6 TH EDITION YOUR MAGAZINE FROM THE WENDT & KÜHN WORKSHOPS 2022/2023
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. 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.
Your
SELECTED CONTENT 4 For small earthlings Gift idea 5 Hewn from the same wood A find B is for beech Grünhainichen Lexicon 6 Giving pleasure all year long 2022 additions to collection 12 Going on a journey Globetrotter 14 Back from our grand design legacy Story 18 Grimm Brothers and Puss in Boots Typical German 19 100 years of the Eleven Dot Angels Preview and campaign 20 Risen from the ashes Living tradition 21 Christmas sounds so beautiful with Wendt & Kühn Christmas music boxes 22 Farewell Leaving the collection at year’s end
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 family-run workshops has over generations also preserved the souls of our figurines and maintained the mastery of bringing people pleasure with perfect craftsmanship in production. You will find 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 19). May I wish you much pleasure from our 6th edition of the eleven dot post published specially for our fans and collectors in the USA. DEAR FRIENDS OF WENDT & KÜHN,
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.
And whether it is a girl or boy – you can choose between a pink or blue trim on the baby’s blanket, depending on which the newborn is. To make it even more personal, the name and date of birth of the new arrival can be inscribed on the base of the figurine by one of the painters in our workshops, using the finest brushstrokes. What a wonderful figurine to give to a small person to wish them all the luck in the world.
THE BASE has space for up to 20 characters on the front side and 20 characters on the back.
GIFT IDEA
For smallearthlings
I t glides through the sky on large wings carrying a small, lovingly wrapped bundle in its red beak this image of how babies are delivered by the stork is known to us all and passed on from generation to generation. Whether it is actually true is a question everyone has to answer for themselves. But what is true is that the stork from Wendt & Kühn has taken on this auspicious task. This longlegged bird provides brand new parents with a memento of a truly special day. It delivers in a very personal way the happy news to grandparents and will accompany the new earthling throughout its life.
A HEWNFIND FROM THE SAME WOOD
GRÜNHAINICHEN LEXICON B IS FOR BEECH
COVER OF “The American Girl. For All Girls – Published by the Girl Scouts”, New York, December 1935, Archive Wendt & Kühn
Girls and women putting their talents to the best use – what a powerful bond uniting Grete Wendt, Gertrude Kay, the Wendt & Kühn angels and the Girl Scouts! Integrity, courage, teamwork, respect for others and community spirit – just what the angels need when they play in their heavenly orchestra and bring joy to people all around the globe. Obviously, American Girl Scouts and the Wendt & Kühn angels are hewn from the same wood!
A magazine for all girls – this is the promise conveyed by the title “The American Girl”, a series published from 1917 by the Girl Scouts. And what do we see on the cover of the December 1935 issue? The Wendt & Kühn angels! Under the heading “Christmas on Paradise”, the editors published a piece of prose by Robert P. Tristram Coffin – a famous author of the time, who was awarded the 1936 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry. What better illustration could one imagine for “Christmas on Paradise” than the Wendt & Kühn figurines? Two Marguerite Angels with a book and a basket full of apples, both designed by Olly Wendt; and a Grünhainichen Angel® with a drum and the signature eleven dots on its green wings, true to Grete Wendt’s original design from 1923. The illustrations were done by Gertrude Kay, who was one of the most renowned artists of her time. Her most famous work is a popular version of Lewis Carroll’s “Alices Adventures in Wonderland” from 1923 – the very same year in which Grete Wendt created her angels. Gertrude Kay had studied illustration at the Philadelphia Museum School of Design and at the Drexel Institute in Philadelphia. Almost half of the students in Drexel’s class were female. He encouraged them to fight for their right to illustrate for the major publishing houses of the time – an interesting parallel to Grete Wendt and her professor Margarete Junge, who taught design at the Royal Academy of Arts in Dresden and likewise paved the way for young female artists to be treated equally to their male colleagues.
B eech is the most common deciduous tree in Germany. It is therefore no surprise that every route through the forests of the Erzgebirge travelling in the direction of Wendt & Kühn in Grünhainichen involves an encounter with this most important raw material. The beech arrives in our workshops fresh and untreated from the sawmill, and it is then stored for at least a year in the drying room before it can be worked in the wood turning shop. Five tons of beech are used every year for the delicate arms and legs of the angels, stars and instruments alone. The excellent stability of beech when turned and the fine grain of the wood also makes it a popular material for toys and furniture.
COLLECTIONADDITIONS
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 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. and fine veins of the branch 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.
Gold
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. Its figurines are here to carry you through the year with optimism and good cheer.
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. Edition N o 15
TIME TO PAUSE FOR A MOMENT
Giving pleasureallyear long
THE MINDFUL ONE, ANGEL WITH BRANCH, GOLD-PLATED (2.5") 650/128 Limited Gold Edition N o 15
THE MINDFUL ONE, ANGEL WITH BRANCH ON A METAL BASE, GOLD-PLATED, IN A SPLINTER BOX (2.5") 650/128/LE ANGEL WITH CUPCAKE AND TULIP (2.5") 650/172
HEAVENLY ADDITION
COLLECTIONADDITIONS
ANGEL WITH ALPINE HORN (2.5") 650/83
GIRL WITH IRIS (5.0") 5248/28
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.
A SPLENDID BLOOM
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.
MAKING A GRAND ENTRANCE
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 6235/7(2.25") GNOME WITH SPADE (2.25") 5243/14
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.
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.
ANGEL WITH TRUMPET, IN STAR 650/80/36(2.75")
THE JOY OF JIGSAW PUZZLES
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.
MUSIC ON CHRISTMASTHETREE
ANGEL WITH BELL LYRE, ON COMET (3.5") 650/70/58
CALENDAR FIGURINE 2023, ANGEL GINGERBREADWITHGIRL 2023Figur(1.5")
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.
MARGUERITE ANGEL, SITTING, WITH JIGSAW PUZZLE (1.5") 634/70/42
CALENDAR 2023, COMPLETE (9.0 x 7.0 x 1.75") 2023
COLLECTIONADDITIONS
INSEPARABLE A girl with cheeky pigtails and a boy with a jaunty striped beanie – these two make up the Pair of Children from Wendt & Kühn. This is a private design that has never gone into production before and was created by Olly Wendt, née Sommer. The birth of her twins in 1930 seems to have given her inspiration – in the years that followed she designed a wide variety of figurines featuring pairs of children and twins. Among them this adorable example. The figurine is a wonderful gift for siblings as it encourages them to support each other throughout their lives. It also makes a great present for good friends as a reminder of happy childhood days spent together. PUZZLE “PUSS IN BOOTS”, 24 PIECES MP/5282 PAIR OF CHILDREN (2.5") 5322/7 BOY WITH CARNATION, ON A MOUND, WITH MEISSEN PORCELAIN DISH (Figurine 3.5", Dish 4.75 x 3.5") 5226/2
COLLECTIONADDITIONS
The Meissen artists paint their flowers on an elegant porcelain dish with a gold rim. The 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.
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 5.75 x 8.25") is an enchanting addition to the figurine, providing fun for the smallest friends of Wendt & Kühn.
PUSS IN BOOTS (3.25") 5282 MAGNIFICENT SEQUEL
JIGSAW
A CLEVER CAT IN BIG BOOTS
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.
SHEPHERD, SHEPHERD'SWITHCROOK 5250/6K(3.25")
SHEPHERD, PRAYING, WITH SHEPHERD'S CROOK 5250/7K(3.5") SHEPHERD, WITH LANTERN, WITH SHEPHERD'S CROOK 5250/8K(3.5")
OUR NATIVITY SCENE IS GROWING 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.
COLLECTIONADDITIONSSHEEP,LYINGDOWN(0.75") 5250/13K SHEEP, STANDING UP, LOOKING DOWN (1.25") 5250/14K
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 cream-colored 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, the company was considered to be one of the most important manufacturers of furniture designed by well-known artists. 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!
NUTCRACKER, ON STAR JoiningNussknacker/ST(2.25")thecollectionin October MADONNA WITH INFANT JESUS, RICHLY PAINTED, CREAM/PALE BLUE ( 4.75") 550/MRCreme
ANNIVERSARY CALENDAR 2023, 100 YEARS OF ELEVEN DOT ANGELS (23.5 x 16.5")
COLLECTIONADDITIONS
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.
THE ELEVEN DOT ANGELS UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
100 JAHRE ELFPUNKTE-ENGEL 100 YEARS OF ELEVEN DOT ANGELS
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.
JoiningJK2023the collection in October
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.
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. 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 cream-colored 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 the back of the
CHRISTMAS FIGURINE 2022
What is certainly true is that travel stands for a spirit of adventure and discovery, it opens our eyes and teaches tolerance. Whether you are travelling near or far, to exotic lands or to find yourself, taking a short break or a world tour – it is rarely just about the arrival. Our Globetrotter takes you on an entertaining tour and to a time when Grete and Olly Wendt went on travels of their own.
GLOBETROTTER
“To travel is to live” was a sentiment expressed by the Danish poet and writer Hans Christian Andersen, who clearly knew about more than just fairy tales.
Going on a journey ...
The front of the base has space for up to nine characters, with a maximum of four on the back.
W ith a joyful heart in his breast and a golden suitcase in his hand, the Globetrotter strides out full of courage. Even if the suitcases of Grete and Olly Wendt were somewhat more utilitarian they probably painted a similar picture when the two women embarked on their travels. With them they took not only all the things one needs for a journey, but often the whole family as well, including the dog. They travelled, for example, to the Baltic Sea, to visit family in Freienwalde, to the Black Forest, to Denmark or to their summer house in Riga. In the early 1930s Grete Wendt wrote from Lake Chiemsee, “Dear Mam! I have spent a wonderful few days here on the Fraueninsel. Beautiful weather, swimming, peace and quiet, and great company. Tomorrow I travel onwards to Innsbruck. With warm regards (…) Your Grete.” In order to get from A to B, the Wendts chose to travel either by train or by car – usually driven by their own personal chauffeur. Even when the two designers were not travelling with the firm intention of searching for ideas for their work, they often found inspiration that influenced their creative endeavors quite by chance. It was certainly following a trip to Denmark that they translated their impressions of the bustling market at the harbor of Copenhagen into the group of figurines known as the Danish ButFisherwomen.theydidnot travel only for pleasure, business trips also featured on the agenda – to trade fairs and exhibitions in Leipzig, Munich, Monza and Barcelona. And not least to the prestigious Paris World Exhibition in 1937. Even as a student Grete Wendt liked to travel.
How right she was! For when the traveler arrives, it is always with a suitcase full of stories and memories of small incidents and special moments. And whenever he opens the case, these make him stop, reminisce and smile. That is the feeling our Globetrotter wishes to carry with him around the globe. As a faithful companion to distant lands or simply a memento of a happy holiday. For those returning home and world travelers, those with wanderlust and for adventurers. As consolation for those left behind, his message is: “Don’t be sad, I will be back soon.” Or perhaps as a gift for someone special you got to know on your travels.
MYWEN D T & KÜHN
GRETE AND JOHANNES WENDT (center), and their chauffeur enjoy the fresh sea air.
FROM NOW ONWARDS the painters in our workshops will inscribe the Globetrotter with a short message, a name or a date, resulting in a very personal one-off piece.
So, for example, in 1908 she and her class at the Royal Saxon Academy of Applied Art went on a college study trip to Munich. She captured a snapshot of this excursion in her sketch book, and scribbled beside it a ditty along the lines of: “Weighed down with packages, with money in our pockets and feverish with excitement, we all met up at the station.” On another sketch she quotes her teacher Professor Junge also in verse, which sadly does not rhyme in English: “Words of wisdom from Fräulein Junge: strengthen your lungs, your heads, your hearts and your courage, that is what travel is all about and it will certainly do you good.”
STORYGRAND DESIGN LEGACY Back from our
Templates already existed for our proud helmsman Jan Kimm, who has once again sailed into the collection. “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 weather-beaten 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 lathe-turned 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 coneshaped piece of wood to look just like the oilskin cape in the original. 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, 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 painted. 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.
O ur 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.
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 Katringluing.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.
The “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.”
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.
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. “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. 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.
INVALUABLE: Gauges for milling, sanding, sawing, drilling – and gluing, as shown here – guarantee accuracy in hand assembled production.
A REAL EYE-CATCHER: The cockerel designed by Olly Wendt in 1962 has joined the collection for the first time.
THE FAIRY TALE COLLECTION by the Grimm Brothers is one of the greatest treasures of German popular culture.
GrimmandBrothersPussin Boots
TYPICAL GERMAN
Equipped with a pair of boots he requested from his master, the cat sets out to gain wealth and power for the miller’s son – and the hand of a princess. Grete Wendt’s Puss in Boots is stylishly clad in a sage green waistcoat and a forest green hunter’s hat – fittingly equipped for shooting the partridges that he is going to deliver to the king. Striding along with bounding steps in his big red boots, he is set for success to turn his penniless master into the new ruler of the land. A story of eternal beauty, teaching us how persistence pays off and that everyone can make it in life, no matter their background.
Puss in Boots is just one of the fairy-tale figurines that Grete Wendt designed. All of them are based on the famous collection of folk tales captured for eternity by the brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm in the 19th century.
T wo hundred years ago, the Grimm brothers penned one of the greatest treasures of German popular culture: their famous fairy tales. But all the stories of frogs and princesses, girls and wolves, dwarves and giants, had not sprung from their own imagination – they are the very gist of the cultural memory of the German people. Stories told by the warmth of the fire and under star-strewn skies for centuries, handed down from one generation to the next. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella – they all have their roots in Germany. Forever recorded in the fairy tales written down by the Grimm Brothers, who were educated linguists and ethnologists of great renown. Grete Wendt loved the German fairy tales, and she often drew on motifs from the treasure trove of German folk art to find inspiration for her figurines. In our historic sample cabinet you will find Cinderella sitting by the hearth with the lovely doves helping her to sort the good grains from the bad; or Little Red Riding Hood standing next to the four-poster bed with the big bad wolf in it disguised as her grandmother, wondering why her granny has such big eyes and such sharp teeth … And then there is Puss in Boots. A fairly-tale motif of Italian origin that is known in different versions all over Europe, but most famously told by the Grimm Brothers in their prominent collection. The tale tells the story of the youngest son of a miller who inherits a cat – but a very special one. It can talk and is clever.
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.
PREVIEW: 100 YEARS OF THE ELEVEN DOT ANGELS
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
Your favorite angel wanted: Enter to win WHICH IS 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.
“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.
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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.
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 else.
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 I t’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.
Then, 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.”
Risen from the ashes
LIVING TRADITION Part 11
JULIA KEARNEYY with her beloved “Globe” music box
When in the 1920s a large number of music boxes were created, they made the small town of Grünhainichen – Wendt & Kühn’s home from the very beginning – ring with music. And not only in Grünhainichen: The music boxes from our workshops, which for many years have exclusively had a high-quality Swiss musical movement at their heart, captivate people all over the world. From the wide-eyed child all the way to the actress Marlene Dietrich, who brought the magic of Grünhainichen music boxes to Hollywood in the classic film “Blonde Venus”. And at Christmas, even the Swedish royal family decorated their palace in Stockholm with musical masterpieces from Wendt & Kühn. On that note: We wish you a merry Christmas!
A MUSICAL TASTER: You can listen to samples of all our music box melodies on our website www.wendt-kuehn.us.
Every time a child’s delicate hand or the cautious fingers of an adult gently turn the small brass ring on the body of the music box during the Advent season, it releases Wendt & Kühn’s Christmas magic. T he figurines arranged so imaginatively around a central motif in the center of the music box by our company founder, Grete Wendt, revolve slowly round and around. A magnificently decorated Christmas tree starts to rotate at a leisurely pace so that its branches seem to dance with joy. Upbeat and moving, with a hint of nostalgia, these music boxes combine the charm of the mechanical with master craftsmanship. It is the particular sound a music box makes at Christmas that fills our hearts with childlike rapture. Melodies such as the muchloved song “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”, the world-famous “Silent Night” or the German Christmas carol “Am Weihnachtsbaume die Lichter brennen” bring the sound of Christmas into our homes.
Christmas sounds so beautiful WITH WENDT & KÜHN
CHRISTMAS MUSIC BOXES
DISPLAY SHELF WITH SEVEN SLIDING DISKS, LARGE, DARK (19.75 x 7.0 x 551/g/dunkel2.25")
LEAVING THE COLLECTION AT THE END OF THE YEAR | 2022
Publisher: Wendt & Kühn KG, Chemnitzer Straße 40, 09579 Grünhainichen, Germany, Telephone +49 37294 86 286, info@wendt-kuehn.de, www.wendt-kuehn.us
IMPRINT eleven dot post · 6 th Edition · Grünhainichen, Germany, August 2022
Chief Editors, legally responsible for content: Claudia Baer, Thomas Rost, Wendt & Kühn · Editors: Lena Sabotta, Thomas Rost, Wendt & Kühn; Dr. Sylva Sternkopf (5, 14-18, 20) · Design: schech.net | Strategie. Kommunikation. Design. Translation: Dr. Sternkopf media group · Photography: Mirko Hertel (1, 11), Marcus Heilscher (2, 23), Wendt & Kühn (3, 6-11, 22), Jörg Simanowski (4), Juliane Mostertz (5, 15, 17), Archive Wendt & Kühn KG (5, 13, 16), Lucie Eisenmann (12, postcard), neongrau (14, 16), Michael Feindura (17), Wikipedia (18), brennerdesign (18, 21), ruemmlerfotografie (19), private (20) · Printed by: Druckerei Gutermuth, Grünhainichen, Germany
Farewell BUNNY MUSICIAN WITH SONGBOOK AND SMALL TRUMPET 5350/19 BUNNY MUSICIAN WITH TRUMPET 5350/36 BUNNY MUSICIAN WITH CHIMES 5350/58
DISPLAY SHELF WITH SEVEN SLIDING DISKS, LARGE, GREEN without decoration (19.75 x 7.0 x 2.25") 551/g/gruen DISPLAY SHELF WITH SEVEN SLIDING DISKS, LARGE, NATURAL without decoration (19.75 x 7.0 x 2.25") 551/g/natur
MARGUERITE ANGEL, SITTING, WITH ROLLING PIN AND COOKIE DOUGH 634/70/16 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.
WWW.WENDT-KUEHN.USWENDTUNDKUEHN