair-thin lines form a magnificent flower. Precise and detailed – masterly and artist ic. But it is not only the coloration of the Angels we find so enthralling, their modelling is equally impressive. The figurine is sanded numerous times until a body emerges that has the unmistakable shape of the Richly Painted Angel, whose robes – though made of wood – appear to swing lightly to and fro. With their upper body leaning slightly backwards, their heads softly
3 Read more about the skill that goes into making them on page 14.
Paper Napkins “The Magic of Christmas”
Dimension 13 x 13" 526/22/Weihn
C ele s t i al p lace s e t t i n g s
Wendt & Kühn continues its range of popular paper napkins with a new Christmas motif for a truly heavenly festive table. The picture is a beautiful drawing showing Grünhainichen Angels® together with their Marguerite Angel friends.
s E t D i s p L Ay s h E L F w i t h B L o s s o m k i N D E R A N D F R i E N D s ,
s E t D i s p L Ay s h E L F w i t h m A R g U E R i t E A N g E L s ,
7 FigURiNEs
7 FigURiNEs
Dimension Package 20.5 x 10.25 x 5" 5248/SET/1
Dimension Package 20.5 x 10.25 x 5" 634/SET/1
s E t A N g E L m o U N tA i N w i t h g R ü N h A i N i C h E N A N g E L s ®, m o U N t F o R D i s p L Ay s h E L F, 1 pA i R
26 FigURiNEs
551/H
Dimension Package 20.5 x 10.25 x 5" 650/SET/1
F i R m s tA N D
thE pERFECt giFt
You will already be familiar with our display shelves that for over a year now have been offering new ways of displaying selected favorite figurines in a modern setting. We have now developed this idea further. Anyone who does not want to reach for the drill to attach them to the wall, or who is not permitted to, no longer has to do without these stylish display units. Perhaps you value the flexibility of giving your figurines a stage you can move around? The new mount makes all this possible. Simply place the frame on the two wooden feet and your shelf is firm and secure. This set is available as an option when you buy a new display shelf. If you already own a shelf and would like to add a mount, you can order one from your Wendt & Kühn specialist retailer. We will then send it to them, free of charge.
Are you looking for an unusual present for a very special and meaningful occasion? Something stylish, timeless and of value? The new gift sets from Wendt & Kühn are all of these things. With great care we have selected representative figurines from the different families and arranged them in groups. This means you can hand over your gift confident in the knowledge that the figurines have been chosen to complement one another. The figurines take their place on a stage that shows them to their best advantage. Thus the merry Blossom Kinder and their friends, seven in total, and the seven hard-working Marguerite Angels are arranged on a modern display shelf, the 26 Grünhainichen Angels® have taken their place on a three-tiered Angel Mountain, and the five musicians in the “White
sEt whitE timBRE EDitioN, 5 FigURiNEs
Dimension Package 20.5 x 10.25 x 5" 650/200/SET
Timbre” Edition present themselves on smart black pedestals. The figurines are securely packed in a green gift box that keeps them safe until they are handed over to their new owner. The high-quality packaging with its distinguished look and size, the box measures 20.5 inches length, makes this a very impressive gift. And as they come as a complete set, they are perfect for “newcomers” and those who are just starting out on their collector’s journey. Perhaps this will be the start of a wonderful new love affair …
Courtesy of the Walt Disney Archives Photo Library © Disney
F ro m H i s to ry
Walt Disney, Cinderella and the figurines from Wendt & Kühn When visitors to The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco finish their tour of the galleries showing the life of the legendary animator, they come face to face in the Museum Store with figures from Wendt & Kühn. They may well wonder: Why are these figures here? What do they have to do with Walt Disney? After all, they don’t appear in any of his stories. And yet, even though they did not play a starring role in any of his movies, they have their own special Walt Disney story to tell. One we would like to share with you.
Courtesy of the Walt Disney Archives Photo Library © Disney
Paula Sigman Lowery, Disney historian and consultant to The Walt Disney Family Museum, is very familiar with the story of how these figures found their way into the filmmaker’s office. During the time that Walt’s daughter Diane Disney Miller was planning the museum, Paula worked closely with Walt’s family as part of the content development team. That this was not a purely professional relationship was made clear by Diane’s personal interest in the lives of her employees and their families. One Christmas she gave Paula a small set of Angel Musicians from Wendt & Kühn. Knowing that she would really appreciate the story behind the gift, Diane’s card included a handwritten note explaining that she had given similar figures to her dad every Christmas. Her mom, knowing Walt’s love of Wendt & Kühn figures, had started the tradition when Diane was still a baby by presenting Walt with a Wendt & Kühn figure
Courtesy of the Walt Disney Archives Photo Library © Disney
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n old black and white photograph taken around 1950 shows the film producer sitting at his desk in The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. In his hands he is holding a picture of the beautiful Cinderella. If you look at the shelves on the back wall, you will see some miniature figures. But these are not Mickey Mouse and Bambi, they are the Blossom Kinder and their Friends from Wendt & Kühn. To the left of the telephone is even a creation of his own. The music box with a Christmas tree in the middle is nowhere to be found in the Wendt & Kühn archives, the Marguerite Angels arranged around the tree, however, are old friends.
as a Christmas gift from his brand-new daughter. Over the years Diane continued this tradition as an expression of their special father-daughter bond. When Diane decided to carry the figures in the new museum store, she did it in the hope that visitors would be just as delighted and enchanted by them as her father was.
T h e Walt D i s ne y Fa m i ly Mu s eu m
shows the life and legacy of the legendary animator in countless films, displays and drawings.
But how did Walt Disney come to know and treasure the figures from Wendt & Kühn? It is well known that he was a passionate collector of curios, especially miniatures. He found room to accommodate everything that interested him. He also brought back many souvenirs from his travels. The miniature wooden figures from far away Germany, made in the workshops of Wendt & Kühn, clearly delighted him, too. In 1952 he created a series of miniature tableaus based on the sets of “Granny’s Cabin” from his 1949 live-action film So Dear to My Heart. Whether the Wendt & Kühn figurines provided him with any inspiration for his own creations remains Walt Disney’s secret. What we do know is that they played a role in his life. We can only surmise that it was the carefree, joyful and childlike nature of the Wendt & Kühn figures that so captivated Walt Disney, as they embody everything that he strived for in his work. As he once said, “My business is making people, especially children, happy.” And Grete Wendt would certainly have agreed with him. Or i g i nal f i g ure s o w ned by T h e Walt D i s ne y C o m p an y: Made once upon a time by Wendt & Kühn in Grünhainichen, they travelled all the way to America and found a new home with the Disney family – perfect material for a movie.
C o ver S t o ry
Graceful decorative pieces painted by master craftsmen ďœąďœ´
Grünhainichen, April 1936. Olly Wendt paints an Angel whose form has been designed by her sister-in-law Grete. The Angel is a colorful reminder of her Baltic homeland, with delicate gold patterning and a dress that reflects every ray of light, just like the softly falling folds of an elegant silk robe.
G
rünhainichen, summer 2018. Andrea Weber sits in the paint shop of the Grünhainichen workshops of Wendt & Kühn, concentration written all over her face. With a relaxed hand she paints fine gold dots on the shimmering multi-toned red dress of the Angel that from this year has become an extension to the Wendt & Kühn collection, together with an Angel in a blue robe. They join the small Richly Painted Angel with Violin that for many years has delighted music enthusiasts and lovers of Christmas alike. They, too, delicately stroke the strings of their instruments, and their impressive 6.5 inches in height make them particularly striking and give them an even more graceful and elegant appearance.
paint is applied. Using a paint that appears almost transparent, achieved by mixing paint and thinners, up to seven layers are then applied, thin film of color after thin film of color. It may appear that different colors are used, but in fact the paint color applied to the underskirt remains the same throughout. The secret is layering the paint. The more layers that are applied, the more intense the color becomes. Each time the painter Andrea Weber applies another layer, she moves her paintbrush a little to produce a soft, uniform draping of cloth. The paint is gradually built up so that the robe appears to shimmer and flow. Next, the Angel has to wait a week until her painted skirt is dry. Then the decorating can begin. Using the finest brush, the golden finishing touches are applied. With a steady hand the painter tirelessly applies almost one hundred dots to the Angel’s robe. And on her wings, tiny dots and hair-thin lines form a mag-
Ma g n i f i cen t craf t s m an s h i p
Few other groups of figurines from Wendt & Kühn combine perfection of form and color as impressively as the Richly Painted Angels. The striking way in which they are painted is quite unique and makes them true masterpieces of figurative craftsmanship. The exceptional coloration which is fundamental to their design requires exceptional technical skill on the part of the painter. We use the technical term “glaze painting” to describe this. It is a painting technique that places great demands on the painter and requires an extremely steady hand, many years of experience and above all the skills of an artist. First, the Angels are given a red or blue underskirt in the paint shop. At this point the Angel still looks rather insubstantial, depth is achieved only when the translucent
T E C H N I C A L D R AWI N G of the Richly Painted Angels from the Wendt & Kühn archives.
nificent flower. Andrea Weber constantly casts her eye back to the master copy that stands just beside her work station. “The master copy is my most important reference point,” she says. “After all, every stroke should be placed exactly where the designer placed it herself.” Faithful to the original design in every brushstroke, each Angel is painted from start to finish by a single painter – with the exception of the face. This creates a personal relationship that gives each Angel their soul. Just as Olly Wendt did. “Painting with translucent paint is a real pleasure. The paint literally starts to comes alive,” says Andrea Weber, her eyes sparkling as she looks at the finished painted Angel on her desk, whose dress shimmers in every shade of red, from bright carmine red to dark bordeaux. Perfec t ly f o r m ed
But it is not only the coloration of the Angels we find so enthralling, their modelling is equally impressive. The symmetrical form, turned in the shape of a bell, is sanded numerous times until a body emerges that has the unmistakable shape of the Richly Painted Angel, whose robes – though made of wood – appear to swing lightly to and fro. With their upper body leaning slightly backwards, their heads softly inclined as if in thought, they delicately stroke the strings of their instruments as if they are one with the music. The small curls of hair under their golden wreath of flowers are made from a turned ring. The art of ring turning is unique to the Erzgebirge and is not practiced anywhere else in the world. With a practiced eye and a steady hand, the turner uses his tools to create a wooden ring with the contours of the curls of hair. The ring is then cut into slices using a sharp blade. The magnificent wreath of flowers that crowns each Angel’s
head is made up of ten flowers turned on a lathe. Each flower is then cut again in five places to create the petals. A small, but not insignificant detail – for it is just these enchanting features that make these figurines so unique and endearing. A creat i ve du o
The basic form of the Angel was designed by the founder of the company Grete Wendt in April 1936. She sketched their characteristic posture over and over again, weighing aesthetic and production values against one another until she had found the perfect shape. She then converted this to a technical drawing. These historic drawings are still used to this day as the basis for the manufacture of the figurines. The masterful use of color displayed in the Richly Painted Angels is all down to the creative designer at Grete Wendt’s side: Olly Sommer, later Wendt, also a graduate of the Royal Saxon Academy of Applied Art in Dresden. Born in Riga, she absorbed in her homeland the impressions that shaped her creative style, manifesting themselves in countless combinations of color and pattern on the dresses of the figurines. Right up to her final working day in April 1983, Olly Wendt insisted on painting the Richly Painted Angels herself. No wonder, they were after all her favorite figurines. And who knows, perhaps they will soon become your personal favorites, too – as they open up a range of new possibilities for stylish decorating, and not only at Christmas! Arranged on a sideboard or shelf, these Angels create a real focal point all year round, either on their own or as a pair. They are truly impressive works of art.
typiCAL gERmAN
Goodie-filled cones for school send-offs Oktoberfest, Bratwurst and formality – ask the average American the first things that come to mind about Germany and those are among the top answers. True, these are all things we associate with – some more than others. But yet Germany is so much more: Aside from our known traditions, there are countless other aspects to discover. In our new series “Typical German” we would like to introduce you to some of these customs and rituals from the homeland of the Eleven Dot Angels and the Blossom Kinder. We’re kicking off this series with “Schultüte”, the huge pointy cones the schoolchildren from our manufactory cradle in their arms on the first day of school.
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ood luck trying to find an English translation for the German terms “Schultüte” or “Zuckertüte” – there simply isn’t one. It can best be described as a cone-shaped cardboard carryall which parents give to their children on their very first day of school. Usually filled to the brim with candies, pens and pencils, small gifts and the various necessities youngsters might need as they enter this new stage of life as schoolchildren. A custom that German parents having been practicing on the first day of school since the 19th century. Back then, children starting school were told that there was a tree in the
school’s basement which grew sacks filled with candies for all good pupils. The schoolchildren of Wendt & Kühn certainly seem to have been very wellbehaved. These gaily decorated cones are symbolic of starting a new stage of life and become treasured keepsakes. Entirely individual: The girl and the boy can additionally be inscribed with the name of your first grader as well as the year of their momentous first school day. Our painters add these inscriptions by hand in exquisite lettering. Thus creating a confidant to accompany a child through school right from day one. And long beyond.
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Fairy tale magic A JoURNEy iNto thE woRLD oF FA i R y tA L E s At w E N D t & k ü h N
Autumn and winter are the time for fairy tales. As the days become shorter and the summer light fades we like to lose ourselves in stories and fairy tales. And enter into a world of fantasy in which just making a wish helps dreams come true. A world in which stars fall from the heavens as coins ...
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“
nce upon a time …” – four little words that on their own are not particularly out of the ordinary. But when you hear them spoken together and with that spark of magic that is so familiar to us, they gain the power to make the years fall away and transport us back to our childhood, when we listened spellbound to the stories our parents and grandparents read to us from old books of fairy tales. Grete Wendt, too, loved the world of fairy tales, and the books of fairy tales belonging to the Wendt family are still around today. It was most likely an edition of the collection of fairy tales by the German writer Ludwig Bechstein that in 1926 gave Grete Wendt the impetus to translate fairy tales into small wooden figurines. For Christmas that year she received the book with a personal dedication as a gift from a long-term employee. She designed her first figurines from the stories of the Brothers Grimm and Ludwig Bechstein. So, for example, around 1930 she created Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf. She also found inspiration in the stories of the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. The family owned his books of fairy tales, and small markings in pencil on the index page suggest that the owners found a lot of pleasure in reading them. And so in the 1950s a second creative period followed in which Grete Wendt developed further fairy tale figurines based on stories by Denmark’s most famous writer: The Little Match Girl and The Ugly Duckling.
Her earlier creative phase also included the modest heroine from the Grimms’ fairy tale “The Sterntaler”. This year we are breathing life once again into the Sterntaler Girl. She follows in the footsteps of Cinderella, who opened our fairy tale collection in 2017. Once upon a time there was a poor orphan who owned nothing except a morsel of bread. As she went out into the world, she gave away first her bread, then her cap, her jacket, her skirt and finally her shift to others in need. In return for her generosity the little girl was rewarded with a gift from heaven. “And as she stood there with nothing left at all, suddenly stars fell from the sky, and they were brightly shining coins.” This fairy tale was particularly popular before the First World War as it symbolized
“And as she stood there with nothing left at all, suddenly stars fell from the sky, and they were brightly shining coins.”
the compassionate man who helps others even when he apparently has nothing himself. Grete Wendt designed the figurine of the Sterntaler Girl even earlier than 1930. Now, nearly a century later she still stands for compassion, modesty and care for others. Values that today are more important than ever and turn this figurine into a symbol for humanity, one of the reasons we chose this particular fairy tale to continue the Wendt & Kühn fairy tale collection this year. And as there are still many more fabulous fairy tale figurines designed by Grete Wendt in addition to the Sterntaler Girl, you can look forward to more magical reissues in the coming years.
for the 1937 catalog, the Sterntaler Girl (right) was placed together with figurines with prams and so was taken out of the fairy tale context. iN A skEtCh
L i v i n g t rad i t i o n
Angels in America A n e m i g rat i o n s t o ry
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ugust 1961. Germany is about to be divided by the Berlin Wall. 17-year-old Gaby from Berlin meets an American soldier stationed in the capital city. Together they decide to emigrate. For six days they sail on a ship to New York, then spend two days on a Greyhound Bus travelling through America’s wide open spaces until they reach Lakewood, Colorado, USA. They enjoy their new life of freedom – but there is one thing that Gaby really misses: the small Angels with the eleven white dots on their green wings, one of her most treasured childhood memories.
In the meantime her collection has grown to more than 100 figurines. “After reunification I travelled to Germany more often and the one thing that was always on the agenda was purchasing another Angel,” Gaby Forrest tell us, “whether in Berlin, in Dresden or actually in the wonderful Wendt & Kühn World of Figures in Seiffen.” She has a knack for forming unusual friendships, some of whom have proven to be extremely useful to her passion for collecting. Many years ago Gaby dialed the wrong telephone number by mistake and quite by chance found herself talking to a doctor in Dresden. They chatted, made friends and when
Gaby’s Angels finally arrived in America in a shipping container. And they were destined not to remain alone. From then onwards whenever Gaby visited Germany her small collection grew, piece by piece. She could have bought her Angels in the USA, “But for me it was simply more personal to buy them in Germany,” beams Gaby. The family’s passion for collecting began in the 1950s. Gaby’s mother spent a year at a school in Dresden. There she met Elli, who would later become Gaby’s godmother. Thanks to Elli’s connections, the family in Berlin managed to get hold of the coveted Angels, even in hard times. Gaby can still remember today how as a child her eyes would light up when at Christmas she was allowed to arrange the small treasures.
“I enjoy my Angels every day. I just love looking at them! They awaken the most wonderful memories of my childhood in Germany. I value their fine craftsmanship and love this celebration of the miniature.” Gaby F o rre s t
he eventually visited Gaby in America, he naturally arrived with a couple of Wendt & Kühn Angels in his luggage. And so Gaby’s collection grew and grew until it reached a point when the old Angel Mountain from the 1960s could no longer accommodate them all. Then on a holiday in Rügen (German island) she met Michael and Petra. Gaby invited the two motorcyclists to visit her in America. The couple from Bielefeld wanted to bring a new large Angel Mountain with them – but it wouldn’t fit in their luggage. So Michael and Petra organized for it to be shipped to America, and now Gaby can proudly display her large collection of Angels in the bay window of her house. It is also her dog Bailey’s favorite spot and he keeps a keen watch over the Angels. Gaby’s collection includes many special pieces. In addition to the original ones from the 1950s, she has examples of all the Gold Editions, two removals carts and a number of Blossom Kinder. Early in December she gets them all out to create a festive arrangement. Gaby’s American friends find the figurines “great – but they have absolutely no idea of the work and craftsmanship that goes into each and every Angel,” says Gaby. And so she tells everyone who admires the figurines in her large house the story of Grete Wendt and her Angels. “So that my friends in America can appreciate these very special works of art – in the way they deserve.”
F r o m o ur reader s
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m always so excited to receive your latest elfpunktepost. Your magazine is helping my Irish grandson learn German. Thank you.
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delicate triangular strokes are applied by the Wendt & Kühn painters with the finest of brushes to the breast of the medium sized owl. The streaked belly patterning so typical to owls is the ultimate artistic finishing touch – incredibly detailed and lifelike, nature serving here as the model. The wispy lines artfully adorning the bushy plumage of these nocturnal barons. But what makes the feathers seem so “fluffy”? A painting technique that’s in a class all its own: glazing. This is a technique that places extraordinarily high demands on the painters and requires an extremely steady hand, many years of
experience, and above all illustrative acumen and mastery. The owl is first given a uniform light-beige plumage coat in a dipping bath. But that’s just a surface effect – the depth to the owl comes from the glazing. Up to seven layers of paints that almost seem transparent are applied as wisps of color. The more layers applied, the more intense the colors ultimately appear. With each repetition, the painter repositions her brush ever so slightly. How this creates soft and rich feathers is shown in a short film we have on our website. www.wendt-kuehn.com “How our owls learn to fly” under the “Experience” heading
E. Nitzsche | Midleton, Ireland
OP E N HO U S E D AYS 2 0 1 8 / 1 9
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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. Hundreds of visit ors gladly seize the opportunity to get a glimpse behind the scenes. From the turning and gluing to the dipping and painting departments – guests visiting Grünhainichen watch our famous figurines being handcrafted right before their very eyes. The Open House Days at The World of Figures in Seiffen give you an unforgettable chance to look over the shoulders of our staff in the gluing and paint shops. And you will be certain to take home one or two ideas for gifts as well as inspiration for tasteful decorations in your own home. O p en H o u s e D ay s i n Gr ü n h a i n i c h en
December 1 and 2, 2018 May 11 and 12, 2019 November 30 and December 1, 2019 10am to 5pm daily O p en H o u s e D ay s i n Se i ffen
October 20 and 21, 2018 April 20 and 21, 2019 October 19 and 20, 2019 10am to 5pm daily
Our Wendt & Kühn dealer in Japan wrote us about one of their customers: ur customer was very pleased with the repaired music box. They were so appreciative of your professional work and they described how they were moved to tears when they opened the green box and finally heard the beautiful sound of the music. It reminded them of their youth – the time when they found the music box in the Netherlands, when they were just 20 years old. The quality of the sound hadn’t changed at all after 32 years.
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our Christmas catalog never fails to please me – my collection of little Angels grows with each passing year. Thanks so much for your Angel post. C. Kleinheinz | Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA
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sincerely want to thank you for the beautiful elfpunktepost issue! When I read it – written in the language of the heart – it’s like being magically transported back to my homeland. Homeland – where you are at home. We have five children – all now young adults. We always get together over Christmas and by now, it’s quite a large family. We’ve had a tradition for years where everybody finds one of your little angels on their breakfast plate Christmas morning. That’s also a little piece of home. To create this Christmas magic, I have a special money jar I add to throughout the year. E. Gräter | Mötzingen, Germany
L E AV i N g t h E C o L L E C t i o N At y E A R s ’ s E N D
| 2018
Farewell
The figurines shown here have been on sale through our retailers this year for the last time. They will now return to the workshop’s historic Grand Sample Cabinet for at least five years. As this eleven dot post goes to print, some of these items have already been completely bought up by our Wendt & Kühn specialist retailers. It is only through them that you will be able to find out whether they are available.
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BUNNy mUsiCiAN with
BUNNy mUsiCiAN with
mANDoLiN
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5350/4
5350/12
5350/27
mARgUERitE ANgEL,
mARgUERitE ANgEL,
sittiNg, with giNgERBREAD
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s i t t i N g , w i t h t oy B o X
634/70/2
634/70/3
634/70/6
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5240/5
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650/111
650/112
5272/8
i m p R i N t e l e v e n d o t p o s t ( U S E d i t i o n ) · 2 n d E d i t i o n · G r ü n h a i n i c h e n , Ge r m a n y, A u g u s t 2 0 1 8 Publisher: Wendt & Kühn KG, Chemnitzer Straße 40, 09579 Grünhainichen, Germany · Telephone: +49 37294 86286, Telefax: +49 37294 86129, www.wendt-kuehn.com Chief Editors, legally responsible for content: Claudia Baer, Thomas Rost, Wendt & Kühn · Editor: Lena Sabotta, Wendt & Kühn · Design: schech.net | Strategie. Kommunikation. Design. Translation: Dr. Sternkopf media group · Text: Sylva-Michèle Sternkopf (20) · Photography: Kristian Hahn (1, 2, 18), Marcus Heilscher Fotodesign (4, 23), Walt Disney Archives Photo Library © Disney (12, 13), Michael Feindura (14), private (5, 20), ruemmlerfotografie (15, 17), Tina Schramm (21)
w w w.w end t- k ue h n . C OM