2009 Edition
ANGELIC NEWS FROM THE WENDT & KÃœHN WORKSHOPS
Free Customer Magazine
little figures in a big world
in memoriam
Hans Wendt b. October 9, 1930 in Chemnitz
d. September 10, 2008 in Dresden
In losing our long-time company owner, we lost an extraordinary man who guided the Wendt & Kühn workshops with vision and expertise for more than four decades. Since first taking over the Wendt & Kühn helm in 1954, he shaped the very foundation of our firm. We have his indefatigable commitment to thank for keeping Wendt & Kühn on track through the most difficult of years until 1990. He blazed the successful path following denationalization until passing on the reins of the company to his son in 2001.
We will forever remain indebted to Hans in so many ways. We will forever miss his experience, his guidance and his presence.
The Partners, Managers, Employees and Works Council of Wendt & Kühn KG · Grünhainichen
eleven dot post
2009 Edition | Page 3
Dear eleven dot post readers Contents Hans Wendt The full life of the ultimate company man
Page 4
Dazzling rebirth The latest and most enchanting ornamentation from our house
Page 8
Dexterous fingers Page 12 Siglinde Schubert in Dittmansdorf nurtures a close relationship with Wendt & Kühn The birthplace Page 14 of Wendt & Kühn The many steps along the way of a stellar transformation – from distributor to manufacturer World of figures The Wendt & Kühn World of Figures has delighted visitors to its Seiffen sales outlet for 5 years
Page 18
Kaleidoscope Collection changes 2009/2010 Open House Days Diverse news and notes from the world of Wendt & Kühn Imprint
Page 22
It’s been a year since the passing of my father Hans, a great man who instrumentally shaped our company for forty years. In running a long feature article in his honor, we take a look back at his eventful journey through life, using the space this magazine gives us to pay a final tribute to this eminent entrepreneur, visionary and man. If not for Hans Wendt’s foresightedness and visionary entrepreneurship, we would never have been able to present all the wonderful new items in this issue to you. Because we have him to thank for ensuring that the wealth of designs left by my aunt Grete weathered the harsh conditions that Hans Wendt (1930-2008) prevailed during the era of socialist East Germany and are still being produced today in our workshops. I hope you will enjoy our selection of new items for 2009, welcomed back to life from our archives and our Sample Cabinet. Proudly leading the pack is Musikus, our Gold Edition No 2, released in a limited special edition run of just 5,555, coming nestled in a beautiful wooden box and featuring a gold-plated base. A truly special collector’s item – at least for those who act fast! Meanwhile, our cherubic Marguerite Angels, staples of our collection for decades, are also getting some new siblings. Festively reissued as Christmas Tree Angels, these gems have proven a beloved classic year after year. And if you ever wondered where the delicate gold rings on which our Christmas Tree Angels are perched come from, this issue includes an article on Siglinde Schubert. The highly skilled hands at her company, housed in a 400-year-old building, produce all the many bent wire parts we need for our figures. Another venerable old building is also featured in this issue: We take you on a trip back in time through the changing history of Wendt & Kühn’s main building in Grünhainichen, a building inextricably coupled with woodcrafting since the 19th century. Remodeled and renovated some years ago, it now gleams in all its “new old” glory, welcoming guests from all over into our own special Wendt & Kühn world. The welcomes are also just as warm to those visiting the Wendt & Kühn World of Figures gallery in the world-famous toymaking village of Seiffen – an entire building devoted to the unique Wendt & Kühn figures. Visitors can’t resist being captivated by these miniature worlds arranged in adorable displays. The upstairs gallery of exhibits rounds out most visits to our Seiffen World of Figures with fascinating glimpses of various periods throughout our 90-year history.
Page 24 Tobias Wendt
Page 4 | 2009 Edition
eleven dot post
Hans Wendt – The full life For more than 40 years, Hans Wendt guided the destiny of the Grünhainichen Wendt & Kühn workshop – a long and above all significant time in which he led the business with commercial skill and visionary foresight through the era of socialism and on into the market economy after Germany’s reunification. Without Hans, our company would not be what it is today. He was the one who kept alive the high caliber of our company, our
such as the tiny Snowflake Angels or the richly adorned Brocade Angels. Johannes Wendt was Grete’s brother and he ran the commercial end of the business for many years. Growing up in Grünhainichen, the twins enjoyed a happy and carefree childhood – always surrounded by the famous angels and all the other figures synonymous with the Wendt name. The twins were entrusted with various production duties from an early age. They often sat in the packing area gluing the famous labels
January of 1946. Grete Wendt had a good friend in Waal (in the Allgäu region) whom she first met during her stay in Munich. Master turner Gebhard Heinz took Hans into his home and into his workshop as a lathe turning apprentice. Hans not only learned wood turning here, he also was an apt pupil in the School of Hard Knocks. As the only apprentice, he was the one cleaning up the workshop and disposing of the shavings every single Saturday long after everyone else had gone home. Life in Allgäu was simple: the room unheated, the
A Wendt Childhood For Hans Wendt and his twin sister Sigrid, Wendt & Kühn was not only their parent’s business and home, but a very special playground, daycare and school (left photo: Hans and Sigrid Wendt pose with a giant Tom Thumb, 1936; right photo: Hans Wendt in front of the workshop, Waal, 1947).
brand name and our unique designs as we progressed into modern times. In our indepth portrait commemorating the anniversary of his death just one year ago, we would like to take another look back at the eventful history of the company and pay our last respects to a man without whom this would be a customer magazine of a very different company indeed. Hans Wendt and his twin sister Sigrid were born in Chemnitz on October 9, 1930 to Olly and Johannes Wendt, both of whom were likewise fixtures of the family business. As a designer, Olly created many unmistakable figures which are today enshrined in our workshop collection
onto the base of the wooden figures. In return, they earned spending money from their parents. Even though it may have only been a couple of pennies, the children loved having their own money. Their innocent childhood came to a sudden and brutal end in 1945. Johannes Wendt, father of the twins, was deported to a camp in Russia where he died a few months later. A Russian officer quartered in the house at the time warned Mother Olly that he had information that her son Hans would also soon be apprehended. To prevent this from happening, the family decided to send him to safety in Bavaria. Hans was just 15 years old when he left in
The apprenticeship certificate (1948) attesting to Hans’ successful completion of his lathe operator training.
bed broken and washing was done in the well in the yard. Meals were hearty and down-to-earth – and Hans loved them. His fondness for cottage cheese and pota-
eleven dot post
2009 Edition | Page 5
of the ultimate company man
When not studying, Hans greatly enjoyed biking through the area with his friends (Summer 1953).
toes stayed with him for the rest of his life. Young Hans developed another great love during this time: the love of wood. Gebhard Heinz was a demanding taskmaster, not only teaching Hans many important crafting techniques, but also a feeling for proportion. His workshop turned out boxes, chair legs and spinning wheels and it was here that Hans acquired his great admiration for first-rate handcrafting, a respect that would guide and distinguish his own work for as long as he lived. Hans also honed his work ethic and sense of accomplishment during this time. Later, when he was at the Wendt helm, he would always see to it that all those who showed themselves to be diligent and hard workers would never work at slave wages or under undignified conditions. Although Hans completed his apprenticeship as a wood turner in February 1948, he still felt somewhat incomplete. When he fled his home, he had to abandon his secondary school education in Zschopau, which he now continued at the business high school in Munich, earning his degree in 1949. After working for a year as a carpenter at the Dippold workshop
in Mühldorf/Inn, he went back to school again at the Rosenheim State Architectural Academy, graduating in 1953 as a “Wood Industry Operations Engineer”. Hans always remembered this as his happiest time. Despite a tight budget, he had many great experiences with his friends and fellow students, including exploring much of beautiful Bavaria by bicycle. In 1953, he enrolled for a further year at the Academy of Applied Science in Munich to earn the degree of industrial engineer. After finally finishing all his schooling in 1954, Hans had a major decision to make: accept one of the many job offers in the West or return to his East German homeland? The latter would mean giving up most of the privileges he’d grown used to, including the freedom to travel as he liked. Yet Hans knew where his heart belonged. He felt that the company back in Grünhainichen needed him and thus he returned home, now a 24-year-old man. His aunt Grete was 67 by then. She desperately needed a business manager for the workshop after Hans’ father was deported and died. And so it came to be that Hans Wendt joined the company on November 1, 1954 as Operations Manager. He became co-owner, together with Grete, on July 1, 1957. Hans married in May of 1961. Together with his wife, he moved into the living quarters in the company’s old half-timbered house (see pages 14-17 of this edition). His marriage produced three children – a girl and two boys. His younger son Tobias would later take over the Grünhainichen workshop and has managed its operation since 2001. Hans Wendt proved to have great skill and entrepreneurial foresight in managing the company through the decades. The economy of socialist East Germany was based on state-owned businesses. The obstacles were daunting for a private company during this time. In addition to the bureaucracy, there were never-ending material shortages. Hans always figured out the loopholes, the way to get things done and his determined perseverance paid off to the benefit of the company.
In 1972, the government issued a momentous resolution to nationalize what had always been private companies. Hans, recognizing the act as inevitable, did not fight it. He sold the company to the state – and in so doing, yet again proved his entrepreneurial sixth sense. Among his other conditions, he ensured that his aunt Grete received licensing compensation – even if only minimal – for the use of the company designs. Another of his clever gambits was having the new people’s enterprise being given the title of industrial arts (in German:
As a newly-degreed engineer (1954) Hans returned to his homeland and the family-run business.
“Werk-Kunst”). That kept the initials of W&K, which would prove to be of crucial advantage when rebuilding the historical name after Germany’s eventual reunification. And the fact that Hans was allowed to stay on to manage the people’s company was also highly unusual. Although, truth be told, there was simply no one else who could have taken on this role in anywhere near his ability or quality. Even when running the people’s company, Hans cut no corners when it came to quality or remaining true to the original designs. Hardly a day would pass when he himself did not spend hours on the drill or inspecting the painting of the Brocade
Page 6 | 2009 Edition
eleven dot post
with specialty outlets, giving them the opportunity to order directly from Wendt & Kühn. Desperately needed investments topped the significant measures taken after Germany’s reunification. In 40 years of socialism, it was only possible to integrate technical improvements and modern technology to a very limited extent. But now such opportunities were there for the taking. The existing structure was in dire need of renovation and modernization, new production buildings were built on company grounds, and much of the machinery was also updated with numerous acquisitions. All told, 7 million Euros were invested after denationalization – certainly also a factor contributing to the enormous
Ever-conscientious In his capacity as co-owner and manager, Hans expresses his appreciation to deserving employees at the company’s 50th anniversary celebration in 1965 – with Grete Wendt at his side.
Angels. Quality control was everything to him. With one quick glance, he could pick out the one lone figure from among hundreds which might have the slightest flaw in painting. After being integrated into the state combine for Erzgebirge folk art, the People’s Werk-Kunst was part of the planned economy from 1972 to 1990. Hans’ operational skills served him very well in maintaining his own and the company’s key values even under these most difficult conditions: the manufacturing quality still remained the highest, suitable materials were still acquired and superior workmanship still ensured, and the figures were never massproduced. Hans thus managed to keep the reputation of the Grünhainichen Angels ™ untarnished through even the most difficult circumstances. Hans never stopped running the people’s company as if it were his own – as far as circumstances allowed. His qualities made him a strong personality and esteemed company director known throughout the entire region. Always re-
maining true to himself, Hans never became a party member. When the Wall came down, Hans Wendt was 60 years old. But yet he never saw this as a time to hesitate. He enthusiastically embraced the new beginning. He was finally able to realize all that which had been impossible for so many decades. On July 1, 1990 – 75 years after the company’s founding – he bought it back from the state. Finally the company could operate under the Wendt & Kühn name once again. As an entrepreneur, Hans was in his element. Visibly thriving, he put his brilliant entrepreneurial skills again to the benefit of the workshop. For instance, he didn’t undersell the goods at the devalued East German currency but rather stockpiled them to sell to wholesalers in the former West Germany after the monetary union. He also recognized that the company would soon need to break away from the wholesaler system and begin supplying retailers directly. So old customer lists were dug up and contacts reestablished
Hans never lost his critical eye for high quality and smooth, perfected workshop production.
post-reunification growth of the company. In the midst of all these innovations and investments, Hans always kept his employees’ welfare close to his heart. He advocated modern working conditions, took smart economic steps to increase wages, and made sure a friendly and comfortable working atmosphere always prevailed. Typical of his social-minded approach, Hans was often known to pose the rhetorical question, “Where would a boss be without his employees?”
eleven dot post
Tobias Wendt – managing partner of Wendt & Kühn KG – together with his father.
2009 Edition | Page 7
As 2001 drew to a close, Hans handed over the reins of the company to his youngest son Tobias. Although he officially retired on December 31, 2001, he still kept an eye on company happenings. He’d pop into the workshop almost every day, share some jokes with an employee or two, and offer managerial advice to his son whenever asked. On October 7, 2002, Hans Wendt was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in appreciation of his life’s accomplishments. After a long illness, Hans died in Dresden on September 10, 2008 at the age of 77. His death was not only a great loss for the Wendt family but also for the company and felt throughout the entire industry. His
innate sense for artistic design, his great vision, his social mindset when it came to his employees, his unassuming and bold entrepreneurial managing of the company and above all his business skills were ideally combined to ensure that Wendt & Kühn remained and remains one of Germany’s best-known manufacturers, today as it was
Saxon Prime Minister Milbradt presenting Hans with the Federal Cross of Merit in appreciation of his life’s accomplishments in 2002.
almost 100 years ago. For more than 40 years, Hans Wendt guided the destiny of the company through an exceedingly difficult time with his heart, soul and brilliant mind. Despite all the adversities of the socialist regime, he was able to introduce the workshop figures to much of the world. Preserving the originality of the designs and the high quality of their handcrafted production was always near to his heart. We feel a great deal of responsibility in continuing this legacy – so that the unique figures from Wendt & Kühn will continue to spread joy throughout the world for many more years to come. Completely in the spirit of Hans Wendt.
Top priority Hans remained committed to the positive growth of the Wendt & Kühn workshop and the welfare of its employees his entire life – even after turning the business over to his son Tobias in 2002.
Page 8 | 2009 Edition
eleven dot post
The latest and most enchanting This year as every year, the Grünhainichen workshops of Wendt & Kühn again present a number of heavenly new items from the Grand Sample Cabinet, all handcrafted in strict conformity to the manufacturer’s original designs. We invite you to accompany us on an entertaining stroll through our delightful profusion of novelties and discover some new favorites to add to your own personal wish list.
650/70/18 Angel with flute on tail of a comet
650/11a Angel with cymbals, sitting
650/90/12b Angel with songbook and bird on clip
650/68 Angel with lyre 650/115 Musikus with gold-plated clef, Gold Edition No 2
Music boxes have been among our greatest popular classics for decades on end. This year, we are reissuing one of the most beloved – our Christmas Tree music box. This beauty was the very first of its kind designed by Grete Wendt in the 1920s – in a sense, it’s the mother of all Wendt & Kühn music boxes, originally issued as article number 303/1. We feel that even after eighty years, it still has that special “number one” quality. Revolving to the harmony ringing out from the 36-tone Swiss music works, the Christmas tree decked with golden balls and stars not only gives this masterpiece its name but also forms the central motif. Cherubic Angel Musicians on flute, violin and trumpet encircle the bejeweled Christmas tree in celebration of the yuletide melodies. Two divine candle-bearers, likewise based on historic Grete Wendt designs, also
528/2 Angel holding candles, white, size 2
5301/2 Santa Claus with candles
help to set a nostalgic Christmas mood: a wee Santa Claus originally conceived in 1925/26 and our little Angel 28. Both figures are about 6 cm tall (2.3 in) and thus among the smallest of their kind. Their most distinctive feature might well be their elegant white wooden candles, reflecting the joy that light has always brought to the yuletide season – although these candles are of course not meant to be lit! For many decades, tiny Angel 28 could only be admired in our Grand Sample Cabinet as part of our considerable “Angel Family” (in six different sizes). Now, Angel 28 is also being reissued to spread some
eleven dot post
2009 Edition | Page 9
ornamentation
from our house
650/115/LE Musikus with gold-plated clef and gold-plated base, Limited Gold Edition No 2
650/130/4 Angel with mandolin, suspended
634/70/15 Marguerite angel with train
5336/1A Music box Christmas tree with 36-tone music work, Melody: “Silent night”.
634/70/14 Marguerite angel with needle and teddy baer
634/70/13 Marguerite angel with Angel 28
Christmas joy of its very own. The origin of Angel 28, another great classic from the Grünhainichen workshops, goes all the way back to 1912. At that time – almost 100 years ago – Grete Wendt designed the very first angel in what is now her unmistakable style. From that earliest beginning of her lengthy esteemed career, this white classic with green wings has long since become a fixture of our workshop collection. And the joyful parade of new Grünhainichen Angels ™ continues: Dignified Musikus – as guardian of our musical treasures, our coveted Gold Edition No 2 – first greeted you at the beginning of this year. Now just in time for Christmas, we’re releasing this noble sentinel in a limited special edition run of 5,555. With its gold-plated metal base and packaged in a beautiful custommade wooden box, Musikus is destined to
Page 10 | 2009 Edition
eleven dot post
6307/51 Little suspended angel with star
6308/36 Christmas tree angel in a ring with trumpet
become a coveted collector’s item. The figures, wooden boxes and folder are numbered sequentially so you can tell which of the angels from our limited run of 5,555 you’ll be calling your very own. We will only be distributing this limited special edition to our retailers in specific allotments. A couple of additional notes on the splint boxes in which this limited edition comes: Using thin peelings of chipped wood to create splint boxes has a long tradition in the Erzgebirge region as attractive packaging. Nestled in wood shavings, figures of yore were perfectly protected for their long journey out into the world and Wendt & Kühn artistically painted these boxes with elaborate designs (although these boxes have never been produced in our workshops). Today, such delicate yet sturdy packaging has become a rarity. Which makes us even more excited to be able to offer you our limited special edition in such a special decorative box. In enriching our large Angel Orchestra, our jolly ensemble of musicians, headed this season by Musikus, have mastered a wide variety of instruments to bring you new sounds and impressions in perfect harmony: The Angel with Lyre gently plucks its magical strings, the Clip Angel with Songbook raises such a beautiful voice to
Knitting circle Even though the rotund skirt of the “Knitting Rococo” (Art. No. 5272/1) provides more than enough room to accommodate a ball of yarn, her best feature may well be the utterly striking appearance she makes. This stately lady is the second knitter to be reissued into the current Wendt & Kühn collection.
eleven dot post
5311/3 Construction worker with wheelbarrow
the heavens that a tiny bird alights on his hand to blissfully add his own warble to the mix, the Sitting Angel with Cymbals keeps just the right tempo, the Angel with Flute rides a shooting yellow comet from aloft, while the Suspended Angel with Mandolin keeps a watchful eye on all the joyful happenings. There will be nothing missing from your Christmas concert this year – our Grünhainichen Angels ™ are all in place to enchant one and all with their festive sounds as they have long done so well. Joining in the Christmas celebrations for the very first time this year is another wee little friend whose siblings have also long been among our most beloved: the Christmas Tree Angel with Trumpet seated in a golden ring. This Christmas Tree Angel in Gold Ring originated with Olly Wendt and quickly became a favorite ornament adorning Christmas trees all over the world in the many decades following its original release. Their hands were originally free so that they could hold on tightly should the ring swing too much on their vaulted branch of the Christmas tree. But after decades of practice, they’ve become skilled at sitting without having to hold on. They learned their melodies from their bigger Angel Musician cousins and are now very eager to play their own instruments for you. The first Snowflake Musician in the ring blows his trumpet and will surely be blessed with a couple of siblings in the coming years, while the Little Suspended Angel with Star, floating down from the lofty heights this year to bring you such
2009 Edition | Page 11
5311/7 Painter with ladder
dazzling seasonal greetings, is part of the Snowflake Angel family and has his own plans for delighting us in the coming year with many further additions. Further joy bring the three tiny Snowflake Angels lending an industrious helping hand to the Christmas preparations high in the heavens, supplementing a series we started in the past few years. And these little helpers sure have a lot to do: one angel fixes the wheels on a toy train, another wields a large needle to sew an ear onto a teddy bear, and the third artistically applies a few ultrafine brushstrokes to our classic Angel 28. No less hard-working are our classic lady knitters who not only prove handy when knitting, but also cut a very striking figure. With enough space for a ball of yarn under their rotund skirts, they conveniently allow lengths of the yarn to be pulled
out from their handbags. This year, Knitting Rococo makes her grand debut in a dapper green-checkered dress to join her friend Knitting Biedermeier whom we introduced last year. Look for these ladies to be joined by a third cheery friend to form a knitting circle next season as well. Meanwhile, for hard work of a different kind, we showcase the two workmen completing the series we first started in 2006. Our Construction Worker with Wheelbarrow and Painter with Ladder complete our seven-piece workmen series. And on a more playful front, two delightful Dutch Blossom Kinder with accordion and flower basket bringing carefree greetings from the land of tulips also wanted to be part of a series. Grete Wendt enjoyed many trips to the Netherlands in the 1920s, and her travels certainly inspired these whimsical creations. If we allow our imagination to wander forth just a bit, we can actually already see next Easter on the horizon, and the sweet little Easter Girl with her cart brimming with colorful eggs in excited anticipation. But first, let’s all delight in a joyful Christmas 2009 – the endearing figures from our Grünhainichen workshops will surely help set the perfect mood for the season.
5240/7 Easter Girl with cart
539/26 Dutch boy with accordeon
539/30 Dutch girl with flower basket
Please note: While our products are available for purchase at your local specialist retailer or at the Wendt & Kühn outlets in Grünhainichen and the health resort town of Seiffen, we cannot accept individual mail orders.
Page 12 | 2009 Edition
eleven dot post
Miniscule parts call for dexterous fingers The genial little Wendt & Kühn angels with green wings have innumerable talents – they sing and dance, ride storks and stars, but their greatest gift is making music. Our joyful coterie of angels meanwhile fills an entire orchestra and between them, these winged emissaries have mastered more than 60 instruments. But unlike the wooden angels themselves, most of their tiny accessories are made from bent wire.
centuries. A heavy metal sign likely from the twenties hangs on the door and exudes the same deep sense of history one feels from every corner of the building. The sign simply proclaims “Office” – and here reigns Siglinde Schubert, the director of the Schubert workshop. She welcomes us with a friendly smile from behind her typewriter: “I truly like pounding away at this thing,” she says disarmingly. “After all, it’s what I originally trained in.”
built as a lumber mill, first mentioned in official records in 1589. Some parts of the facility like the downpipes and tail channels have been preserved to the present day. The premises were later converted to a flour mill with its own bakery which then stood until about 1860. Even the notoriously famous Karl Stülpner (1762-1841) is said to have bought his bread here. Poacher and folk hero, Stülpner is probably the most celebrated legend of the Erzgebirge region
Good neighbor Siglinde Schubert feels a close connection to Wendt & Kühn – she’s not only forged a 15+ year working relationship, but personally delights in our celestial figures. Her historic company buildings are situated directly below the Dittmannsdorf town church (right photo from 1938).
Please come along as we take a peek into the sophisticated precision-piece workshop run by Siglinde Schubert, where bent wire is turned into angelic cranks, clefs and instruments. The family-run Schubert company, which manufactures wire items for Wendt & Kühn, is located in the peaceful Erzgebirge town of Dittmannsdorf, just 15 minutes from Grünhainichen. Seemingly endless stairs ascend to the upper areas of the historical building, home to various different workshops for more than four
Siglinde has been working in this historyinfused building since 1966 – she started when she was 25 and now seems like a fixture of the building herself. After Germany’s reunification, she and her husband came to own the workshop here for which she previously held the position of operations manager. After his passing six years ago, she has been the sole commander at the helm. The building which today accommodates the “Mechanical Workshop” had formerly been
and for many he will always be known as a swashbuckling hunter and defender of the poor, a genuine Saxonian Robin Hood. Wendt & Kühn purchases a great number of small wire goods from the Mechanical Workshop, some of them incorporating multiple bendings, to use as mouse tails, stork and ladybug legs and, of course, halos. The bent wire pieces for so many of our instruments are also made here. The shop’s workload has even increased since January when Wendt & Kühn welcomed
eleven dot post
2009 Edition | Page 13
The delicate wire pieces for Wendt & Kühn figures all come from Siglinde Schubert’s workshop – allowing the Grünhainichen Angels ™ such joys as blowing their horns and, most recently, cranking their barrel organs.
the Barrel Organ Angel into the fold. The practiced fingers of the wire benders give the barrel organ cranks their characteristic form. Other family members are just as industrious: “My daughter-in-law is also working on those cranks right now,” Siglinde informs us during our visit, and we watch for a while over the young woman’s shoulder. As an avid collector herself, Siglinde fosters a close relationship with the eleven dot angels, even inheriting some particularly
old and rare pieces. Her favorite figure is the cat welcomed back into the Wendt & Kühn collection in 2007. “It reminds me of my own kitty who is an amazing 18 years old now,” says Siglinde. In addition to the bent wire pieces the company produces for Wendt & Kühn, it also manufactures different items for the automotive industry, for welding equipment and limited lots of other products. Sometimes, as we learned, the Mechanical Workshop even produces a limited run of vials for holy anointing
oil – for whom, though, remains classified information. Yet bent wire pieces for artistic enterprises accounts for a major part of their production. Siglinde’s company has worked with Wendt & Kühn since 1993. It all started after she simply approached Hans Wendt, former head of the company, directly. It didn’t take long thereafter for the first order to come in – for extension sleeves. The work has not changed much since then. The pieces still continue to be mostly produced by hand. But since Wendt & Kühn always brings new figures back into its active collection each year, while withdrawing others for certain periods, change is always the name of the game with the pieces the Schubert company manufactures: “When we get something new, we often deliberate for a long time about the best way to manufacture it. As is so often the case, the devil is in the details here,” says Siglinde, speaking from experience. The ultimate objective is to have all these pieces look identical to the old designs sketched by Grete Wendt or those working alongside her at the time. Since Wendt & Kühn all but exclusively limits itself to strictly following the original designs produced over the course of its rich 90year history, a great deal of dexterity, sure instinct and historical appreciation is essential. Retirement is not in the foreseeable future for the meanwhile 67-year-old Siglinde, “I plan to keep on going here until I’m 70 and then, well, we’ll see…,” she says to most everyone she meets, of course with a sly smile. That certainly makes us happy to hear and we look forward to many more years of excellent partnership!
Page 14 | 2009 Edition
eleven dot post
The birthplace of Wendt & Kühn – Have you journeyed yet to Wendt & Kühn headquarters? The heart of the Grünhainichen workshop has been beating strong within a picturesque half-timbered house for over 90 years. The history of our building goes all the way back to the 1830s. From the very beginning, wooden crafts played an important role within these time-honored walls. Come join us as we venture back in time! The half-timbered house was built around
of their homes and small craft businesses throughout the area produced dollhouses, play stores and arks to then fill with small figurines and animals. There would be a steady stream of craftsmen bringing their goods to the toy distributor in baskets and panniers, in carts and carriages. As a distributor, Weber would buy these goods directly from the craftsmen to then sell at markets or distribute throughout the world. By the early part of the 20th century, the old Weber toy distributor and warehouse
so long, the building was in a sorry state and despite the generous financial support provided by her father, taking out a line of credit was an inevitable step. Since the building was primarily a warehouse up to that point, major remodeling was required to turn it into acceptable living and production space. Because money was tight in the company’s initial years, being able to use some of the previous fixtures and fittings was an added benefit and even included a small, fully furnished office.
Visual chronicle The sketch on the left shows the rear of what would later become the distribution company (ca. 1830) – contrasted by likely the oldest photograph documenting what is now Wendt & Kühn’s headquarters when it was still the Carl Weber distribution company with its “open-air office” onto the street (ca. 1870).
1830 by the wooden toy distributor Carl Weber. The original structure, much smaller than it is today, only consisted of the middle part of the current building. Over the course of the years, Weber added extensions to the building on both sides. His first expansion is thought to have been in 1844 – this year is noted in the cornice above the door. Grünhainichen was already a well-known toy village by that time. Countless craftspeople working out
had been sitting empty for a number of years and was actually pegged for demolition. Enter Grete Wendt – after being lauded in various competitions and on the trade fair circuit, resulting in unprecedented demand for her designs, she was looking for suitable premises where she could produce her figures. The old distributor’s building in the center of Grünhainichen caught her eye and she purchased the property in 1915. After standing empty for
Grete was finally able to fulfill her ultimate dream of doing all her work in her very own workshop. Previously, she had made her figures at her parent’s home or at the vocational school where her father was headmaster. Of course, this was all right at the time of the First World War and, as a young woman, Grete was certainly very courageous to tackle such a venture under those circumstances. But she took the plunge and her new company moved
eleven dot post
2009 Edition | Page 15
from distributor to manufacturer into the building in time to celebrate the Pentecost holiday in 1917. Due to the positive growth of the small company, new extensions were continually added in the early years. In 1924, a new production building was adjoined to the half-timbered house. The heart of the company, our Sample Room, was also built during this time and concurrently used back then as an office. The workshop continued to grow up until the Second World War, and then Wendt & Kühn
found itself right in the thick of the wartime turmoil. The building gave shelter to 22 refugees, many of them from the Baltic area, since Olly Wendt, who lived in the half-timbered house for more than 60 years, originally came from Riga in Latvia. This meant squeezing in even closer together and sharing what little food was available. Food was hidden not only in the wooden ceiling of the upper floor hallway which, like the stairway handrail, was built by Grete Wendt’s father Albert, but
also in the grand sample cabinet, where wine and liqueur would be found years later (see eleven dot post 2008). Two Russian officers were also quartered in the building after the war.
The painters in the company’s early years worked in what is today our showroom (large photo), as seen in the floor plan for the 1916 remodeling (drawing at lower left). The lumberyard was located adjacent the half-timbered house at that time (upper right photo) and a hardy 2 HP was all that was needed to transport our goods (above photo).
Grete Wendt in her apartment on the second floor of the half-timbered house (ca. 1935). After the 1997 reconstruction, Tobias Wendt made this space his office.
Page 16 | 2009 Edition
Because a difficult housing market prevailed in Eastern Germany after the war all the way up until the 1980s, the building was actually rented through the years to different families as living space. Even Hans Wendt lived here with his family. In 1980, the building was added to the central register of historic monuments. Restoration work was needed in order to preserve the invaluable historic structure of the old half-timbered building. Yet during the socialist East Germany era, the necessary building materials were very hard to come by because the state rationed them
eleven dot post
in the face of a shortage economy. With reunification and denationalization of the company, the preservation of the building – now having become urgent – could finally get underway in 1990. How wonderful it was to have a world of building materials widely available and no longer have to wait for rationed cement! The extensive restoration and renovation work continued throughout the entire decade. Among the measures taken was proudly brandishing the “Wendt & Kühn 1916” inscription again above the entrance. Meanwhile, full reconstruction of the historically listed
building began in 1997. During the entire reconstruction and modernization, great diligence was paid to working around and preserving the historic structure. Important historical details were preserved, for example in the design and color of the new doors and handrails. It was endeavored to always find the greatest possible harmony between color, design and functionality. For instance, high-quality stone floors extend through the ground floor while durable carpeting was laid in the office area. This great attention to historic detail and ensuring a coherent,
Monument to history If these half-timbered walls could talk, they would speak volumes on the impressive history of this venerable traditional manufacturer and the eventful
eleven dot post
befitting overall picture, also extended to the company grounds. Thus, today – just as it was decades ago – two birch trees flank the main entrance. The entire reconstruction and modernization was distinguished by the attention given to creating and retaining the company’s characteristic architecture. The company’s colors, in particular the distinctive Wendt & Kühn green, was an important element of the conceptual design. And thus the character of the almost 180-yearold building was attentively adapted to the Erzgebirge landscape, the Grünhainichen
2009 Edition | Page 17
The 1997 reconstruction included the creation of a modern showroom.
townscape and the realities of our modern age – so that the building today, as in days long past, can still draw people from all over in a common love of beautiful things and an appreciation for true quality. Wendt & Kühn headquarters has always been a popular place for artists and cultural supporters to meet through the years – from actress Helene Weigel and ceramic artist Hedwig Bollhagen to Prof. Rudolf Mauersberger, Cantor of the Dresdner Kreuzchor (Boys Choir of the Kreuzkirche Church in Dresden), to the recently deceased designer and sculptor Hans Brock-
Door to the world The new, old doors of the halftimbered house only open today when Wendt & Kühn figures and music boxes are picked up for shipment throughout the world. So nice to see again: the exposed inscription above the door.
hage. Journalists and film teams have meanwhile been flocking to the House of the Angels since the 1930s especially around Christmastime – another tradition that continues to the present day. And of course our venerable home is always open to all visitors who yearn to see the birthplace of the world-famous Grünhainichen Angels ™ with their very own eyes. life of owner family Wendt.
Page 18 | 2009 Edition
eleven dot post
World of Figures Wendt & Kühn’s World of Figures gallery in likely the most well-known Erzgebirge village of Seiffen displays the grand Wendt & Kühn collection in a setting unlike any other in the world. The World of Figures also houses an absorbing review of the eventful history of our company. We spoke with some of the many people who were involved in its development and creation. “Day after day, I had a perfect view of the earliest beginnings of the World of Figures from my desk – in fact, the scale model of it, created back then by Barbara Graupner, is actually still in my office,” explains Wendt & Kühn manager Tobias Wendt. “It reminds me of the time when creating and realizing this undertaking was the culmination of a long-held dream. It wasn’t easy, opening a completely redesigned thematic world for Wendt & Kühn enthusiasts less than ten months after purchasing the former butcher’s shop – especially when you consider that not only did the old building have to be completely renovated within that time, but the entire environment for the Springtime World had to be built from the ground up.” “The idea of opening a retail outlet in Seiffen for our friends and customers, one in which they could experience the entire Wendt & Kühn world in one place, had been a dream of mine for almost as long as I can remember,” reflects Tobias. “And Seiffen, being one of the magnets of the
Erzgebirge region, draws a huge number of visitors and tourists. I envisioned an outlet different from any other that would give our customers that utterly unique Wendt & Kühn feeling. Our figures more than deserve to be presented in their very own world – this idea also inspired the ‘World of Figures’ name and it’s reflected at every single turn. The outlet is divided into a Springtime and a Christmas World and the display cases were also designed to present all the figures in their very own small worlds. Those who enter our world here are immediately struck by the different moods we created simply with color – the sunny yellow and subtle green defining the Springtime World versus the deeper colors and starry sky dominating the Christmas World. Typical Wendt & Kühn motifs such as flowers and stars are also sprinkled liberally throughout. What we’ve created here is the full impression of transporting visitors from the everyday world into ours. Other touches like the oversized Wendt & Kühn figures and music boxes only reinforce this effect, as do the historical exhibits and video productions which bring the Wendt & Kühn experience even closer. Attention was also paid to giving all the figures and displays a generous amount of space so we could present them all in their very best light.” “The ideas were certainly there,” explains Tobias, “all that was missing was the right building. But it’s not that easy to find the perfect place in Seiffen because almost
every building is already occupied by some sort of crafts business. We needed a building that was as close as possible to the center of town and large enough for us to realize all our ideas. Very unexpectedly, and much faster than we ever dreamed, we had the chance to buy a building, a butcher’s shop, that had everything we needed. This was just before Christmas 2002. We didn’t have much time to deliberate – there was only a few days to make the decision. Even before the purchase was official, our creative juices started flowing. We wanted to welcome visitors to Seiffen by the very next Christmas season – an ambitious goal. We had less than ten months – and that included getting all the official permits and approvals! We met with many trusted and also new partners in order to realize all our ideas. For construction matters, we turned to civil engineer Jan Brückner, who had previously helped us in the extensive 1997 renovation of our half-timbered house in Grünhainichen. The perfect design was a collaborative effort from Barbara Graupner – then going by Schleupner – and Ralf Brenner, our long-time graphic artist and designer; together they make a very dedicated team. The spring of 2003 was then a wonderful time of planning and developing, a very inspiring and motivating period. Discussions primarily hinged on whether we wanted to take a traditional approach or if we should venture into new territory. As it turned out, emulating the Wendt & Kühn
The photo on the left shows the original building (former butcher’s shop) now home to our World of Figures gallery in Seiffen prior to its reconstruction in the winter of 2002. The middle photograph documents the work in progress in the fully gutted building interior; on the right, our brand new gallery aglow in the magical light of early evening.
eleven dot post
2009 Edition | Page 19
The old utility and stockrooms behind the main building (left photo: prior to reconstruction) have since been razed (middle photo). Today, visitors enter into a colorful Springtime World at that same spot (right photo: courtyard entrance), with a midnight blue Christmas World beckoning to them from the distance (top large photo).
Page 20 | 2009 Edition
company philosophy, we did both – renovated the old building in compliance with the various regulations for historic monuments while simultaneously adding a dash of the new and modern. This approach is actually the basis of everything we do at Wendt & Kühn: embrace today without losing sight of yesterday.” “I still remember the day we discussed the color for the building’s exterior like it was yesterday. Jan Brückner at first didn’t dare to voice what he was thinking. In the end, he spoke of a deep dark green. ‘Green is the traditional Wendt & Kühn color,’ he
eleven dot post
said. ‘And if we want to create something extraordinary here, then it’s the obvious answer.’ After a brief period of skepticism, we all realized that this was in fact the perfect solution.” “Meanwhile, right in the middle of construction, Seiffen got hit by a storm, the likes of which had not been seen for decades. Water was raging down the main street; the street became a torrential river, more than 30 cm (12 in) deep. The flood did a lot of damage in Seiffen but we were lucky: we had just walled up the two old doors and not yet broken through for the
new door in the middle. So the water surged past the outside of the building and we ended up with far less damage than many other Seiffen businesses. All we suffered was a slight construction delay.” “The concepts for every little detail were a key part of the design. Everything needed to contribute to the overall harmonious picture. That included such gems as our World of Figures wish lists that allow visitors to note the article numbers of their favorite figures – with dark green pencils, of course, keeping with the Wendt & Kühn colors! Even the brass doorknobs feature
Wonders and wishes Awash in midnight blue under a twinkling canopy of stars, the famous Angel Musicians atop the life-sized revolving music box melodiously welcome all brimming with historical exhibits and accompanying displays documenting the company’s long and eventful history.
eleven dot post
the Wendt & Kühn logo. Things really heated up by the end of the construction. So much was happening at the same time: the interior design, the building of the custom display cases, manufacturing the lifesized music boxes… everything was finally coming together. Right before we opened, there was a real tour de force. We had to make sure every little detail rang true. This
2009 Edition | Page 21
painstaking detail work probably took the most time and nerves of anything else. But we made it: October 3, 2003. After only ten months from start to finish, the Wendt & Kühn World of Figures opened its doors to visitors. The response was overwhelming – and made all the trials and tribulations along the way worthwhile,” recaps Tobias. Our two designers, Barbara Graupner and Ralf Brenner, also have their own personal memories of this exciting time. We asked them to relate their impressions on behalf of all of those who dedicated almost a year to this project:
Barbara Graupner, Designer: Good ideas come from a fusion of the time-tested and the new – our concept being an exquisite case in point. I had so many interesting discussions with Tobias Wendt which gave me much greater insight into the fascinating family history. I’m very involved in the Wendt & Kühn figures – their production today, but also the full entire legacy of designs. We had over 200 square meters (2152 sq. ft.) to develop a sophisticated company outlet, but we had only one ultimate goal: to present the classic collection in its entirety
visitors to the Wendt & Kühn World of Figures gallery in Seiffen. While the Springtime World is visibly in bloom toward the rear, a staircase leads to the upper floor gallery
Page 22 | 2009 Edition
eleven dot post
Kaleidoscope as an illustrative tribute by incorporating the product into expressive settings and establishing the relationship to the history of this great family and company. Our design of the Wendt & Kühn World of Figures in the toymaking village of Seiffen is thus based on the concept of “thinking outside the box”. Starting with the exterior façade in its deep green pleasingly matching the wooden windows which we kept in warm orange tones. Inside, the atmosphere is created virtually single-handedly by the interplay of colors. The focal point: two oversized music boxes. The display cases arranged around them present the vast diversity of the collection. And inbetween are life-like thematic worlds, always offering something new to discover. Ralf Brenner, Designer: Creating moods and marvels For me, the most important aspect of collaborating on the design was conveying to the outlet visitors something of the fascination of these captivating figures by creating individual large and small illustrative stories, taking the visitors on a journey through the innocent and carefree world of the crafted figures from this traditional manufacturer. Illuminated theatrical settings are the key; lighting sets the stage as the musical angels of the Grand Orchestra emerge from the subdued light of the nighttime Christmas World, or Santa laden with presents appears together with his cherubic companions, or the sweet little angels peek down from the clouds. This scene merges into the Springtime World by way of the huge music box in the atrium, changing into a meadow abloom with Blossom Kinder, bunnies and birds, pint-sized musicians frolicking together in their delight of the music from the music box and hard-working harvesters bearing the fruits of their labor making their way home. For me as well, this work for Wendt & Kühn was both a discovery as well as an inspiring delight in more ways than one. I hope to have memorably conveyed the end result to all the visitors who come to experience it.
Some of our figures will also celebrate their swan song in 2009 as their manufacture will thereafter cease for a time and they snuggle back into the Grünhainichen Sample Cabinet. The full listing below reveals all the pieces which will not be available from Wendt & Kühn after 2009 for at least five years: 5229/1/2 Pair with spring twigs 5229/3-4 Pair with forest twigs 5256/3G Duck, large 5256/7 Duckies, small 5269/3 2 Duckies 5284 Pied Piper 537/1-3 Berry gatherer children 538/1-2 Lumberjack and Woman with mushroom basket 5407/1-2 Dancing couple 590 Lullaby family 5322/4 Moving cart with angels 650/50 Angel seesaw with 2 angels 650/62 Angel on sledge, lying 650/63 Angel on sledge with muff 650/64 Angel on sledge, sitting 5301/6 Santa Claus with tree and staff 6311 Angels with instruments on clips, 6 figurines
A few of the figures we will produce for the last time in 2009: Berry gatherer children (Art.-Nr.: 537/1-3).
Fascinating peek behind the scenes The charming figures from the traditional house of Wendt & Kühn have been skillfully crafted by hand for more than nine decades. If you’re curious to see for yourself how a small piece of wood becomes an angel – all the many steps involved – or how the tiny, elaborately bent metal instruments from Siglinde Schubert’s workshop are cradled in the arms of our Angel Musi-
cians, then please come see us on one of our Open House days. We cordially invite you to our Grünhainichen headquarters, a magical place where there’s always some-
Tree trimming Come see our manner of indoor horticulture during one of our upcoming Open House Days – along with a first-hand running commentary.
thing new to discover. We’ll have more than 35 of our industrious employees on hand to demonstrate how and what they create right before your very eyes. Peek over the shoulders of our craftspeople as they turn and shape the raw wood and glue various pieces together, then dip-coat and paint each finished product. Experience in person how our exquisite music boxes are given their unmistakable look in the skilled hands of our painters and take in a few of the other fun events and surprises we always line up for our Open House guests. The smallest of our visitors are offered a variety of exciting things to do in the “Crafts Corner” and the beautiful, seasonally-decorated Photo Corner gives you the chance to document your visit for a memory to last forever. And with a little luck, perhaps you’ll even make the acquaintance of a real, live Wendt & Kühn angel…
eleven dot post
Open House Days 2009/2010 Wendt & Kühn in Grünhainichen, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day: 30 Oct - 1 Nov 2009 (Reformation Day) 28 - 29 Nov 2009 (First Advent) 13 - 15 Mai 2010 (Ascension Day) 29 Oct - 1 Nov 2010 (Reformation Day) Wendt & Kühn World of Figures Gallery in Seiffen, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day: 17 - 18. Oct 2009 (Day of Trad. Crafts) 3 - 4 Apr 2010 (Easter) 16 - 17 Oct 2010 (Day of Trad. Crafts)
2009 Edition | Page 23
Voices and Thoughts “We are all avid collectors of 11 Dots. We each have collected for 25-30 years! I travelled to Germany this spring and was excited to find new ones. A dealer in Cologne gave me this magazine. We all love angels.” V. DeLanglade, Springfield, OH, USA “I love my angels – all playing instruments, singing, or conducting! … They are a very special part of our Christmases!” L. Pearson, Seattle, WA, USA “I simply adore/love your angels and I think your homepage is fantastic.” V. Andersen, Aalborg, Denmark “Our family so enjoys your little angels! Each special holiday brings a new one as a gift. We visited the Seiffen store and found it wonderful – the video on how the angels are made is excellent!” J. Handel, Austin, TX, USA
Santa’s outpost During our Open House Days, children flock to the “Crafts Corner” to create their very own works of art – under heavenly supervision.
“...the eleven dot post is a beautifully-produced source of information. It gives us such in-depth insight into the world of the
Wendt & Kühn angels. Every time it comes, we are again reminded of how much we want to visit you during one of your ‘Open House Days’.” K. Schulte, Braunschweig, Germany “For many, many years I have enjoyed the Christmas angels. … For so long I could not find them in Holland but I have now finally found a wonderful shop.” A. A. C. Gravin van den Bosch-Barones van Heeckeren van Brandsenburg, Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands “... a friend and I were at one of your ‘Open House Days’ and I have to say that I have rarely seen employees work with such dedication and patience, answering questions and always a smile for every customer. ... that was definitely not my last visit!” U. Priefer, Giebelstadt, Germany “We discovered your website today and felt like little children again as we made our merry way through its enchanting design.” S. Litzenhoff, Halstenbek, Germany
Affix proper postage here
ANGELIC NEWS FROM THE WENDT & KÜHN WORKSHOPS
Please enter my subscription to the eleven dot post* (English) Bitte registrieren Sie mich als neuen Abonnenten der elfpunktepost* (deutsch)
Name
Address
City, State, Zip Code, Country
Comments
Wendt & Kühn kg Chemnitzer Straße 40 09579 Grünhainichen Germany
* The eleven dot post/elfpunktepost are free annual customer magazines published for subscribers by the Wendt & Kühn Workshops. Please note: If you have received this issue by mail, you need not register again.
eleven dot post | 2009 Edition
Subscribe to the eleven dot post If you would like to have the eleven dot post mailed to you on a regular basis, we would welcome your subscription to our customer magazine. Simply fill out our postcard (below), add the proper postage, and drop it back in the mail to us. You can also sign up for the eleven dot post online by visiting www.wendt-kuehn.de and clicking on “Contact”. You will then
be assured of receiving all our free magazines, starting with the very next issue. The eleven dot post is published twice a year in German and once a year in English. Spread some joy among your friends and relatives by letting them know, too! And to keep up with the very latest news from Wendt & Kühn, you are also invited to sign up for our electronic newsletter at www.wendt-kuehn.de. Heavenly selection In our Grünhainichen retail shop, cherished dreams of angels – and much more – become reality.
Imprint Publisher: Wendt & Kühn KG Chemnitzer Straße 40, 09579 Grünhainichen, Germany Telephone: +49 37 294 / 86 286, Fax: +49 37 294 / 86129 E-Mail: info@wendt-kuehn.de www.wendt-kuehn.de Editor: Design: Content: Translation: Photography:
Printing: Our locations This map shows you the location of our Grünhainichen headquarters (Manufacture and Sales) and the Wendt & Kühn World of Figures gallery in the quaint toymaking village of Seiffen (Sales; see photo above).
Tobias Wendt brennerdesign, Zschopau Dr. Sylva-Michèle Sternkopf, Flöha Sternkopf Communications, Flöha S+M Rümmler, Flöha; Wendt & Kühn KG photo archives, private Wendt family archives E. Gutermuth printers, Grünhainichen
Grünhainichen, September 2009 Cut along dotted line
wonder f u l
l i t t l e
f i g u r e s
i n
a
b i g
✁
world