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
4 TH E D I T I O N
2020/2021
DEAR FRIENDS OF WENDT & KÜHN,
SELECTED CONTENT
4 To a very special mom Gift idea
5 “And so it was” Reading Time
N is for newsletter Grünhainichen Lexicon
6 Preserving dreams and maintaining certainty 2020 additions to collection
As it happens we had already been planning to celebrate two very special anniversaries this year. 2020 is exactly 100 years since Olly S ommer, later Wendt, came to Grünhainichen after completing her studies at the Royal Saxon Academy of Applied Art in Dresden, to start work as a talented painter in my great-aunt Grete’s company, where she remained for the rest of her life. Her love for Grete’s brother Johannes was to play an important part in our family history. This year, as a tribute to her life’s work, we have reintroduced to the current collection one of her particularly beautiful designs – the angel holding a golden heart and flower, which we present to you starting on page 6, together with all the other new additions to the collection. We have dedicated several pages to an in-depth profile of my grandma Olly, which you will find starting on page 14. Her strength and the message her personality conveys could not be more topical and affirmative today: Even in times of great distress and through a long period of hope and trepidation she remained resolute and optimistic, and she retained her kind-heartedness by concentrating on her work. And now in 2020, a year that has changed all our lives and put people, relationships and businesses to the test, we are discovering how important this kind of attitude is. We want fans of our collection all over the world to share in our second celebration, too: the 105th anniversary of the founding of Wendt & Kühn in October. With an Eleven Dot Angel as a birthday messenger. This angel’s mission could not be more opportune: to safeguard what deserves to be preserved over time. The things that are important to us and that we love. The angel radiates the confidence that we all need at the present time, all around the globe. It represents the emotional strength that emanates from all the figurines and music boxes from our workshops. They bring great joy and provide support to many people, and enrich their everyday lives in both good times and bad.
14 Olly Wendt: Talent. Fate. A life’s work. Cover story
18 A taste of German Christmas Typical German
19 Sometimes even a guardian angel needs a bit of help Repair service
20 An angel in perpetual ice Living tradition
21 From our readers Personal message
All of this is reflected in different ways in the stories and articles in this magazine. On page 19, for example, we show you how our master craftsmen successfully restore damaged figurines that need to be brought back to their former glory. And on page 18, we bring you a culinary taste of Christmas in Germany.
22 Farewell Leaving the collection at year’s end
I hope you will enjoy reading this, our 4th edition of the eleven dot post published specifically for our fans and collectors in the USA.
Claudia Baer, née Wendt
GIFT IDEA
To a very special
mom W
e have created a very special figurine exclusively for the American market – the Angel with Gift. What is it that is so special about this figurine? It is not mounted on a gray base like all the other Angels, but instead stands in the middle of a green meadow. What marks it out are the words “To a very special mom” painted on the base in beautiful lettering. The perfect gift, not only for Mother’s Day, on the second Sunday in May. A wonderful way to say “Thank you mom!”.
READING TIME
“A N D S O I T WA S ”
1923
is considered to be the year that the now legendary world-famous Grünhainichen Angels® came into being. In three years’ time they will be celebrating their 100th birthday. In answer to the question of why the angels have exactly eleven white dots on their green wings, the founder of the company, Grete Wendt, would always reply with a smile: “They just turned out like that”. Anyone looking for a deeper answer will find it in the book “How the Angel got his Eleven Dots”. Here, in its beautifully illustrated 32 pages, the secret is revealed. Without giving away too much, the Angel with Shawm must pass all sorts of tests before he finally earns the eleven white dots on his green wings. Only then is he allowed to play his instrument in the orchestra with the other angels. This wonderful story of friendship and adventure will appeal to angel fans young and old – from five to 99 – and will encourage discussion within the family or among friends.
GRETE WENDT
loved taking the time to read aloud
You may like to know that in the Wendt family the tradition of reading aloud was always encouraged. Grete and Olly Wendt were both keen readers themselves and also took the time to read aloud to the children. Part of their book collection is still preserved today and includes not only a large number of volumes of poetry, but also books on art and cultural history as well as fairy tales from all over the world.
GRÜNHAINICHEN LEXICON
N IS FOR NEWSLETTER
15.05.2020
Dear friends of Wendt & Kühn, “May brings change” is a well-known saying in Germany. It sums up our longing for the warming rays of the sun, the blossoming of nature and our many very personal hopes for the months that lie ahead. Little by little and taking baby steps we wish to embrace the time that awaits us. And our figurines from Wendt & Kühn will be happy to accompany you on this journey.
Collection
NEW FOR MAY 2020
Angel with Knitting Lady Jester Princess, Yellow and Umbrella Dress
Richly Painted Music Box with Angel, Green Angels sitting under the Tree
SHOW ALL NEW MAY PRODUCTS
Rarely have we so experienced the desire for new things to be joyful about as in this year. So our playful angel holding an umbrella and a small clown, our further crown-wearing figurine by Olly Wendt and our solitary beauty with the illustrious name “Princess” have arrived at just the right time. The four new Richly Painted Angels who combine perfection of form and color most impressively are the embodiment of elegance in green. Another masterpiece is the 30-centimeter-high music box, joining the collection for the first time. All these items are available to purchase from Wendt & Kühn’s own stores in Grünhainichen and Seiffen and from your specialist retailer.
A
re you a keen reader of the eleven dot post and would you like to hear about what is happening at Wendt & Kühn more than once a year? If so, our newsletter is exactly what you are looking for! This way we can keep you up to date all year round and provide you with fascinating background stories on the history of the manufactory and its figurines. You will also be kept in the picture about new products joining the collection before they go on sale. Our exclusive decorating tips will give you suggestions on how to stage your favorite figurines and make festive arrangements using simple items you have at home. And the Wendt & Kühn gift ideas provide you with inspiration, so you can treat your loved ones to something special. Subscribing takes only a few short steps. Simply go to our website www.wendt-kuehn.us which has been specifically designed for our fans and collectors in the USA.
COLLECTION ADDITIONS
Preserving dreams and maintaining certainty 105 years of Wendt & Kühn are something to be celebrated. So what could be more fitting for this year than a figurine representing certainty? Other new additions to the collection emanate melody have melody and rhythm. In this year of Olly Wendt, we are also introducing some very special creations by the talented designer.
G o l d E d i t i o n N o– 1 3
G o l d E d i t i o n N o– 1 3
D R E A M E R , A N G E L W I T H B U T T E R F LY,
D R E A M E R , A N G E L W I T H B U T T E R F LY
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 ,
650/126
A N N I V E R SA RY A N G E L 2020 W I T H S P R U C E A N D S TA R
650/105
IN A SPLINTER BOX
650/126/LE
GIVING WINGS TO OUR DREAMS
The Dreamer, our new Gold Edition Nº– 13, is truly a dream. Accompanied by a little butterfly, it invites us to dream and encourages us to give our imaginations free rein. A wonderful gift for small people with big dreams and for grown-ups who do not want to forget how to dream. And of course for all butterfly lovers too, who are encouraged not to take life too seriously by this cheerful and carefree master of meta morphosis. 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.
The delicate wings of the butterfly, adorned with a pattern of very fine lines, are plated in 24-karat gold as is the metal base on which the figurine stands. Produced in a strictly limited edition, only 22.222 of these figurines will be spreading the message that we should never be afraid to dream. Each figurine has its individual serial number printed on the underside of its base, on the bottom of its attractive splinter box, and also in the lovingly designed leaflet that accompanies it. This makes every angel a unique and valuable piece. The Dreamer is also available on a gray base – in an unlimited edition.
A N N I V E R S A RY A N G E L
To mark the company’s 105th anniversary this October, we will be releasing a special edition figurine that has never been issued before. Just like the other Eleven Dot Angels in our anniversary range that were produced for our 90th, 95th and 100th anniversaries, it too stands on a gold-painted base. Its mission: to safeguard what deserves to be preserved over time. The things that are important to us and that we love. In this way it becomes a symbol of certainty. Each figurine will be identified with a special label on the underside of its base. This anniversary angel will be manufactured in our workshops exclusively during the year 2020.
COLLECTION ADDITIONS
MARGUERITE ANGEL, SITTING,
ANGEL WITH JESTER AND UMBRELLA
WITH CHRISTMAS TREE TOPPER
650/170
634/70/40
A N G E L W I T H T W O -T O N E B L O C K
650/79
IN TIME
The instrument played by this year’s new angel musician is best described as a wooden tube hollowed out to a different depth at each end, with slits on both sides. This wooden two-tone block provides the beat for the world-famous orchestra. The angel uses a beater to strike first one side of the tube and then the other, producing two different pitches which create a lively sequence of tones. This musician will also be contributing its musical skills to the major anniversary concert in 2023 to mark the 100th birthday of the Grünhainichen Angels® and so ensure that this event remains on the lips, or even better, the ears of everyone present. Twice the sound: Designed to coordinate with either the blond or dark hair of the angel, the musicians with their green wings and eleven white dots carry a wooden two-tone block in two different color variants.
POLISHED TO A HIGH SHEEN
WITH JESTER AND UMBRELLA
Tirelessly and with great care the small Marguerite Angel glides the checkered polishing cloth over the vintage tree topper, so when Christmas comes it will be spotless and ready to top the tree. Santa’s diligent little helper uses the summer months to get jobs done. Do you think they know that the design of the traditional Christmas tree topper is probably based on the Prussian “Pickel haube” – a spiked helmet? Whether or not they know anything about history, they are definitely an expert when it comes to Christmas preparations.
The jester. Always attired in multicolored clothes and wearing a pointed hat, he is a comic hero whose mischievous nature makes more than children laugh. His funny and playful character rubs off on the two-inch-tall Grünhainichen Angel® in whose arms he is lying. A small umbrella completes this jaunty composition and emphasizes the summery lightness of this figurine. A charming invitation to enjoy the day.
T O M A R K A G R E AT A N N I V E R S A RY
100 years have passed since Olly Sommer, later Wendt, arrived at the Wendt & Kühn workshops and grew into a highly talented designer. We are celebrating the anniversary of her joining the company with a reissue of a very special Olly Wendt design that she created in February 1925: the angel holding a golden heart and flower (height 5 inches). MARGUERITE ANGEL WITH HEART AND FLOWER
634/5/K
A SERENE MASTERPIECE
There she stood, right at the back of the shelves of our historic archive of samples, covered in a silk cloth: a tall, slender Madonna in red robes. Serene, elegant, gazing lovingly at the Christ Child in her arms. It has taken time for this extraordinary masterpiece to finally return to the collection as one of our “curiosities”.
COLLECTION ADDITIONS
But now it is back once more with a new look. Two different Madonnas have been created based on the original historic design. Each has its own very different aura. It was a challenging task to create two new variants, each with its own different look, based on the rather simple color palette of the original design. While the Madonna in the dark-blue dress exudes elegance, we are touched by the gentle demeanor of the one in the pale-blue robe. Regardless of which version you choose, the skill and artistry that has gone into their painting means these impressive large figurines represent the master craftsmanship of our workshops as do no others. As they are extremely time consuming to produce and require specific characteristics in the wood that is used, the number of pieces made is limited to a maximum of 100 per year. The Madonnas are part of our “Curiosities” range and are made exclusively to order. Each Madonna has its own number handwritten on the base.
M A D O N N A W I T H I N FA N T J E S U S , S TA N D I N G , L A R G E , R I C H LY P A I N T E D
(16.5") 550/MstG/R
M A D O N N A W I T H I N FA N T J E S U S , S TA N D I N G , L A R G E , P A L E B L U E
(16.5")
550/MstG/B
A MASTERPIECE IN GREEN
Few other figurines combine perfection of form and color as impressively as the Richly Painted Angels. With their full-length flowing robes and golden wreaths of flowers on their heads, they radiate elegance and grace. They have long been an established and popular part of the collection. In autumn 2018, this group of figurines gained another
two large angels with violins (six and three quarter inches tall), one wearing blue robes, the other clad in red. This year, both were used as a model for the design of a smaller sibling with violin (three and a quarter inches tall) wearing green robes. Just as sophisticated and skillfully crafted as its larger likenesses, it opens up new decorative possibilities.
R I C H LY P A I N T E D A N G E L , GREEN, WITH VIOLIN
553/2Rgruen
(3.25")
COLLECTION ADDITIONS
ANGEL WITH SONGBOOK AND BIRD, I N S TA R , L A R G E
(11.75")
772/12 ANGEL WITH SONGBOOK AND BIRD, IN MOON, LARGE
(11.75")
not illustrated 771/12 ANGEL WITH SONGBOOK AND BIRD,
VOCAL SUPPORT
They cast a spell over us with their appearance and their charm: the Grünhainichen Angels®. The most famous of them are the two-and-a-half-inchtall members of the angel orchestra. These are also available in a larger version, and at eleven and three quarter inches tall they become the focal point of any arrangement. They make music on the moon, stars and comet tails, harmoniously playing the violin, harp, trumpet and French horn. And this year, for the first time, they are gaining a singer. This new large angel dedicates itself exclusively to singing and accompanies its fellow musicians with its sweet voice. The little bird sings happily along. Whether you hang it on a thread or display it on its elegant stand (both included with the figurine), our new heavenly messenger cuts a fine figure in any decorative setting.
O N C O M E T TA I L , L A R G E
(11.75")
not illustrated 773/12 K N I T T I N G L A DY P R I N C E S S , YELLOW DRESS
(7.75")
5272/11gelb
PRINCESS STYLE
Knitting Ladies have been part of the manufactory’s collection since the 1930s. We have had ladies from Bavaria, Sweden, Denmark, Russia and the Black Forest, and also a grandmother, a queen and a princess. The company catalog for 1937 shows no fewer than 16 different Knitting Ladies. What they all have in common is their puff-ball skirt, under which a ball of yarn can be stored which is then fed through a small hole to the crochet hook or knitting needles. These functional figurines keep the yarn in a safe place and prevent it from getting tangled up – so they are both decorative and practical.
This year the Knitting Lady with the illustrious name “Princess” has returned to the collection. Her bright yellow dress is painted several times with translucent paint giving it a real depth of color. When it came to the striped pattern we had to carry out some detective work. Old black and white catalog could only give us some idea of what colors were used in the past. Various different versions were tested and had their brightness compared until the appropriate combination of colors was found. A truly colorful highlight in any collection of figurines. And an unusual signature piece.
COLLECTION ADDITIONS
PICTURES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
The Angel with Splinter Box has proved to be a lively travel companion and for 2021 it takes its place on the calendar. Whether in Antarctica, as a guest at major celebrations, on a journey back in time or a foray into the land of fairy tales, it guides us safely through each month and every season. Whether there is a souvenir from every place in its splinter box remains a secret. The calendar comes complete with wooden frame and figurine. The angel and calendar sheets are also available separately.
CALENDAR 2021, COMPLETE
CALENDAR FIGURINE 2021, ANGEL WITH SPLINTER BOX
2021
(1.5'')
2021Figur
Y
H
N
M W
EN
K DT &
Ü
T H E B A S E C A N H AV E AN INSCRIPTION.
The individualization of this item with no more than 36 characters is included in the price.
FOR THOSE IN LOVE
Lovingly they hold each other’s hand and appear to forget the world around them. The girl in a pale pink spotted dress, the boy in a fine shirt and elegant top hat. Perched on the beaded arch above, doves look down on the happy couple with affection. A thoughtful gift for a wedding, an engagement or any other occasion where two people are celebrating their mutual love. To preserve the memory of the day, the base can be inscribed in beautiful hand-painted lettering. Our painters will inscribe it with a personal message, the name of the recipient or a date. LOV I N G CO U P L E U N D E R A R C H W I T H T H R E E D OV E S
5407/3
(5.75")
COLLECTION ADDITIONS
ANGEL WITH ACCORDION. IN MOON
CHRISTMAS TREE ANGEL IN
(3.25")
650/70/48
RING, WITH GINGERBREAD ANGEL WITH
(Height figurine 1.0‘‘, Height ring 2.5‘‘)
C E R E M O N I A L T R U M P E T,
6308/150
ON CLIP
(2.25")
650/90/15
CHRISTMAS TREE
S TA R L I G H T A N D T H E
D E C O R AT I O N S
SOUND OF CHRISTMAS
The smell of freshly-baked gingerbread and uplifting music are just as much a part of Christmas as a stylishly decorated Advent wreath and a delicate Christmas bouquet. Or an extravagantly festooned Christmas tree. Whatever you choose, this year the Angel with Ceremonial Trumpet sets the tone. The angels with banjo and accordion join in and merrily make music together. Watched closely by a small Marguerite Angel who is secretly enjoying the private concert. As a reward it has brought some gingerbread. Whether on a clip, sitting in a moon or ring, or suspended on a thread – these four angels make elegant additions to our Christmas tree decorations.
ANGEL WITH BANJO, SUSPENDED
650/130/59
(2.0")
An old black and white photo from the 1950s shows Grete Wendt in front of a cabinet at a trade fair. She is carefully turning the key in a music box. Next to her are more music boxes, each more imaginative than the other. If you look closely, you can also see a music box with a tree, seated angels and glittering gold stars – presumably just a sample for the trade fair. We can assume that this music box never went on sale. If Grete Wendt could see today that this eleven and three quarter inches tall gem of a piece has now been added to the collection in a slightly revised form, she would smile benevolently. At the foot of the tree, seven angels have settled themselves down to join in with the Christmas melodies. A choice of classic tunes is available including “Silent Night”, “O du fröhliche” and, for the first time, “We wish you a Merry Christmas”. A touch of nostalgia fills the room as the tree with its 21 gently swinging stars slowly turns. MUSIC BOX WITH ANGELS SITTING UNDER THE TREE, WITH 36-NOTE MUSICAL MOVEMENT
(11.75")
5336/41A
COLLECTION ADDITIONS
PENGUIN, SMALL, S TA N D I N G
5256/1
(1.5")
PENGUIN, MEDIUM, S TA N D I N G
(2.0")
5256/2
PENGUIN, LARGE, READING
(2.25")
5256/5
GOOD LUCK MESSENGER, ANGEL WITH FOUR-LEAF CLOVER, G O L D - P L AT E D
(2.25")
650/122
24 PIECES
Pu z z l e / 5 2 5 6
Y
J I G S AW P U Z Z L E , “ P E N G U I N S O N I C E ”,
M
Just the gift for intrepid young explorers who, just like penguins, view the world through large eyes. Or, in true penguin fashion, a token of love for someone you want to spend your whole life with. And of course, for all who are fans of these loveable birds. A 24-piece jigsaw puzzle is an awesome addition to this trio of figurines, providing fun for the youngest friends of Wendt & Kühn.
A BEARER OF GOOD LUCK
“Everyone creates their own luck” is a well-known saying in Germany. And yet there are moments in our lives when we can all do with an extra helping of luck. For help in an exam, for the start of a new stage in life, for special days like birthdays, and particularly in situations when luck seems very far away, the angel with the golden four-leaf clover is close at hand. And to guarantee the success of its mission, one of the painters at the manufactory can, from this year onwards, inscribe the base of the figurine with a personal message in beautiful hand-painted lettering.
N
This group of figurines was originally designed by Olly Wendt, like many of our other animal figurines. Sketches we still have today date the design to February 1924, perhaps a snowy winter that made Olly think of frozen landscapes. Though their plumage is strikingly realistic, these birds seem to come from a world of fantasy. One wearing a hat, another reading the paper and the third simply listening.
W
H
CHEEKY LITTLE PENGUINS
It is some 80 years since our feathered friends were last represented in the Wendt & Kühn collection. High time, therefore, for the return this year of our cheeky little penguins. This means that their admirers will not have to make a special trip to Antarctica to enjoy the trio. These penguins will waddle straight into your home on their large yellow feet. The translucent paint makes their black and gray feathers look soft and fluffy. But the really distinctive feature of the large and medium-sized penguins is their rotating heads that allow them to look furtively in one direction and then cheekily in the other.
EN
DT &
K
Ü
There is space for up to ten characters on the front of the base and four on the back.
COLLECTION ADDITIONS
(1.75")
ANGEL WEARING CROWN,
G N O M E W I T H B O W S AW A N D A X E
L I T T L E H O R S E M A N , O N A S TA R
(2.25")
Reiterlein/ST
5243/19
Joining the collection in October
6236/2
R E A L LY S H A R P
CHRISTMAS FIGURINE
CROWNED ANGELS
Over the years, our Gnomes, which were designed in 1925/26, have proved themselves to be capable helpers in both house and garden. Now they have moved on to demonstrate their woodworking prowess. Equipped with bow saw and axe, another member of this hardworking gang makes its way into the forest. So that the gnomes do not have to return without finishing the job, genuine tool makers have been at work in the manufactory: The saw blade has been stamped out of metal, and the axe has been sharpened and ground into shape with the greatest precision.
We have started a new series. Last year’s Angel Holding Candles is now joined by a Little Horseman – also standing on a bright yellow star. The horseman, manufactured to an original design, will be made in this year only. The special label on the underside of the base with the German words “Zum Weihnachtsfest 2020” (For Christmas 2020) underscores its exclusivity, making it a precious gift. At this point we can reveal that another Christmas figurine on a yellow star will be released in 2021.
WITH CANDELABRA
(6.75")
CONTINUED
The Angels wearing Crowns made their debut last year, as a trio. With their charming, yet childlike and joyful nature and their subdued pastel colors, they captured the hearts of many collectors. Olly Wendt, née Sommer, designed this group of figurines pre1937. How wonderful it is that there are still more of them in our Grand Sample Cabinet, so that in this year of Olly Wendt we can bring the angel with three-arm candelabra back into the collection. This time in a larger version measuring an impressive six and three quarter inches.
K I S S E D BY T H E M I D D AY S U N
B OY W I T H GAZANIA
(5.75")
With his jaunty cap, smart shirt and casually rolled up pants with their snazzy checkered lining, he is walking towards the sun. All these charming details give this fi gurine its cheerful appeal. In his hands he carries a beautifully painted bright yellow gazania. In German the name of this flower is “midday gold”, a name it gets from its preference for sunny locations where it likes to open its flowers at midday. This finely crafted wooden gazania brings p leasure regardless of the weather forecast.
5248/26
COV E R S TO RY
Olly Wendt TA L E N T. FAT E . A LIFE’S WORK.
It is 100 years since Olly Sommer, later Wendt, came to Wendt & Kühn as a designer – a move originally intended as a stepping stone in her artistic career. In the following pages you will discover why in fact she remained there for the rest of her life. We will show you the path taken by a woman whose life took unexpected twists and turns, and who experienced great happiness but also huge suffering. Who was this designer who worked so closely alongside company founder Grete Wendt? What was it that shaped her? And what mark has she left on the manufactory’s grand design legacy to the present day? We will take you on a journey that finally leads to Grünhainichen by way of Riga and Dresden.
CHILDHOOD, TEENAGE Y E A R S A N D E D U C AT I O N
Olga Sophie Emilia Sommer, known simply as Olly, was born in Riga on May 27, 1896, the youngest of five children. She lived with her family in a large, comfortable apartment on the Nikolai and Basteiboulevard, on the City Canal. She was particularly close to her brother Herbert, two years her senior. When she wasn’t having fun with Herbert playing their own made up game “Little Devils”, Olly devoted herself to the fine arts even as a young girl – she drew, played the piano and later on wrote her own poetry. At the end of June 1913, the Sommers relocated to Germany and moved into an apartment in Dresden. Why the family decided to leave Riga is not entirely clear – perhaps her father, who was born in Saxony, was drawn back to his old home when he retired, or they simply followed Olly’s older brother Herbert who was by then studying in Dresden. Maybe it was a combination of circumstances that led to their decision, including those of a socio-political nature. One thing, however, is clear: It was not an easy step for their daughter, who felt a close affiliation with the city of her birth. In September 1915 Olly enrolled in a course at the Dresden branch of the Berlin Tailoring Academy.
W H I L E S H E WA S S T U DY I N G under Professor Junge, Olly Wendt also sketched fashion designs.
Her final college report from January 1916 shows that she received excellent grades. Later, she also took a hand-sewing course. At the time she would probably have seen a future for herself in textile design, particularly as she appeared to show real talent in this field. At this moment there was no question of her making wooden figurines, as her interest lay in fashion design. So in September 1917, she enrolled on a vocational fashion course at the Royal Saxon Academy of Applied Art in Dresden – under the direction of Professor Margarete Junge, with whom company founder Grete Wendt had also studied ten years earlier. C R E AT I V I T Y, LOV E A N D LO S S
Following the advice of her professor, Olly arrived in Grünhainichen on February 15, 1920 to take up a work placement at Wendt & Kühn. Grete Wendt had earlier turned to her former teacher for help in finding creative recruits after Grete Kühn, the second founder of the company, had resigned following her marriage, leaving a vacancy for a talented painter and designer. Grete Wendt organized a room in the village for her new apprentice and in her last letter before she started work she wrote: “I shall be happy to see you settled in well here and enjoying your work.” And indeed, although she originally had just an apprenticeship in mind, she ended up staying for the rest of her life! “This young enterprise captivated me completely – it became my fate,” Olly wrote to a friend many years later. Sadly, we do not know which was the first figurine that Olly designed for Wendt & Kühn. What we do know is that she started out painting splinter boxes and figurines. Among her early works are the “Lippersdorfer Engel” (today Erzgebirge Angel), for whom
O L LY W E N D T
aged 14.
she devised a new color scheme. Most of all, her trademark became the artistic decoration of figurines designed by Grete Wendt. Olly’s use of rich decoration gave them their particular character. By 1922 at the latest, she was showing her own creative talent with the design of her Japanese ladies. Olly dressed every figurine in a kimono made out of paper, each one painted differently. They came holding an umbrella, a fan, in a simple standing position, and as both small and large figurines. The 1920s and the beginning of the 1930s were marked by a great outpouring of creativity. Side by side and in creative competition with Grete Wendt, Olly came up with numerous designs for figurines that continue to shape our grand design legacy to this day. While Grete principally designed figurines in European national dress, Olly devoted herself to the Asian region and to animal figurines. In 1924, for example, she designed a pelican that could be used as a place card holder and shortly afterwards a group of penguins that have returned to the collection in 2020. These were followed by storks, owls and other kinds of birds. The one thing they all have in common is the use of translucent paint that gives their plumage a really lifelike appearance. The Easter bunny musicians, the giraffe and elephant, and the group of hens also bear her hallmark.
Two years after Grete Wendt designed the first Grünhainichen Angels® with the eleven white dots on their striking green wings, who remain ever-popular and world-famous to this day, in 1925 Olly designed the first Marguerite Angels. Olly’s angels, both standing and sitting, have blue lines painted along the sweep-
A H A P P Y FA M I LY O F F O U R . Her own twins inspired Olly to design this pair of twins.
ing contours of their wings, a garland of Marguerites crowning their heads, a childlike appearance and white robes. A large range of different variants can still be found to this day, both in our grand design legacy and in our collection. The example of the Eleven Dot and Marguerite Angels illustrates the creative competition that existed between the two designers. Both figurines have a simplified form and reflect the zeitgeist of the years in which they were created. But both kinds of angel, with their very different looks, have the gift of bringing joy in their own special way to those lucky enough to own them.
In Grünhainichen Olly not only discovered a love of designing figurines, she also found in this small village in the Erzgebirge her man for life. She fell in love with Grete Wendt’s brother Johannes, the commercial manager of Wendt & Kühn. Photographs from 1925 give a hint of the chemistry in the air as the couple stroll through the garden of the manufactory whispering sweet nothings to one another. Their wedding on February 19, 1930 cemented the relationship of the happy couple. That same year their twins Hans and Sigrid were born. The birth of her children renewed Olly’s creativity. She designed a number of variants on twin and child figurines. In September 1945, the family’s life took a dramatic turn. Their happiness was overshadowed by the loss of their husband and father. Johannes was taken prisoner by the Russians and never returned home. Where he was taken next and how his life came to its tragic end remained unclear for many years, an almost unbearable situation for the family. Afraid of losing her children too, Olly sent her son Hans to the Allgäu, to the master woodturner Gebhardt Heinz in Waal, where he was taken in as a refugee and completed his training to become a wood turner. Sigrid followed her brother a few months later. Three brocade angels that Olly designed for Johannes in 1945/46 as a homecoming gift bear witness to her unending sorrow and the hope she clung to of seeing her beloved husband again one day. But this hope was to remain unfulfilled. It was not until October 1962 that Olly received official notification that Johannes had died on December 7, 1945 in the Russian internment camp Tscherepowez.
ONE OF THREE A N G E L S that Olly Wendt designed as a reunion gift for her husband after he was taken prisoner by the Russians in 1945. Sadly, how ever, Olly never had the opportunity to hand it over.
“WORK IS A BLESSING”
During these troubled years, Olly found distraction, if not consolation, in her work. She dedicated her entire working life to the service of the manufactory. Even when the company was nationalized in 1972 she stayed on as an employee at what was now known as “Volkseigener Betrieb Werk-Kunst”. Fortunately, the state-run management was not able to stifle her creativity, and her artistic achievements were even recognized by the Cultural Association of the GDR. In 1988 she received a special acknowledgement of her work when Expertic (the Trademark Association for Arts and Crafts) awarded her a badge of honor for her life’s work. In 1980, now 84-years-old, she wrote in a letter how much she still enjoyed her work, even in her old age: “I am grateful and happy that I can still do it. After all, work is a blessing.” On the morning of April 28, 1983 she entered the painting department for the last time, the place where she had left her creative imprint on the story of Wendt & Kühn for more than 60 years. On June 13, 1991 Olly closed her eyes forever. But not without being remembered for all time as a profound, sensitive and warm-hearted person, a loving wife, mother and grandma, and as a great designer.
WHEN I THINK OF MY GRANDMA, I S E E A WA R M - H E A R T E D A N D STYLISH WOMAN Interview with Claudia Baer, Olly Wendt’s granddaughter and the current owner of the company
Frau Baer, when you talk about Olly Wendt, you often refer to her affectionately as my “Omi”. What heart-warming memories do you have of your grandma?
was. It is well documented that she started in the paint shop at 6am on the dot, every working day of her life. There, the team spirit among those she called the “girls” was very important to her. These included women who could be close to retirement age. They often sang together. It is also well recorded that she never wore nylon aprons, but always a tailored white work coat.
It’s true, I do indeed have many happy memories of my grandma, whom I remember as a warm-hearted and kindly woman. Whenever as a child I came to her with a book under my arm, she always made time to read to me. And I loved listening to her And then there’s the story about the calm, soothing voice that was part of her lemon dessert ... What’s that all about? gentle character. I never heard her comO L LY W E N D T ( 8 7 Y E A R S ) plain or argue with anyone. And although Yes, my grandma had a recipe for a lemon she spent the majority of her life in the rugged Erzgebirge dessert. It was a recipe she always made if someone in the famregion, she always loved the beach and the sea. A passion I ily, within the company or in the village was feeling unwell. share by the way. This lemon dessert not only tasted good, it was also light and according to my grandmother it helped the healing process. What other memories do you have of Olly Wendt? The dish quickly became very popular and was much enjoyed in Grünhainichen. I loved to eat it even when I wasn’t sick, She was a hard-working and disciplined painter, a talented and I still make it today. The recipe has been handed down designer and a very stylish woman who also really loved litand is now in our archives*. erature and music. So, it is no surprise that she was an avid reader and that she enjoyed listening to classical music. ConWas it difficult for her to establish herself as a talented versely, she never owned a television. As a child she took dancdesigner alongside Grete Wendt in the same company? ing and piano lessons, and drawing lessons from an artist. Her table was always laid with an ironed damask tablecloth I would say that Aunt Grete and grandma had a great respect with matching damask napkins, and not just on festive occafor one another. There was no rivalry. Just a degree of healthy sions. I also remember her as a keen letter writer who correcompetition, the result of which is our wonderful grand design sponded with long-standing friends in many foreign countries. legacy, marked by two very different artistic styles. This also included lovingly selected and wrapped gifts that in the run-up to Christmas were dispatched from Grünhai nichen by post, phased according to their country of destina* We reveal a family secret. You will find the recipe for tion. She was interested in what was happening in the world, Olly Wendt’s legendary lemon dessert by going to she read the newspaper and liked listening to the radio. One www.wendt-kuehn.us, clicking on the “Experience” tab folother thing that really impressed me was how disciplined she lowed by “Olly Wendt – Her life and work”.
TYPICAL GERMAN
A taste of German Christmas One angel stirs the saucepan while another lovingly decorates a gingerbread heart. Christmas is a time to feast and snack in many countries. But what are the traditional dishes served in Germany at Christmas? Let us give you a taster!
W
hen we think of traditional German food, among the first things that spring to mind are schnitzel, bratwurst, sauerkraut and pretzels. But are these also typical Christmas foods? You will always get a range of different answers, but there are clear favorites. In Germany, the evening meal on Christmas Eve, December 24th, is an important event. One popular choice for this is potato salad with sausages. In
South Germany the potato salad is given a sharper dressing, while in other regions mayonnaise is one of the main ingredients. In the Erzgebirge, the region that is home to Wendt & Kühn, a specialty known as “Neunerlei” is often served on this special evening. This is a festive meal consisting of nine dishes that vary according to family recipes and traditions. Every part of the meal has its own meaning. So one dish represents strength, another imparts wishes for happiness and health, others hope for happiness in the coming year and financial security. The compote represents the joy of living and fertility.
Roast goose with red cabbage and dumplings, or carp, are as much a part of Christmas for many families as a decorated Christmas tree. These lavish dishes are generally served at Christmas itself, on December 25th and 26th. The run-up to Christmas is marked by sweets and cakes. A popular tradition is baking stollen, cookies and gingerbread at home to give to friends as gifts. Is this what the angel with the gingerbread heart is planning to do? What is certain is that, together with its friend stirring the saucepan, it is working hard to prepare delicious treats for the festive period.
Sometimes even a guardian angel needs a bit of help It is 75 years since 96-year-old Erika Thiele was given one of Grete Wendt’s little angels. The founder of our company was firmly of the opinion that everyone needs a guardian angel to accompany them throughout their lives and stand by them in hard times. Over the decades, this particular angel has fulfilled its mission with éclat.
B
ut the more than 70 years have clearly left their mark. Fine “wrinkles” cover the face, and the dress has cracks in it and is covered in a gray bloom. Much worse, though, is that the wings and one of its blond locks have become detached, and the paint has flaked off in several places. But to get rid of the angel was completely out of the question for this elderly lady. After all, it has been with her so many years, it is practically a member of the family. So she carefully packed it up and sent it back to where it came from, to where it first saw the light of day: Grünhainichen. There skilled hands will soon take care of her angel. Some 4,000 parcels from all over the world arrive in our repair department every year. Often the owners send with their beloved wooden items a letter in which they tell its story and also include much about their own feelings and memories. “Most fans and enthusiasts do not want their figurines to look like new after they’ve been repaired. It is much more a case of carrying out a careful repair, or restoration, that does not eradicate the traces of time,” says Manuela Hunger who, together with two other women, is responsible for accepting repairs, assessing the damage and providing a cost esti-
mate. Once this has been confirmed, they place the “patients” in the skilled hand of four colleagues, who carry out the repairs. Manuela PecherEpphardt takes on Erika Thiele’s guardian angel. First she
proceeds with the preliminary work – removing the lantern and star, cleaning the body, removing an arm that has clearly been glued on by an amateur and re-attaching it, cutting off the remains of the broken wings on the back and sticking on new ones. Then she replaces the missing lock of hair, and with fine sandpaper smoothes the area where the paint has come off. Finally, all the new and sanded parts are painted with white primer. Now the angel has to spend a day drying out. Then comes the harder part of the job for Manuela Pecher-Epphardt. She has to mix the exact colors of paint she needs to make the figurine look as it once did.
“We mix the paint individually for each repair and sometimes it takes ten attempts to get the correct shade,” she says. Each colleague has some 400 paint colors at their work station that they have mixed themselves. But these need to be adjusted for every figurine. Next day, our expert picks up her brush. Yellow for the lock of hair, skin tones for the hands and arms, gray for the base and green for the wings. As she places the last of the two sets of eleven dots on the new wings she surveys her work with satisfaction. The guardian angel has its trademark back and in three weeks, when the paint is completely dry, it will be sent back to its owner, who is eagerly awaiting its return.
LIVING TRADITION
| Pa r t 9
An angel in perpetual ice As Florian Sinn climbs on board the Russian cargo plane to fly to Antarctica, he is feeling a little apprehensive. And yet, this moment is the fulfilment of a lifelong dream. With him on board is an angel from Wendt & Kühn.
I
t is eleven o’clock when the door of the cargo hold of the Russian IL-76 aircraft slams shut. Florian Sinn takes a seat in the interior of the aircraft which looks more like a giant warehouse. Next to him are large boxes and containers. But where is this unusual journey headed? To Antarctica. For many years he has dreamt of flying there one day. The spell had been cast when a scientific friend showed him impressive photos he had taken. After many years of waiting, and just as he was beginning to think it would never F L O R I A N S I N N in front of signs pointhappen, in Decem- ing to destinations throughout the world. ber 2018 he got a T H E A N G E L W I T H B A L A L A I K A stands lucky break, and was proudly next to the smallest matryoshka offered the opportu- doll. It has found a cozy home at the hostel in Antarctica. nity to accompany a journalist to Antarctica. He would spend two days in the guest house of the Russian research station “ Nowolasarewskaya”. He quickly realized that he needed a guardian angel to accompany him on this very special journey. And as Florian Sinn’s family were already acquainted with Wendt & Kühn figurines, he decided to take an angel from Grünhainichen. “We have the whole angel orchestra, the oldest members of which go back to the 1930s, and they accompanied me throughout my childhood,” says the collector. He has one figurine that is particularly precious to him: “The Girl with Marguerite that my father was given in 1936 to celebrate his birth.”
A Russian aircraft and a Russian hostel meant there was only one obvious choice of travel companion: The Angel with Balalaika that joined the collection in 2018 – just in time. Safely secured in a sturdy container, the angel rested soundly in Florian Sinn’s duffel bag as the supply aircraft came in to land at Schirmacher Oasis in the north of Queen Maud Land – some 2.610 miles south of Cape Town, from where the flight had departed five and a half hours earlier. Our adventurer experienced two fascinating days in A ntarctica, hiking over wide expanses of ice, clambering over rocks, and enjoying the peace and quiet. From time to time he warmed himself in the cozy guest house run by the manager Nadja. “On a shelf in the lounge there was a four-piece set of matryoshka dolls and I placed the angel alongside them to take a photo. It gave Nadja so much pleasure that I presented her with the small balalaika player as a gift. She had never seen an angel like it before,” says the 45-year-old. So now this heavenly messenger resides in Antarctica, where it is almost certainly the only one of its kind. Florian Sinn hopes it will bring much pleasure and a smile to the face of many visitors for a long time to come as they ask themselves how on earth this little angel managed to fly to Antarctica. “When I reached the end of my stay and closed the door of the hostel behind me, I knew that I would never be coming back. So, it’s even nicer to know that a part of me has stayed behind with the angel,” the globetrotter recalls a little wistfully, and he adds with a wink: “It is now holding the fort. And happily, I know it is in very good company: I’m certain that my angel and the matryoshkas will have a lot of fun together.” And when Florian Sinn sets up his large angel orchestra for Advent this year, he will of course be sending a Christmas greeting to his angel in Antarctica.
FROM OUR READERS
W
e want to be optimistic. I believe, this is the time to be people respecting each other and the world becoming one team. Take care. A . S AT O
| To k y o , Ja p a n
A BY N U M B E R S
40
notches are carved into the striking ruff of the Knitting Lady we have named “Princess”. A number that is totally astonishing as this tiny detail is easy to overlook on our colorful lady. Making this collar requires a great deal of skill. It is hard to comprehend how this wooden neck ornamentation has been “pleated”. Roland Stanzel, Master of the Wood Turning Shop, reveals the secret: “It all starts with a wooden disc with a hole in the middle. First 20 notches are cut into the upper side of the disc using a router. Then we start all over again, but now on the underside, cutting precisely between each of the notches on the upper side. This means that this small component has to be manually presented to the router 40 times before it can finally be sanded.” A lot of work worthy of a princess. The unique design and form of this this seven-and-threequarter-inch tall Knitting Lady bestows a lasting impression, not only on fans of fine knitwear.
t the moment there are some very grave concerns in our city. Much of what we love has been lost. Which made the joy I experienced on receiving my repaired Wendt & Kühn figurines a few days ago all the greater. They beam at me and their childlike naivety inspires me with so much confidence. They have been wonderfully restored – thank you! H. KEECH
| Ne w Yo r k , U S A
Y
our enchanting figurines bring me great pleasure all the year round. New musicians regularly take their place in the large angel orchestra. They make their grand entrance at Christmas time. And when they are packed away again, out come the Blossom Kinder and together we look forward to spring. U. CONSTIEN
I
always gave my children your enchanting angel musicians, and happily they looked after them so well that their children can enjoy them now. My son, who lives in London, told me that my grandchildren are now more interested in arranging the angels on the mantelpiece than in decorating the Christmas tree. When my small granddaughter was baptized I gave her the Girl with Forget-me-not. M. LUNDBORG
| Lund, Schweden
W
endt & Kühn figurines were always part of my life as I was growing up. Now that I have two children and a family of my own, the Blossom Kinder and Eleven Dot Angels bring much joy to us in our own home, too. I hope with all my heart that the manufactory survives this difficult time – just as it has weathered many crises in its more than 100 years of company history. M. KO B E R
| D r e s d e n , Ge r m a n y
| H ö c h s t a d t , Ge r m a n y
I N S TA G R A M
T
radition meets the modern world: Wendt & Kühn is now on Instagram! Follow us @ WendtundKuehn and be inspired by our beautiful images that provide a myriad of ideas for decorative displays you can replicate at home. Short Instagram Stories are never boring, just exclusive. We give you glimpses behind the scenes of the manufacturing process. Special finds in the company archives? You will be the first to know. Journalists visiting? Join us behind the camera. Instagram keeps us all connected. And best of all – you can share your enthusiasm with other fans.
L E AV I N G T H E C O L L E C T I O N AT T H E E N D O F T H E Y E A R
| 2020
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 still available.
GIRL WITH SHORT
GIRL WITH CART AND
LANTERN, STRIPED
J A PA N E S E L A N T E R N
6228/N/5
6228/N/6
ANGEL WITH BANDONEON, ON CLIP
ANGEL WITH SONGBOOK AND BIRD, ON CLIP
A N G E L W I T H H A R P, ON CLIP
650/90/8
650/90/12b
650/90/14
ANGEL WITH TUBA, ON CLIP
A N G E L W I T H G U I TA R ,
A N G E L W I T H C L A R I N E T,
ON CLIP
ON CLIP
650/90/28
650/90/38
650/90/41
PA P E R N A P K I N S
MARGUERITE ANGEL,
MARGUERITE ANGEL,
MARGUERITE ANGEL,
“ B I R T H D AY P R O C E S S I O N ”
S I T T I N G , W I T H W R E AT H OF CANDLES
SITTING, WITH NEEDLE AND THREAD
SITTING, WITH HARE AND CARROTS
634/70/10
634/70/11
634/70/12
BUNNY MUSICIAN WITH CYMBALS
BUNNY MUSICIAN WITH HARP
BUNNY MUSICIAN WITH TRIANGLE
5350/11
5350/14b
5350/16
ANGEL, SMALL, WITH MANDOLIN
ANGEL, SMALL, WITH BOOK
ANGEL, SMALL, W I T H T W O S TA R S
650/k/4a
650/k/12a
650/k/52a
526/22/GZ
ANGEL WITH MANDOLIN, IN MOON
ANGEL WITH B A N D O N E O N , I N S TA R
ANGEL WITH DRUM, ON COMET
ANGEL WITH SHEET OF MUSIC, IN MOON
650/70/4
650/70/8
650/70/10
650/70/12
ANGEL WITH CEREMONIAL T R U M P E T, O N C O M E T TA I L
ANGEL WITH B A S S O O N , I N S TA R
650/70/43
650/70/15
I M P R I N T e l e v e n d o t p o s t · 4 t h 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, S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 0 Publisher: Wendt & Kühn KG, Chemnitzer Straße 40, 09579 Grünhainichen, Germany, telephon +49 37294 86 286, info@wendt-kuehn.de, www.wendt-kuehn.us Chief Editors, legally responsible for content: Claudia Baer, Thomas Rost, Wendt & Kühn · Editor: Marlis Rokitta, Chelsea Pusch, Wendt & Kühn; Heidi Diehl (19) · Design: schech.net | Strategie. Kommunikation. Design. Translation: Dr. Sternkopf media group · Photography: ruemmlerfotografie (1), Lucie Eisenmann (2), AdobeStock (4), Marcus Heilscher (18), Heidi Diehl (19), Privat (20), brennerdesign (23, postcard), Kristian Hahn (postcard), Wendt & Kühn (5, 14-17) · Printed by: Druckerei Gutermuth, Grünhainichen, Germany
A M U S I C A L TA S T E R : To listen to a preview of the melodies on our website, simply visit www.wendt-kuehn.us.
W W W.W E N D T- K U E H N . U S