YOUR MAGAZINE FROM THE WENDT & KÜHN WORKSHOPS 2022/2023 16 TH EDITION
Youproduction.willfind
Your DEAR FRIENDS OF
SELECTED CONTENT 4 For fans of knitting, magic and fine craftsmanship Gift idea 5 100 years of the Eleven
Claudia Baer, née Wendt At a time when the future appears more and more unpredictable around the world, I increasingly find myself asking the same question. How can we successfully master everyday life fearlessly and courageously without losing our confidence? Here in the Grünhainichen workshops we often pause for a moment, take a look at our collection and remind ourselves of the stories our figurines have to tell. The Pair of Children, for example, who joined the collection for the first time this year. They radiate a very special charm and send out a message that could not be more topical: That from closeness and warmth come courage and support. The design was one of my grandma Olly’s. You can learn more about these endearing figurines, who combine timeless beauty and reassurance, on page 12 of this magazine. We also get great pleasure from retaining what is tried and tested in our collection and carefully bringing in the odd surprise. People often believe that when we update our collection every year, we simply open our Grand Sample Cabinet, take out an historic design and start to produce it. But it’s never that simple. Our story on page 14 gives you an insight into how much thought, coordination and craftsmanship is required before our “resting” samples can once again be brought back into the collection. At the moment we are also really motivated by the upcoming joyous occasion of the 100th birthday of our Eleven Dot Angels. When in 1923 my great aunt and the company’s founder, Grete Wendt, designed her first three angels with their green wings and distinctive eleven white dots, she could not have foreseen that 100 years later enthusiasts and collectors from all over the world would still be fascinated by these creatures, who with their sweetness and grace and their unmistakable design are still writing their own unique success story today. What is more, our familyrun workshops has over generations also preserved the souls of our figurines and maintained the mastery of bringing people pleasure with perfect craftsmanship in all of this demonstrated in our magazine in a number of ways. We are already eager to see what new stories will be shared when you let us know which your own favorite angel is (page 5). May I wish you much pleasure from this edition of the eleven dot post WENDT & KÜHN, Dot
Angels Preview and campaign 6 Giving pleasure all year long 2022 additions to collection 12 Simply inseparable Pair of Children 13 For paths travelled together My Wendt & Kühn 14 Back from our grand design legacy Story 18 In the spirit of the founders A family history 20 When the state seized the angels Expropriation 50 years ago 21 Risen from the ashes Living tradition 22 Farewell Leaving the collection at year’s end
GIFT IDEA
For fans of knitting, magic and fine craftsmanship
Grete Wendt designed the Knitting Lady “Princess” in the 1930s. Here we tell you why, more than 90 years later, this figurine still brings joy to lovers of fairy tales, keen knitters and fans of fine handcrafted objects.
A pointed hat, an elegant ruff and a dress with a decorative border – this is how we imagine princesses look when we first encounter them in the stories and fairy tales of our childhood. The enchanting character of our Knitting Lady takes us into this realm of the imagination and invites us to dream – of grand castles, lively costume balls and noble princes. She reminds us in a wonderful way to remain a child at heart and let ourselves be enthralled by reverie and magic. Our Knitting Lady figurine also appeals to lovers of masterly craftsmanship with the impressive skill employed in her painting and the precise woodworking techniques called for. Her imposing ruff, for example, requires huge skill. A wooden disc has to be presented to the router 40 times to create the “folds” in the wooden ruff. Even the hollowing out of the voluminous skirt of the princess requires great experience, using a turning hook to remove the wood, shaving by shaving, until the cavity is created. This provides space for a ball of yarn which is then fed through a small hole to the crochet hook or knitting needles. By the way: Small valuables can also be safely concealed inside the skirt as the “base” of the dress can be closed with a wooden disc. Maybe the Princess’s “secret compartment” contains a loving message for the recipient – one delivered in style.
CONTACT: You can send your entries by email to: lieblingsengel@wendt-kuehn.de or by mail to: Wendt & Kühn, Chemnitzer Straße 40, 09579 Grünhainichen, Germany. Or even easier: You can submit your entry online on a form on our website at www.wendt-kuehn.com/my-favorite-angel
CLOSING DATE: December 31, 2022
W hen in 1923 our company founder, Grete Wendt, designed her first three angels with their green wings and distinctive eleven white dots, she could not have foreseen that 100 years later enthusiasts and collectors from all over the world would still be fascinated by these angel musicians, or that in the meantime the members of the orchestra would have grown to more than 80. Just like all the other Eleven Dot Angels who enchant us with their wide range of accessories, they have already become legends in their own lifetime. Their elegance, design, radiance and perfect craftsmanship have all contributed to the unique success story that we look forward to celebrating with you. Our 2023 anniversary year is a year to enjoy with a collection that will thrill and inspire you. To mark it we will be publishing a very special Book of Figurines especially dedicated to the Eleven Dot Angels and the figurines to be produced in this anniversary year. Our special exhibition for the 2023 anniversary year will also revolve around everything to do with the heavenly birthday beings. Documents, photos, postcards and curiosities that have never been on display before will allow you to immerse yourself in the world of the Eleven Dot Angels and explore the secrets behind the myth. This exhibition will replace the current special exhibition at Wendt & Kühn World in Grünhainichen in spring 2023. Not to be missed!
ENTER: Take part in our “Favorite Angel” campaign and write to us telling us which Eleven Dot Angel is your personal favorite and why. Perhaps it was a gift from a loved one, or you bought it to mark a particular occasion, or you associate it with special memories. We look forward to hearing from you and are eager to learn about your “Favorite Angel” and its story.
Your favorite angel wanted: Enter to win
PREVIEW: 100 YEARS OF THE ELEVEN DOT WHICHANGELSIS
“The joy of anticipation is the sunshine of tomorrow,” wrote the Austrian writer Ernst Ferstl. In our case it is the sunshine of next year, but that makes the joy even greater. And rightly so, as in 2023 the Grünhainichen Angels ® celebrate their 100th birthday.
WIN: By way of thanks we will enter all participants into a prize draw to win one of 100 anniversary figurines, which in 2023 will enchant friends of the Eleven Dot Angels all over the world.
YOUR FAVORITE ANGEL 100 years of Eleven Dot Angels also stands for 100 years full of experiences, emotions and stories that are inextricably linked to our small heavenly messengers and that bring them to life. We would love you to share your angel stories with us.
Its figurines are here to carry you through the year with optimism and good cheer.
THE MINDFUL ONE, ANGEL WITH BRANCH, GOLD-PLATED (6 cm) 650/128 Limited Gold Edition N o 15
TIME TO PAUSE FOR A MOMENT Gently carrying a delicate branch in its hands, the new Gold Edition Angel from Wendt & Kühn pauses for a while. “The Mindful One” turns its gaze on what appear to be ordinary everyday things. Things that become small miracles to those who pay heed to them. In this way the angel encourages us to use all our senses to feel and enjoy the awakening of nature after a long winter, the rustling of autumn leaves and the dance of the snowflakes. Moments of happiness that are granted to those who allow the magic in. The gently curved leaves, delicately worked stems and fine veins of the branch Gold Edition N o 15
COLLECTIONADDITIONS
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. Merry, tuneful and sweet as candy – this is our 2022 collection.
THE MINDFUL ONE, ANGEL WITH BRANCH ON A METAL BASE, GOLD-PLATED, IN A SPLINTER BOX (6 cm) 650/128/LE covered in 24-karat gold become, in the hands of this angel, a symbol for how we should look after ourselves along with nature and all its treasures. “The Mindful One” makes a wonderful gift for all those who want a level-headed companion by their side. For those who need an angel to remind them to treat themselves and all around them with care. And for those who love the treasures of nature. The angel with gold-plated base is available in a strictly limited edition –only 22,222 of these figurines will enable their owners to experience the magic of the moment.
Giving pleasureallyear long SWEET AS CANDY Holding a pink tulip in one hand and a delicious cupcake in the other, our new angel will make the hearts of foodies and those with a sweet tooth beat a little faster. Perfect as a “sweet” hostess gift, as an invitation to coffee and cake or as a tasteful present for a baking fairy or passionate cake maker.
ANGEL WITH CUPCAKE AND TULIP (6 cm) 650/172
ANGEL WITH ALPINE HORN (6 cm) 650/83
DYNAMISM Using all the strength in his arms and legs the gnome energetically plunges his spade into the ground. Designed by Grete Wendt in 1925/26, this mischievous yet cheerful gnome appeals to passionate gardeners and also to small master builders who love building large sand castles. He is the perfect companion to give encouragement to self-builders at their ground breaking ceremonies. And a wonderful thank-you to those lovely people who lend us a hand whenever support is needed.
GIRL WITH IRIS (13 cm) 5248/28
Iris, the Greek goddess of rainbows, is the namesake of this splendid flower which our new Blossom Girl holds in her small hands, almost in awe. She seems to know just what skill was needed by Mother Nature when she fashioned it. And it requires just as much mastery from the craftsmen and women at Wendt & Kühn as they recreate this delicate bloom in wood – with loving attention to detail and perfect craftsmanship. This extravagant bloom is “grown” from 14 carefully glued components, some of them wafer thin. And just as much dexterity is called for when the iris is given its impressive coat of paint. Brushstroke by brushstroke the flower blooms more and more magnificently as each color is applied: a pale, dark and reddish yellow together with pure white and a delicate orange.
HEAVENLY ADDITION Lost in thought, the Angel wearing Crown turns its gaze again and again to the large book in its hands. Whether it is reading aloud or studying the notes of a song is left to our imagination. The angel in the pastel-colored dress joins the graceful group of Angels wearing Crowns, which now includes two musicians, two joyful gift-bearers and a large angel carrying a candelabra. Timeless, beautiful, moving designs all created by Olly Wendt, née Sommer, pre-1937.
COLLECTIONADDITIONS
When the angel blows his alpine horn it emits a soft, calming sound. Originally used as a way of communicating in the mountains, the instrument has long since found its way into the hearts of alphorn fans all over the world. With its deep tones it enriches jazz compositions and also modern pieces. It is even to be found in classical music. And thus the heavenly orchestra gains an exotic, genial new musician. The impressive instrument never fails to make an impression –already today it is announcing that next year there are major celebrations afoot as in 2023 the Grünhainichen Angels® will reach their 100th birthday.
ANGEL WEARING CROWN, WITH BOOK (6 cm) 6235/7 GNOME WITH SPADE (6 cm) 5243/14
MAKING A GRAND ENTRANCE
A SPLENDID BLOOM
The bright yellow of the star and comet shines through the green branches of the Christmas tree providing attractive accents of color. Two Eleven Dot Angels are happily playing their instruments seated on their celestial bodies and tunefully herald the season of Advent with their trumpet and bell lyre.
SWEET AS CANDY ALL YEAR LONG
The small angel, holding in its hand a gingerbread girl decorated with frosting and almonds, has taken its place on the frame of the calendar that is waiting to accompany you through the seasons of this Eleven Dot Angel anniversary year. Together, you will encounter the Eleven Dot Angels in a series of imaginative images. Friends of our heavenly birthday beings – spring figurines, Blossom Kinder, Marguerite Angels and many more – are, of course, celebrating too and at the same time provide inspiration for enchanting decorations in atmospheric images. The calendar comes complete with wooden frame and figurine. The angel and calendar sheets are also available separately.
MARGUERITE ANGEL, SITTING, WITH JIGSAW PUZZLE (4 cm) 634/70/42
Almost there! Overjoyed, the small Marguerite Angel holds in her hand the last tiny piece that will complete the Christmas jigsaw puzzle. Using a very fine brush, the craftswomen at Wendt & Kühn have painted a Christmas tree decorated with baubles and candles onto the miniature jigsaw puzzle. One of Santa’s hardworking little helpers, this loveable heavenly messenger is just checking that nothing is missing. This delicate character makes an enchanting gift for lovers of jigsaw puzzles, both young and old, and for all those who welcome Marguerite Angels into their homes to conjure up the spirit of Christmas.
COLLECTIONADDITIONS
CALENDAR FIGURINE 2023, ANGEL WITH GINGERBREAD GIRL (4 cm) 2023Figur CALENDAR 2023, COMPLETE (23 x 17.5 x 4.5 cm) 2023 ANGEL WITH BELL LYRE, ON COMET (8.5 cm) 650/70/58 ANGEL WITH TRUMPET, IN STAR (7 cm) 650/80/36
MUSIC ON CHRISTMASTHETREE
THE JOY OF JIGSAW PUZZLES
PUSS IN BOOTS (8 cm) 5282 JIGSAW PUZZLE “PUSS IN BOOTS”, 24 PIECES MP/5282 Grünhainichen workshops were once again given the challenging task of translating the virtuosity of form and color in the Meissen drawing into physical form. Five different shades of pink and white, most applied in translucent paint, are used to bring the carnation to life, using very fine brush strokes. Every leaf, however tiny, is decorated in the greatest detail including its delicate veins. The small boy dressed in short pants, a vest and a small green hat completes the composition as he coaxes gentle sounds from his pan pipe. The exclusivity of the gift set is underlined by having the year of production –2022 – painted on the underside of the porcelain dish, immediately under the world-famous crossed blue swords. Next year we shall continue this charming combination of wood and porcelain with yet another set.
A CLEVER CAT IN BIG BOOTS
Grete Wendt designed the fairy tale figurine “Puss in Boots” in June 1929 and shod the cunning creature in oversized angular boots in bright red. The curve of his tail and the feathers in his hunting cap give our velvet-pawed hero movement and dynamism. The feathers appear to bob up and down with each jaunty step the cat takes. A 24-piece jigsaw puzzle (dimensions 14.8 x 21 cm) is an enchanting addition to the figurine, providing fun for the smallest friends of Wendt & Kühn.
Last year the fine craftsmanship of Wendt & Kühn and the sophistication of the Meissen porcelain manufactory came together for the first time to create a gift set comprising a Blossom Child and a porcelain dish, designed to bring the finishing touch to an elegantly set table. Created for those with the highest expectations of value and exclusivity. We have selected once again a motif from the “Meissen Blumentafel”, a historic chart showing 36 illustrations of flowers, and this year the Boy with Carnation is making his grand entrance. The Meissen artists paint their flowers on an elegant porcelain dish with a gold rim. The
COLLECTIONADDITIONS
BOY WITH CARNATION, ON A MOUND, WITH MEISSEN PORCELAIN DISH (Figurine 9 cm, Dish 12 x 9 cm) 5226/2 MAGNIFICENT SEQUEL
SHEPHERD, PRAYING, WITH SHEPHERD'S CROOK (8.5 5250/7Kcm) SHEPHERD, WITH LANTERN, WITH SHEPHERD'S CROOK (8.5 5250/8Kcm)
the company was considered to be one of the most important manufacturers of furniture designed by well-known artists.
Following the release of our nativity figurines last year starting with Mary, Joseph, the Christ Child and an angel, the collection is now being extended. They are being joined by three Shepherds and their sheep. On Christmas night they watch reverently over the newly born child “sleeping in heavenly peace”. With their muted colors, distinctive flat arms and flowing hair, the three Shepherds project a charm all of their own and form a most engaging trio. The elaborate “laced” stockings of the lantern bearer in particular catch the eye of the viewer. The minimalist style gives this scene a timeless charm that persists to this day –even though it was designed more than 110 years ago. The shepherds have two docile sheep by their side. They are given their shape by an experienced ring turner in the worldfamous toy village of Seiffen. With the help of a wood turning tool, a profile is cut into a wooden ring – using great skill and years of experience. The ring is then cut into small slices which reveal the shape of the sheep. These profiles are then carved by hand to finish them off. The art of ring turning is unique to the Erzgebirge and is not practiced anywhere else in the world –Grete Wendt had her sheep made by the ring turners of the region then, all those years ago. Finally, fine wood shavings are used to create the thick woolly fleeces of these lovable four-legged creatures. Once the wooden sheep have been “formed” they make their way through the workshops of Wendt & Kühn. Here they are brought to life through a number of further production stages. Three times over they are dipped head first into a bath of paint which gives them their creamcolored fleece. This process is constantly monitored to see whether all areas are really covered with paint – not an easy task with such a thick wool coat. Finally the legs, hooves and heads are painted with a fine brush before the delicate eyes, mouth and red collar are added. It is not only the design of the shepherds and other nativity figurines that is impressive, the story behind their creation is also very interesting. When Grete Wendt designed the nativity scene in 1910/11, she had just completed her studies at the Royal Saxon Academy of Applied Art in Dresden. This creative designer spent her practical semester at what is now the Deutsche Werkstätten in Hellerau. Within the Arts and Crafts reform movement,
5250/13K SHEEP, STANDING UP, LOOKING DOWN (3 cm) 5250/14K OUR NATIVITY SCENE IS GROWING
The founder of the Werkstätten, Karl Schmidt, gave Grete the commission to design a nativity scene. A commission that was consigned to history – until today.
The three shepherds and two sheep now bring the number of figurines in the Wendt & Kühn nativity scene to nine. In the coming years you can look forward to further additions, until the Christmas scene is complete. Something to look forward to!
COLLECTIONADDITIONSSHEEP,LYINGDOWN(2 cm)
SHEPHERD, SHEPHERD'SWITHCROOK (8 5250/6Kcm)
This graceful figurine impresses us with her elegance and intense love for the child in her arms. The fabric of her robe falls softly around her and shimmers in a multitude of colors. A wide brush is used to apply three coats of pale green translucent paint to a creamcolored background. What follows next is truly impressive: Using the utmost concentration and a steady hand, highly-detailed ornamentation is applied with true craftsmanship the like of which is rarely to be seen. In the hands of one of our highly skilled craftswomen, the countless golden tendrils and circles, and no fewer than 1,600 dots are transformed into a most striking pattern. Every brushstroke, however small, must be placed with the utmost precision to allow the whole pattern to unfold. Even
To mark the 100th birthday of the Eleven Dot Angels, which we will be celebrating in 2023, we have created a large-format wall calendar illustrated with stylish photographs showing how our heavenly messengers are made. Twelve striking images demonstrate, with a virtuoso play of light and shadow and techniques that reveal what normally remains unseen, the journey these design classics make through the Grünhainichen workshops. And in doing so present with masterly skill supposedly familiar things in an imaginative and artistic way. Unique images and powerful graphics that celebrate the Eleven Dot Angels in a way that has not been done before await you. You will find an extensive interview with the photographer, interesting behind the scenes photos and an order form on our website at www.wendt-kuehn.com/anniversary-calendar-2023.
CREATING A MASTERPIECE POINT BY POINT Grete Wendt’s Madonna on the Angel Mountain surrounded by Eleven Dot Angels won a gold medal at the Paris World Exhibition in 1937. Designed in 1925, the Madonna is to be found in a range of different colors and a wide variety of patterns in the workshops’ treasure trove. She will be reissued once again in October this year painted with an opulent pattern based on historical samples.
COLLECTIONADDITIONS
MADONNA WITH INFANT JESUS, RICHLY PAINTED, CREAM/PALE BLUE ( 12 cm) 550/MRCreme
NUTCRACKER, ON STAR (5.5 JoiningNussknacker/STcm)thecollectionin October
THE ELEVEN DOT ANGELS UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
ANNIVERSARY CALENDAR 2023, 100 YEARS OF ELEVEN DOT ANGELS (59.4 x 42 cm) JoiningJK2023the collection in October 100 JAHRE ELFPUNKTE-ENGEL 100 YEARS OF ELEVEN DOT ANGELS
the back of the Madonna is enchanting –the edge of her cloak is also beautifully decorated. Fine lines, tiny dots and more than 250 small dabs on the edge of the cloak form an impressive border. A true masterpiece of painting.
CHRISTMAS FIGURINE 2022 Red hat, blue jacket, yellow-green pants and black boots – our small nutcracker is painted in strong colors. He needs to be strong if he wants to crack the odd tough nut. Admittedly, in his case it would have to be a tiny nut. With a determined look and a chest puffed out with pride he stands on a bright yellow star-shaped base and joins the popular range of miniature Christmas decorations that, next year, will come to an end with a final figurine. A special label on the underside of this exclusive figurine carries the words “Zum Weihnachtsfest 2022“ (“For Christmas 2022”), as the figurine will be manufactured this year only. A small, precious gift, just perfect for putting in boots on St Nicholas Day.
The occasion remains a mystery, confined to history. It is, however, well known that Olly Wendt took much pleasure in presenting her very special creations to much loved family members and friends. And still today, the Pair of Children makes a wonderful gift for parents and grandparents, who see in them their own children or grandchildren. For siblings, the figurine encourages them to support each other throughout their lives. And it is also a wonderful gift for good friends as a reminder of a happy childhood spent together. A girl with cheeky pigtails, a boy with a jaunty striped beanie –these are the Pair of Children who have just joined our collection.
IN ONE OF HER FIRST SKETCHES Olly Wendt reveals her ideas for her Pair of Children. The charming details such as the striped beanie, the hair ribbons and the spotted dress only came later on in the design process.
SIMPLY inseparable
PAIR OF CHILDREN (6.5 cm) 5322/7
Twins Hans and Sigrid Wendt came into the world on October 9, 1930. From then onwards they were a much loved part of their mother Olly’s life. The laughter of children in the house appears to have inspired her artistic creativity, as in the years that followed she designed a wide variety of figurines featuring pairs of children and twins. Among them is this adorable example. Standing closely side by side, the boy places a trusting hand on the back of his companion. While she appears quite bold in her orange-colored dress, the boy seems shyer. It’s good he has a strong friend at his side. And who knows, perhaps when Olly Wendt designed this pair of children she incorporated something of the character of her own children into the design. Historical photographs and stories suggest that her son Hans was often the more diffident of the two. His sister Sigrid appears to have been the braver one in their childhood. Now, more than 80 years later this rare design has once again been brought to life and for the first time has been included in the core collection. There is only a single historic example to be found in our archives. Written on the underside in ballpoint pen are the words “Aunt Olly for Uli + Elke”. The Uli refers to Olly’s nephew Ulrich, the son of her favorite brother Herbert. She gave the charming pair of children to Ulrich and his wife Elke as a gift – probably not until the 1950s, so many years after she designed the figurine.
WHILE THE FRONT VIEW of the figurines is enchanting, a glance at the back of the design really touches the heart, with the boy placing a trusting hand on the back of his companion. A gesture that radiates trust and affection. The delicate embellishment on the girl’s cap adds a perfect finishing touch.
This is a private design that has never gone into production before and was created by Olly Wendt, née Sommer, the creative designer who worked alongside Grete Wendt.
And because these kinds of enterprises are very personal, the figurine can now be inscribed with a message, a name or a date in beautiful handpainted lettering. Inscribed with the year of graduation, it makes a personal gift for those who have come to end of one stage of their lives and are about to embark on the next. The angel with the golden suitcase even makes a wonderful gift to oneself, when given the empowering words “2022 – My Year”. The results are very personal one-off pieces that are quite unique and remind us of special occasions in our lives.
For paths travelledtogether
The golden suitcase is packed with a small amount of courage, a bundle of confidence and a portion of good cheer. The level-headed character of the Globetrotter makes for a trustworthy companion in the most diverse situations, whenever one ventures out in a new direction: To give one courage in starting a new apprenticeship or degree. To take its place on our desk as a trusted “face” in a new job. As an “anchor” in a new, perhaps the very first, home of our own. On a long journey or a semester abroad, as a piece of home in a foreign land.
MYWEN D T & KÜHN
The front side of the base has space for up to nine characters with a maximum of four on the back.
Life means change – trying out new things, seizing opportunities for joy and happiness, and turning off instead of just going straight ahead. At such times it is a lovely feeling to have a faithful companion by your side. The Globetrotter is well prepared for just such an adventure.
STORYGRAND DESIGN LEGACY Back from our
Our current collection is constantly changing. We not only supplement and expand it with faithful developments of existing lines, every year a number of figurines that have lain dormant among our treasure trove of designs are brought back into the collection. Some of these have not been produced for decades, others never before. What happens if there are no drawings but simply a single historic sample in the Grand Sample Cabinet? Or perhaps no more than a faded black and white photo in an early catalogue? We invite you to experience just how challenging it is to reintroduce an old design, using the two helmsmen and our colorful cockerel as examples. Templates already existed for our proud helmsman Jan Kimm, who has once again sailed into the collection.
Beveled at the front and back – at just the right angle, of course – then secured by the edges and sanded by hand to give the cape a natural drape. But what is it that makes him a true seafarer? His sailor’s beard of course! His distinctive chinstrap beard curls from ear to ear. But how does a beard like this “grow” on a wooden figurine? “Sadly, there are no catalogues from which you can simply order 15 millimeter chinstrap beards for wooden helmsmen,” smiles Roland Stanzel, and he proceeds to tell us how the sea dog gets his beard: The spiral of chin hair is formed from brass wire, turned directly on a lathe at Wendt & Kühn. Brass wire is soft enough to be stretched around the groove in the chin and then fastened by hand –the finest beard grooming for a sailor! Traditional steel springs would always just spring back. The wood turner clamps a thin metal rod into the lathe chuck and then winds the brass wire around it with pliers at a low speed. It has to be exactly 18 turns – as determined by Roland Stanzel, We have often in the past given you insights into how many steps it takes to make one of our delicate figurines – beginning with the early selection and storing of the timber, through to sawing, turning, gluing, dipping and finally the skillful painting and finishing in our workshops. But how did the original samples, which always serve as the basis for manufacturing the products, actually come about?
A PLACE TO MARVEL AND TO TALK SHOP: The legendary Grand Sample Cabinet at Wendt & Kühn World in which designs from more than 100 years of company history are displayed. A compendium gives information about the origin and history of every figurine.
“When you have the original in front of you, dating from 1959, it is clear how he should look. But how do we go about it? The journey from a single sample to going into series production is a long one,” says Roland Stanzel, master of the wood turning shop, who oversaw the reintroduction of the figurine. With his eyes focused resolutely on the sea, Jan Kimm braces himself against the storm with all his might, the helm held fast in his hands. The characteristic pose of the helmsman – strong and stocky with his weatherbeaten face fearlessly against the wind – comes principally from his legs. They press down powerfully onto the deck, bent slightly forward. The sturdy seaman’s boots curl around his large feet which are turned slightly inwards. Here, the devil is in the detail: The rear edges of the left foot must be chamfered slightly differently from the right foot. Precision is also required for the oilskin cape. Wide and waterproof, it defies the wind. Its basic shape is a latheturned cone, which through skillful cutting receives the form of a flowing, stormproof garment. Old drawings, still in our archives, show how Grete Wendt approached this challenge in 1959. Back to Roland Stanzel. He tells us that it took blood, sweat and tears to get the cone-shaped piece of wood to look just like the oilskin cape in the original.
THE SKETCH SHOWN ABOVE by Grete Wendt in 1959 was the origin for the return of the helmsman to the current collection. A total of eight paint colors are applied with a steady hand.
Katrin Wojtkowiak, who has been responsible for the makeup of the collection at Wendt & Kühn for many years, knows only too well the long journey required, often accompanied by surprises and unexpected challenges, in reintroducing a design based on a historic figurine. “Like the handsome cockerel with its colorful plumage that was brought into production last year for the very first time.” Previously he had only existed as a historical template. “And now we know why,” adds Katrin Wojtkowiak with a laugh, having spent months working on the sample. The story goes that Olly Wendt also spent hours in the workshop with a similar sample trying to work out how to produce it. But it never worked.
and this gives the right length of wire. If there are too few turns the beard looks too sparse, if there are too many, the color runs between the coils and sticks when the figurine is Thepainted.“sou’wester hat” is no less exacting. “When I had the hat before me for the first time, I turned it over and over and kept thinking, there must be a way of making this out of a single piece,” recalls the experienced master wood turner. Luckily there was still an old box containing decades-old wooden components for the helmsman. “How did Grete Wendt manage to get this shape from a cone? We spent ages tinkering with it and experimented with painting, drawing, turning, cutting, gluing and sanding.” Once you know how to do it, it’s really very simple: The central section of a cone is cut out at an angle, then the tip is turned round and glued to the underside. A small overhang is left as a brim, so that the spray does not splash the nose of the helmsman as he traverses the ocean. To preserve the balance between inherited tradition, artistic merit and modern manufacturing processes, every detail, however small, has to be considered and tested in practice. To do this, an experienced turner first produces the turned parts for the sample by hand, accurate to one tenth. “Even a deviation of two tenths would be noticeable,” confirms Roland Stanzel. These handmade templates are then used as the basis for the turning tools which are made by a specialist firm specifically for each individual turned shape. The cost of these often runs into four figures as they have to be perfect to a millimeter. It is only with these tools that the wooden parts are turned and cut in large numbers in our workshops. When it comes to sawing the arms, legs and upper bodies, for example, the greatest accuracy is required. Every discrepancy adds up. If an angle does not match up 100%, this changes the stance of the body and the position of the arms. It is like a chain reaction. To prevent this from happening, gauges are built by attaching small strips of wood to a sheet of plywood. These are made available to the craftsmen and women as they work, thus guaranteeing the highest degree of accuracy with angles, drill holes and cuts. It is not unusual for a figurine to have up to ten gauges – for sawing, drilling, milling, sanding and gluing.
“When I look back on what we have achieved, I’m always amazed,” says Roland Stanzel, a little in awe. “We are continuing what Grete and Olly Wendt created – only in the reverse order. For us, the starting point is the final product in front of us. In a way we are working backwards to the original idea and as we do we are absorbing their creativity.
A REAL EYE-CATCHER: The cockerel designed by Olly Wendt in 1962 has joined the collection for the first time.
INVALUABLE: Gauges for milling, sanding, sawing, drilling – and gluing, as shown here – guarantee accuracy in hand assembled production.
Grete and Olly Wendt, on the other hand, each gave their ideas a form.” Clearly, both designers had a very precise idea of how their figurines should eventually look. They had an incredible breadth of imagination: From Angels and Blossom Kinder to the Cockerel and Helmsman. And yet, despite this great diversity, they always remained true to their own design style. Which is why every figurine they designed is unmistakably Wendt & Kühn. And in order to maintain this also in the reintroduction of decades-old designs, Claudia Baer, the current General Partner and granddaughter of Olly Wendt, personally signs off every individual sample before it is released for production. This ensures that the legacy of her grandma Olly and great-aunt Grete Wendt remains intact.
Only now, some six decades after the first presentation of the design has it been possible to produce it. Piece by piece. Even though there was an original drawing as well as the sample. And yet, when examined closely a number of questions remained unanswered. How is the neck attached to the body? In the original sample, feathers concealed this delicate joint. And what are the feathers made of? “After all, you can’t simply take the original sample apart and destroy it in the process,” says the designer. In order to give the body, which consists of only a few parts, the right posture, Katrin Wojtkowiak first simulated the cut surfaces on the computer and tested it all until the planned surfaces fitted together. Then it was over to the tiny feathers which were originally made from wood shavings. “The first time we tried to put the cockerel into production, we ran into major difficulties. I had to have a bit of a rethink and came up with paper,” recalls Katrin Wojtkowiak. Paper is easy to work and it is also not an unusual material at Wendt & Kühn. Grete and Olly Wendt worked with it for other figurines, too, for the kimonos worn by the “Japanese Women”, for example, and the flower wreaths of the Marguerite Angels that are still punched out of cardboard to this day. Katrin Wojtkowiak experimented with different thicknesses of paper for a long time until she found just the right card. It must not break when glued and after it has been painted it still needs to spring back with light movement. Paper strips now nestle against the throat, wafer thin and unbending. After this hurdle had been overcome, an analysis of the wonderful colors followed. In order to get as close as possible to the original, 22 different shades are mixed and applied with skilled craftsmanship, so allowing the cockerel to reveal his true splendor.
of the founders IN THE SPIRIT
Claudia Baer holds a photo of her father Hans in her hand. A tall, well-built man with a firm gaze who played a crucial part in the turbulent history of the company. The son of Olly and Johannes Wendt, he ran the company courageously for many decades with business acumen and visionary foresight. From 1972, following compulsory nationalization during the socialist era, he retained the management of the company (read the article about it on page 20). Following reprivatization in 1990, Hans threw him self wholeheartedly into this new beginning. Hans’ life’s work was initially continued by one of his two sons, Tobias Wendt. When he left the company in 2011, his siblings Claudia Baer and Dr. Florian Wendt drew on the spirit of the founders to take on the new challenge of preserving, in a time of digitalization, globalization and advancing technology, the handcrafted manu facture of figurines to traditional designs. A firm commitment to handcrafted products “Made in Germany”, which provides some 175 employees with meaningful employment.
TOP LEFT The Wendt family in the garden of the vocational school in Grünhainichen (from left to right: Albert, Hedwig, Johannes, Grete), August 1910
What we take for granted today was, at the beginning of the last century, an incredibly courageous step.
Claudia Baer, née Wendt, sits at her desk in the office that was once the living room of her great-aunt and founder of the company, Grete Wendt. She leafs through an old photo album, deep in thought. Portraits, group photos and holiday snaps fill the pages of the leather-bound book. It is like a journey through the history of her family that still today is inextricably linked to the company Wendt & Kühn. A history that through the generations tells of courage, willpower and success.
TOP RIGHT Johannes Wendt and Olly Sommer (later Wendt) on a visit to the Baltic Sea, 1928
LOWER LEFT Hans and Sigrid Wendt with crayons and the “Globe” music box, 1938
LOWER RIGHT Hans Wendt (right) and Grete Wendt (center) at the celebrations to mark the company’s 50th anniversary, October 1965
Claudia Baer continues to leaf through the photo album – the final pages are still empty. Space for the next chapter of a remark able story. “Our family has continued to guide the life’s work of my great-aunt Grete Wendt and my grandma Olly Wendt faith fully through changeable times – always maintaining the highest standards of quality and the artistic uniqueness of design of each of our products. In this way we have been able to bring joy to people all over the world for more than 100 years. It is our desire to preserve this master craftsmanship and hand on to the fourth generation a company fit for the future.” With these words she shuts the album – a bit thoughtful yet full of confidence.
FIGURINES In 1913 Grete Wendt entered her Berry Pickers into a competition for “tasteful souvenirs” and won second prize.
I t all started with two brave women: Grete Wendt and Grete Kühn. Together they completed their studies at the Royal Saxon Academy of Applied Art in Dresden, during which time Grete Wendt’s desire to become independent and own her own company grew and grew. She believed firmly in the success of her artistic ideas. As did her father, who offered her constant support as her professional advisor, mentor and friend, and also financially. And so on October 1, 1915 the two artists became entrepreneurs – at that time an extremely unusual and courageous step for two young women, both under thirty years old, in the midst of the turmoil of the First World War. In 1919, shortly before Grete Kühn left, Grete Wendt’s brother Johannes joined the “start-up”, as the company would be called today. The two siblings complemented each other perfectly: while Johannes took care of the business side of things, Grete could devote herself entirely to her creative work. And in the years that followed, the family-run company, now expanded to include the designer Olly Sommer, who in 1930 married Johannes and gave birth to the twins Hans and Sigrid, took an unusual direction. Instead of waiting for its figurines to be bought by wholesalers, the young company exhibited in its own right at national and international trade fairs. “What we take for granted today was, at the beginning of the last century, an incred ibly courageous step”, says Claudia Baer, putting this decision in an historical context. And when in 1937 Grete Wendt travelled from the small sleepy village of Grünhainichen to the World Exhibition in the pulsating metropolis of Paris and returned with prestigious awards for the design of her Angel Mountain, her courage gained international recognition.
“ “
THE HOUSEHALF-TIMBERED – Wendt & Kühn’s workshops around 1972
Even after expropriation Hans Wendt managed, in difficult circumstances and using all his entrepreneurial skills, to maintain the carefully protected values of the workshops, such as standards of quality and master craftsmanship, during 18 years of socialist economic neglect –despite all bureaucratic obstacles and many bottlenecks in procuring materials. “It is thanks to my father’s wisdom that our family business was able to maintain its good reputation even during the GDR era,” recalls his daughter Claudia Baer, née Wendt, who, together with her brother Dr. Florian Wendt, is today the third generation of the family to manage the fortunes of the company. The family, however, felt they were no more than guests in their own workshops during this time. Under state control, the figurines from Wendt & Kühn were sold abroad as coveted export items – much to the chagrin of many enthusiasts in the GDR, where the angels, Blossom Kinder and music boxes were hardly to be found.
EXPROPRIATION 50 YEARS AGO
HANS WENDT in the 1960s, holding in his hands the “Angel Group with Cradle” music box
WHEN THE STATE seized the angels
Back then, some 12,000 privately-owned companies like Wendt & Kühn that had found themselves since August 1961 in the Eastern part of a divided Germany were compulsorily nationalized in spring 1972. The only good news for the some 80 employees in Grünhainichen was that Hans Wendt would continue as works manager of the stateowned company. He had already been running the company, founded in 1915, as co-partner since 1957. His first, clever move after compulsory nationalization was to choose with care a new name for the company: VEB WerkKunst Grünhainichen. In this way the initials “W & K” remained part of the logo, as before. Company founder Grete Wendt on the other hand, who was already 85, saw herself deprived of her life’s work and left the company at once. April 28, 1972 was a really black day in the history of Wendt & Kühn KG. That was the day that the family-run company was expropriated following a decision of the Party and State leadership of the then German Democratic Republic (GDR) and converted to a so-called state-owned company. For company founder Grete Wendt, it was as if her world had fallen apart.
Following reprivatization on July 1, 1990, Hans Wendt threw himself wholeheartedly into this new beginning. Delighted, he wrote to his business partners, “The logo with the weather-beaten spruce and the initials of our workshops is once again to be seen in the toy and Christmas state of Saxony.” The almost 60-year-old had thought long and hard about this step back to independence. “My father was finally able to achieve things he had not been able to do for many years. In doing so, he laid the foundation for the future success of our company,” says Claudia Baer, looking back. Today, the family-run company employs 175 people and Wendt & Kühn supplies some 800 retailers in 23 countries all over the world.
The spellbinding story of a music box that burned in a great California wildfire – and that luckily could be replaced by the woman who had loved it so much as a child
Risen11
from the ashes
JULIA KEARNEY with her beloved “Globe” music box
LIVING TRADITION Part
It’s a captivating memory that Julia Kearney from Ventura, California, vividly recalls: “I see myself standing there as a child, admiring the beautiful music box that was the highlight of my mother’s Christmas display. She was born in Leipzig, Germany. My Opa worked there as a car engineer and later they moved to Dresden and Chemnitz in Saxony. After World War II, they realized that they lived on the wrong side of the border in Germany, which was being divided into the Eastern and Western occupation zones. So my Opa sent my mother to Würzburg, which was located in the American zone. Working there at a military base, she met my father, who was serving in the US army at that time. They made several moves around the world while he still served in the army before my father retired from active military service. They settled here in California, where they bought their first house in the hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Throughout the many moves, my mother always carried a very special treasure with her: her little angels from Wendt & Kühn. She had a choir of angels on display and always decorated our Christmas tree with angel ornaments. And she owned that music box. It was a deep blue hue of navy, adorned with hundreds of twinkling golden stars. When it played “Silent Night”, the angel musicians seemed to dance under the starry sky – the most spellbinding sight you can imagine when you’re just a little child. I loved them – and they symbolized Christmas to me like nothing Then,else. in December 2017 – my mother was 93 years old – a terrible wildfire rampaged through our town. My mother had to flee from her house in the hills and came to stay at my place. She looked at a cabinet in my living room and said: ‘This is the perfect place for all my angels. When we can go back to my house, let’s bring them here’. She didn’t know that she would never see them again. The wildfire destroyed everything. Her house, her past, all the dear and loving memories of her long and fulfilled life. And it destroyed all her angels. She was devastated. And so was I. Not only had we lost our family home, but we had also lost our angels. It was one of the hardest losses for us – they seemed to be irreplaceable. But then, a few years later, my sister sent me photos of her Christmas display. And there I saw our music box! ‘But it burned in the fire,’ I wondered – ‘how can it be you still have it?’ ‘Omi gave one to me when I was a child,’ she said. I had never known this before. ‘You can get a new one here,’ my sister told me –and she referred me to the website of Wendt & Kühn. I couldn’t believe my eyes: all my favorite angels – they were all there! And the music box! I was in heaven. Almost 100 years later – and all the beautiful figurines are still being produced! Just the way they always looked. No changes made, everything stunningly true to the original. This seems almost unbelievable in our fast-paced world, doesn’t it? So, I treated myself. I bought ‘my’ music box again. My husband surprised me with some angels, and we have started our own collection. The service at the Wendt & Kühn dealer was excellent, everything arrived perfectly wrapped. Now we are rebuilding our family home in the hills overlooking Ventura. When we move in, we will of course take our angels and the music box with us. It will be like bringing them home.”
UMBRELLA OnlyRegenschirmavailablewithin the EU. DISPLAY SHELF WITH SEVEN SLIDING DISKS, LARGE, DARK (50 x 18 x 5.5 551/g/dunkelcm) DISPLAY SHELF WITH SEVEN SLIDING DISKS, LARGE, GREEN without decoration (50 x 18 x 5.5 cm) 551/g/gruen DISPLAY SHELF WITH SEVEN SLIDING DISKS, LARGE, NATURAL without decoration (50 x 18 x 5.5 cm) 551/g/natur eleven dot post · 16 th Edition · Grünhainichen, Germany, August 2022
LEAVING THE COLLECTION AT THE END OF THE YEAR | 2022 Farewell
BUNNY MUSICIAN WITH SONGBOOK AND SMALL TRUMPET 5350/19 BUNNY MUSICIAN WITH TRUMPET 5350/36 BUNNY MUSICIAN WITH CHIMES 5350/58 MARGUERITE ANGEL, SITTING, WITH ROLLING PIN AND COOKIE DOUGH 634/70/16
Publisher: Wendt & Kühn KG, Chemnitzer Straße 40, 09579 Grünhainichen, Germany, Telephone +49 37294 86 286, info@wendt-kuehn.de, www.wendt-kuehn.com
MARGUERITE ANGEL, SITTING, WITH SAUCEPAN 634/70/17 MARGUERITE ANGEL, SITTING, WITH ICING CONE AND HEART 634/70/18
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.
IMPRINT
Chief Editors, legally responsible for content: Claudia Baer, Thomas Rost, Wendt & Kühn · Editors: Lena Sabotta, Thomas Rost, Wendt & Kühn; Dr. Sylva Sternkopf (14-17, 21), Heidi Diehl (20) · Design: schech.net | Strategie. Kommunikation. Design. · Translation: Dr. Sternkopf media group · Photography: Marcus Heilscher (1, 23), Mirko Hertel (2, 11), Wendt & Kühn (3, 6-12, 22), ruemmlerfotografie (5), Lucie Eisenmann (4, 13, postcard), neongrau (14, 16), Juliane Mostertz (15, 17), Michael Feindura (17), Archive Wendt & Kühn KG (12, 16, 18, 20), private (21) · Printed by: Druckerei Gutermuth, Grünhainichen, Germany
WWW.WENDT-KUEHN.COMWENDTUNDKUEHN