Wendt & Kühn - eleven dot post 2025/26 (International edition)
YOUR MAGAZINE FROM THE WENDT & KÜHN WORKSHOPS 2025/2026
SELECTED CONTENT
4 For heavenly messages from A to Z Decorating idea
5 Craftsmanship from the Ore Mountains
Intangible Cultural Heritage W for Website Grünhainichen Lexicon
6 Featherlight, musical and radiant 2025 additions to collection
11 Time to get dancing New music box
12 Handcrafted. Heartfelt. Manufactories
16 Like a glimpse of an ideal world 100 Years of Marguerite Angels
20 Wendt & Kühn at World Expo 2025 Osaka, Japan
21 An angel for every child
Living tradition
22 Farewell
Leaving the collection at the end of the year
Did you notice the joyful spirit radiating from the cover of this eleven dot post? Taking center stage are the delicate, finely crafted Marguerite Angels with their modest, childlike charm and the marguerite wreaths that give them their name. This year they are celebrating their 100th birthday. I consider it a stroke of good fortune that my grandma – then still known by her maiden name, Olly Sommer –answered Grete Wendt’s call to Grünhainichen as a young woman in 1920. It was meant as an internship – yet became her life’s work. At the side of the company’s founder, my grandma blossomed into an important designer. A wonderful example of her talent is the angel with item number 34. The drawing bears the initials “O.S.” and the note “2. II. 1925”. We have published this “birth certificate” on page 16 of this magazine to introduce our cover story. In it, we share how we continue to write the history of the Marguerite Angels with sensitivity and creativity in our workshop to this day. With their quiet smiles radiating confidence and joy, the Marguerite Angels inspire us to recognize the beauty in the world.
They are synonymous with precision, reliability, and durable technology, and enjoy an excellent reputation worldwide: products “Made in Germany”. Yet beyond the goods manufactured on complex production lines, Germany also offers something more: true craftsmanship. As at Wendt & Kühn. It’s only natural, then, that we have sought out partners who share both our dedication to skilled handcrafting and our values. “Handcrafted. Heartfelt.”, beginning on page 12, tells of people –not machines – and of new products.
Speaking of new items: this year’s selection of new releases and reissues (beginning on page 6) beautifully highlights the two distinct design approaches of my greataunt Grete and my grandma Olly. In addition to the Marguerite Angels, Olly Wendt created the Angel with Crown. The Angel with Easter Egg, returning to the collection after more than 90 years, originates from Grete Wendt’s sketchbook. The fairy-tale ensemble and the music box reminiscent of spring can also be credited to her – their play of colors inviting us to share in their cheerfulness.
I hope you enjoy reading this 19th issue of the eleven dot post. May you, too, be encouraged to keep discovering the beauty and all that is worth preserving in today’s world – and to help safeguard it for the future. Your
Claudia Baer, née Wendt
For heavenly messages from A to Z
Sometimes a single letter can speak volumes –especially when it’s presented by a charming Marguerite Angel. One of a kind and heavenly in its beauty. For messages that truly touch the heart.
These bright yellow letters from Wendt & Kühn can be arranged to your heart’s content – to spell out names, words, or initials. Combining their initials with the elegant “&” symbol is sure to delight a couple in love, while a treasured place name displayed on a sideboard can keep memories of special travel moments alive. And with their gentle, hopeful smiles, the angels can even frame a baby’s name – a loving welcome at birth and a companion for life.
There are no limits to your creativity: depending on the occasion, season, or mood, you can spell out small, heartfelt messages that bring a smile to everyday life – with a warm Thanks, a playful Love, a bold Yes, or a unifying Us. Every arrangement becomes a reflection of your thoughts and emotions – telling your own unique “story”.
Good to know: The angels and letters are mounted individually on oval bases and can be placed flush next to each other. Each angel, letter, and “&” symbol is available separately. The angel is available in two designs: one heavenly messenger gently resting his hands on the letter, the other holding a delicate flower.
CRAFTSMANSHIP FROM THE ORE MOUNTAINS
NOW PART OF GERMANY’S INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE
In March this year, the German UNESCO Commission announced that 18 additional living traditions had been added to the National Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Germany – among them the “Traditional craftsmanship of the Ore Mountains”. Preserving traditional craft techniques and the values firmly rooted in our company history has always been close to the heart of Wendt & Kühn. This is why the manufactory documents its company and design history in an archive and carefully preserves what it calls its Grand Design Legacy. Visitors can discover excerpts from these collections in the World of Figures in Seiffen and, in Grünhainichen, at special exhibitions and in the interactive experience area of the Wendt & Kühn World. In addition to offering these insights to visitors, Wendt & Kühn is committed to passing down its traditional craft techniques. For example, young people can take part in a unique apprenticeship program to become wooden toymakers – the only one of its kind in Germany.
For over 20 years, UNESCO has supported the transmission, documentation, and safeguarding of living traditions, including those related to dance, theater, music, traditional ecological knowledge, and craftsmanship. The selected traditions and techniques are included in international UNESCO lists or in Germany’s National Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage, giving them recognition beyond their region. Although the entries may seem diverse, they are united by their ability to shape cultural identity and by the extraordinary dedication of the people who keep their respective cultural expressions alive.
GRÜNHAINICHEN LEXICON
W FOR WEBSITE
Where tradition meets modernity: Our website www.wendt-kuehn.com is a vibrant online space that inspires visitors with beautiful designs, creative decorations, and gift ideas. With information about the company’s history and updates from the workshop, you can take a trip back in time and even visit the manufacturing site –no matter where you are. Whether you’re in New York, Seoul or Stockholm, you can take a “digital detour” to our two retail outlets in Grünhainichen and Seiffen to marvel at our decorative figurine arrangements. Just recently, we published lots of new ideas for decorating your home or treating yourself and your loved ones throughout the year – with figurines such as Eleven Dot Angels, Marguerite Angels, and Blossom Kinder. From easy table decorations to sophisticated craft projects, there’s something for everyone. To find the perfect piece for yourself or someone else, just visit our dealer directory to locate an authorized retailer for the Wendt & Kühn collection.
Why not take a look now? Just scan the QR code with your smartphone to access the website.
www.wendt-kuehn.com
COLLECTION
Featherlight, musical and radiant
These are the new additions and reintroductions from the Wendt & Kühn design archives that will accompany you throughout the year. They include an Angel with Yellow Easter Egg that will delight you well before next Easter, busy little helpers, and a Gold Edition that stands by its owner’s side as a faithful companion. You can read more about our other new products launched this year on pages 6 to 15 of this magazine.
ADDITIONS 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.
650/301
FAITHFUL COMPANION
With a warm smile and a welcoming gesture, the new Gold Edition No – 18 gently reminds us how good it is to walk life’s paths together. As a reliable partner, it stands by its owners as they navigate new beginnings, such as moving or changing jobs. The glow of the gold-plated lantern offers reassurance to keep pressing on in difficult situations. A meaningful gift for anyone in need of a companion, for those who find hope and comfort in its warm light in challenging times – or for night owls of all ages who cherish an evening stroll by lantern light.
The lantern is plated in 24-karat gold. Its finely crafted details and delicate workmanship make it a radiant showpiece. This edition, with its 24-karat gold-plated base is strictly limited: only 22,222 angels will be made to accompany their owners on life’s journey. Imprinted on the bottom of each figurine’s base, in the accompanying booklet and on the splinter box is its number, making each angel a precious one-of-a-kind piece.
Limited Gold Edition N o – 18
THE FAITHFUL ONE, ANGEL WITH LANTERN ON A METAL BASE, GOLD-PLATED, IN A SPLINTER BOX (6 cm) 650/301/LE
Gold Edition N o – 18
THE FAITHFUL ONE, ANGEL WITH LANTERN, GOLD-PLATED (6 cm)
651/1
EASTER ANGELS – NOW A PAIR
An angel at Easter? This may seem unusual at first. After all, angels are traditionally associated with Christmastime. Yet the Angel with Yellow Easter Egg blends beautifully into any Easter décor. Last year, an angel charmed everyone with an intricately decorated egg – and now he has company. The new angel’s Easter egg is lavishly painted with up to 50 petals. True to the historic design, the heavenly messenger features distinctive blue wings and eleven golden dots.
COLLECTION
650/86a
HAND AND LEGWORK
“Viola of the leg” – that’s the literal translation of viola da gamba. And indeed, the new angel musician’s legs play a key role, as the instrument is played while held between its knees. As the bow glides gently across the strings, the warm, full tone of the viola emerges – an instrument that originated in the Renaissance and was especially popular in the Baroque era. At least as fascinating as the instrument’s history is its production in our workshops: it takes real dexterity to position the tiny tuning pegs and paint the wafer-thin strings on the delicate viola da gamba, a much smaller instrument than the familiar cello or double bass.
634/11
SIMPLY HEAVENLY
The Angel with Marguerite Wreath has come to rest among fluffy cotton clouds. In its hands, it holds two bright yellow stars –as if they had just been ‘plucked’ from the heavens. Designed by Olly Sommer (later Wendt) on February 2, 1925, the angel with the distinctive headdress was one of her earliest Marguerite Angel creations. Now, 100 years later, it is making a return to the range – and will be produced exclusively in 2025. A special stamp on the base of the figurine will serve as a lasting reminder of this milestone for years to come. Incidentally, positioning the figurine among the clouds on the hill is no easy task, as the angel’s seat must fit precisely against the curve of the mound.
OPEN DAYS AT WENDT & KÜHN
Experience our skilled craftsmanship
Would you like to experience first hand the skill and craftsmanship that go into making our new products, this year’s reintroduced items, and many other figurines? At our manufactory’s open days you can take a tour of the Wendt & Kühn workshops and look over the shoulders of our craftsmen and women.
The next available dates:
• Open days – 1st Advent: November 29 and 30, 2025
• Open days – Mother’s Day: May 9 and 10, 2026
At the Wendt & Kühn manufactory, Grünhainichen, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ANGEL WITH YELLOW EASTER EGG, STANDING, WITH FLORAL PAINTING (6 cm)
ANGEL WITH VIOLA DA GAMBA (5 cm)
ANGEL WITH MARGUERITE WREATH ON CLOUDS, SITTING (9 cm)
6235/6
IN THE CANDLELIGHT
It almost seems as if the angel is looking up at the arch of candles, enjoying their warm light. A total of three candles are mounted on the yellow arch – symbolizing hope and guidance, and bringing light into the darkness. Olly Wendt (née Sommer) designed this angel, with its distinctive pastel-pink dress and signature crown, prior to 1937. The little angel is joyfully welcomed by the six other angels in its family – with flute, lute, and gifts. Even among the larger Crown Angels, who also carry candles, the newcomer feels perfectly at home. Timeless beauty and pure poetry.
COLLECTION ADDITIONS
634/70/45
PAPER ARTIST
Every snip has to be perfect. With tiny scissors in hand, the little angel carefully cuts the paper star – right down to the millimeter. The new Marguerite Angel is busy preparing for the Christmas season –and yet still radiates a sense of heavenly calm. A wonderful gift for crafters and creatives alike. This poetic design brings back memories of joyful childhood days – when, even after folding a dozen paper stars, you could hardly wait for the moment your creation unfolded to reveal its delicate patterns.
5286/3
FOR CUDDLY CATS
This cat has curled up into a cozy ball – a peaceful sight that brings a sense of calm to anyone watching. The Cat with Red Stripes purrs alongside the Black Cat and Cat with Grey Stripes already in the collection. And the painters’ brushes have to “purr” a little too, as they apply the striped pattern in a gently wobbled line. First, though, the little feline’s head is carefully sanded to shape its characteristic muzzle. This figurine makes a delightful gift not just for cat lovers – it’s a charming companion that gently invites you to slow down and unwind.
5243/23
WITH NEEDLE AND THREAD
One last stitch – and the pants are finished! The little gnome has spent many hours sewing and detailing the overalls. That same love of detail can be seen in the everready pincushion, adorned with delicate lines and three tiny needles tucked neatly into place. The group of gnomes was created by Grete Wendt around 1926. In keeping with tradition, this latest gnome joins its hardworking, pointy-hatted friends – already busy pottering around the house and garden. A delightful companion for anyone who loves to sew – whether as a thank-you for the reliable button-fixer in a moment of need, or the grandmother who patiently hems every too-long pair of pants. Or perhaps as an invitation to a loved one to be creative together once again.
ANGEL WEARING CROWN, WITH CANDLE ARCH AND CANDLES (9 cm)
GNOME WITH NEEDLE AND THREAD (6 cm)
MARGUERITE ANGEL, SITTING, WITH PAPER STAR (4 cm)
CAT WITH RED STRIPES (2 cm)
COLLECTION ADDITIONS
6308/P
BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED
The Wendt & Kühn Christmas tree ornaments come in delightful variety for the 2025 festive season: there’s the Eleven Dot Angel on a clip, holding a beautifully decorated gingerbread heart and an apple, the Angel on a Comet playing a heavenly melody on its concertina, and the little Marguerite Angel gently rocking its tiny doll to sleep. And although just 16 millimeters in size, the miniature girl doll enchants with her lovingly crafted details: her tiny arms, carefully glued on with a steady hand, her face and the dots on her dress meticulously painted. Could there be a more beautiful way to tell stories on the Christmas tree?
650/173
650/90/150
HEAVENLY DELICIOUS
With a lively step, the Eleven Dot Angel pulls its sleigh through the snow – carrying a delicious load: a Christmas stollen tied to the sleigh with a silk ribbon, along with two gingerbread cookies decorated with almonds. Christmas stollen has a long tradition in Germany; it’s loaf-like shape is said to resemble the swaddling cloth of the baby Jesus in the manger. The yeast-based dough is enriched with raisins, almonds and festive spices, then dusted with powdered sugar. This figurine scene proves that the workshop is home not only to expert craftspeople, but also to true connoisseurs of the baking arts. The stollen is assembled from two wooden parts to create the characteristic notch in its center. The painters coat the stollen in various shades of brown – including a “toasty-crunchy” hue, as the product designer calls it. The raisins are dabbed on with a fine brush, and the sugar is “sprinkled” over the top using a special sponge brush. And finally, for a gentle flurry of snow, delicate blue accents are applied to the white base plate by the craftswomen. Here’s to a heavenly delicious Christmas season!
650/70/78
FULL STEAM AHEAD THROUGH THE YEAR
Proudly, the angel presents its locomotive – a brightly colored miniature modeled after a real steam engine. The little train lover is perched on the green frame of the calendar. With its twelve imaginative motifs, it brings charm to any sideboard, desk, or shelf. Lovingly illustrated pictures feature Blossom Kinder, heavenly messengers, and many other figurines – telling stories that invite you to marvel and dream.
The calendar pages, figurine, and green calendar frame are each available separately.
ANGEL WITH CHRISTMAS STOLLEN AND GINGERBREAD (9 x 3,5 x 6 cm)
CHRISTMAS TREE ANGEL IN RING, WITH DOLL (6,5 cm)
ANGEL WITH GINGERBREAD AND APPLE, ON CLIP (5,5 cm)
ANGEL WITH CONCERTINA, ON COMET (6,5 cm)
CALENDAR FIGURINE 2026 (ANGEL WITH LOCOMOTIVE), CALENDAR SHEETS 2026, FRAME FOR CALENDAR (Figurine: 4 cm, Frame: 17 x 17 x 4,5 cm)
5250/11k
COLLECTION
ADDITIONS
5250/12k
NATIVITY SCENE COMPLETED
As we began gradually reintroducing the historic nativity scene ensemble into the Wendt & Kühn range four years ago, patience was required. After the launch in 2021, individual figurine groups and the stable were added year after year. Now, the scene will reach its perfect conclusion with the addition of the two palm trees in August 2025. Grete Wendt designed them as early as 1910/11, together with the nativity figurines, for the Deutsche Werkstätten Hellerau (the company was considered to be one of the most important manufacturers of furniture designed by well-known artists). The creation of the foliage, masterfully crafted during her practical semester, posed a number of challenges, as we had to “grow” the distinctly curved leaves of the palm trees. Made from fine wood shavings, the leaves of varying sizes are first stained and dried before the 30 palm fronds are carefully glued into the trunk. One by one, until even the final leaf is perfectly in place, the lush crown of the tree takes shape. With their impressive height and striking silhouette, the palm trees complete the nativity scene – transforming it, with Mary, Joseph, the Baby Jesus, an angel, the kings, shepherds, sheep, and the stable, into a truly captivating Christmas display.
COLLECTION
NEW FOR OCTOBER
FAIRY-TALE CHARM
Cheerfully, four chicks waddle after their mother duck – including the slightly larger “ugly duckling”, who will later grow into the most beautiful swan of all. Grete Wendt designed this figurine scene in August 1953, inspired by the fairy tale “The Ugly Duckling” by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. After almost 60 years in the design archives, this enchanting group of figures returns to the collection – a magical gift for fairy-tale lovers of all ages. It carries the touching message that true beauty comes from within, and that everyone will find their place in life – even if the path isn’t always easy. A 24-piece puzzle complements the duck family and is sure to delight Wendt & Kühn’s youngest fans.
JIGSAW PUZZLE “THE YOUNG UGLY
PALM TREE, SMALL (22 cm)
PALM TREE, LARGE (25 cm)
get dancing TIME TO
Joyfully, the two children dance around the starling nesting box to the melody of the music box. With the reissue of this musical piece, a small music box featuring figurines truly “moving” returns to the collection after many years. Countless hours of tinkering made it possible to fit not only a musical mechanism into the compact body of the box, but also a gear system that sets the turntable in motion.
The task was made all the more challenging by the fact that the only historical images of the music box were black-and-white catalog illustrations – the design could not be found in the company archives. Fortunately, rare pieces occasionally arrive at our workshop’s restoration department, allowing us to solve the mystery surrounding the box’s color and paintwork.
The music box traces back to a design by Grete Wendt – the company founder began developing the scene even before 1934, creating versions featuring both two and three children. Even then, painting the distinctive diamond pattern on the box required true artistry. And to this day, adding the 48 yellow rhombuses and 96 green triangles remains a highly skilled craft. “Having patience is probably the biggest challenge,” says product designer Katrin Wojtkowiak, who spent weeks getting to know every detail of the diamonds.
The three notches milled into the body of this music box – giving it that special “finishing touch” – are a testament to the craftsmanship that goes into making it. And the figures on the turntable are simply delightful: the girl in the red dress and the boy in the dashing cap dance happily together. Their feathered friends don’t seem to mind at all – accompanied by the cheerful melody, the mother bird feeds her young, and a tiny beak peeks out of the nesting box. And who knows – perhaps the baby birds inside are bouncing along to the rhythm of the tune too.
The music box with an 18-note Swiss musical movement is available with a choice of two melodies: “Brüderlein, komm tanz mit mir” (from the German opera Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck) or “Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja” (from the German opera The Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart).
Handcrafted. Heartfelt. MANUFACTORIES
In a world that seems to be spinning faster and faster, in which production machinery runs non-stop and marketing decisions are based on algorithms, handcrafted items have a very special appeal. They tell of people rather than machines, of attention to detail rather than speed. And they inspire the beholder to seek enduring beauty. So it is with the figurines from Wendt & Kühn and the precious items produced in the manufactories of INGE GLAS® and Herrnhuter®. In association with these two longestablished German companies, Wendt & Kühn has designed and produced a figurine arrangement that will enchant you at Christmas time. On the following pages, we preview these items (available from October 6) and take a look behind the workshop doors. A “declaration of love” to fine craftsmanship.
Manufactories (or craft workshops) are places of care, dedication, and mastery. Each piece passes through many skilled hands, is designed with long experience, carefully crafted and finished with attention to detail. When you pick up an item that has been handcrafted in a manufactory, you are holding in your hands a piece of living tradition. Many manufactories have existed over generations, embodying the quintessential values of patience, dedication to quality, and social responsibility. At a time when so many things in life seem cold and indifferent, people long for things with soul. For objects that tell stories and represent values that stand the test of time.
And that’s precisely what makes handcrafted products so special, with the figurines and music boxes from our workshops being a prime example. Likewise the unique products from the INGE GLAS® and Herrnhuter® manufactories. The former produces mouth-blown Christmas tree decorations, the latter the world-famous Moravian Star. What Wendt & Kühn and its two partner companies have in common is that they can look back on a long tradition and manufacture their products with loving care to the highest quality standards. It was these shared values that provided the impetus for the three-way collaboration. The result is two enchanting arrangements that will make future Christmases twice as exquisite: a Marguerite Angel suspended in a ring is accompanied by a fine glass bell, and an Eleven Dot Angel basks in the bright glow of a Miniature Herrnhuter® Star.
MARGUERITE ANGELS FOR THE CHRISTMAS TREE
Christmas tree decorations have a long tradition at Wendt & Kühn. Back in 1923/24, company founder Grete Wendt designed a suspended Eleven Dot Angel with a flute, thereby realizing her wish to have the angels not only make music on shelves and in display cabinets, but also to have them deliver their heavenly good cheer on Christmas trees and Advent wreaths. Designer Olly Wendt (née Sommer), who worked alongside Grete Wendt, also devoted herself to the theme and developed various Christmas ornaments. Now, in 2025, a new series of Wendt & Kühn Christmas ornaments is being launched in collaboration with INGE GLAS® manufactory. Showing the same sensitivity that characterized the original designer and honoring the
THE ANGEL AND BELL are always sold as a set, with the bell available in two color variants. In the coming years, the largesize Marguerite Angels in a ring will grow into a series, each accompanied by a matching glass ornament for a truly festive Christmas spirit.
ANGEL IN RING WITH LITTLE TREE AND BELL;
GLASS BELL, GOLD (Ring with Figurine: 7,5 cm, Bell: 6 cm)
5226/6312/1gold
ANGEL IN RING WITH LITTLE TREE AND BELL;
GLASS BELL, SILVER (Ring with Figurine: 7,5 cm, Bell: 6 cm)
5226/6312/1silber
figurine’s creative roots, Olly Wendt’s “large” Marguerite Angel has been clamped onto a brass ring. It comes as a major addition to the current range of tiny 2.5-centimeter Marguerite Angels which already dangle from Christmas tree branches in their golden rings. Into the hands of the new angel, we have put a miniature tree and bell. And because people simply cannot get enough of the sweet sound of bells at Christmas, the angel comes paired with a masterfully crafted glass bell. The shape of this glass bell matches that of the angel’s wooden bell – a wonderful combination of two accessories on your Christmas tree. And there is something else that unites the angel and the bell, namely the masterful craftsmanship that has gone into their creation. Following a centuries-old tradition perfected by the family-owned business of INGE GLAS® and with the application of meticulous care, the bell topped off by the proprietary star-crested crown is mouth-blown at the burner by experienced glassblowers and subsequently painted by hand.
MOUTH-BLOWN, HAND-PAINTED: HOW THE GLASS BELL IS MADE
As we open the doors of the glassblowing workshop at the Neustadt bei Coburg headquarters of INGE GLAS® in Bavaria, Germany, we are greeted by the glow of the naked flame that blazes at every glassblower’s workplace. Here, baubles, tree toppers and various other Christmas ornaments are free-blown by mouth at the burner,
The INGE GLAS® manufactory has been practicing the traditional craft of glassblowing for 15 generations. The collection of glassblowing molds is unique, with an inventory of around 15,000 pieces from two centuries. In the in-house model making department, not only are the historical molds maintained and preserved for use, but new, contemporary ornaments are also modeled. Balls, tree toppers and much more are free-formed over the flame by experienced glassblowers. In the creation of figurines, the evenly heated glass is blown into special molds with superb dexterity.
applying traditional craftsmanship techniques. The glassblower gazes intently at a glass tube – initially the dimensions of a drinking straw with a thickening in the middle – which glows honey-colored as it is heated over the flame. The air, which the craftsman then blows in a slow, controlled manner, begins to shape the molten glass. The thickening initially swells into a ball which is then carefully formed into a bell shape by a process of pulling and pushing. One last twist, a final check, and the craftsman cuts off the lower end of the glass tube from which the bell has been formed. The tube at the top of the bell remains intact for the time being – it will serve as a handy gripper in the subsequent production steps and is melted off only at the very end. Next, a die is carefully pressed into the hollowed-out and still malleable glass from below to form the classic bell shape. At a later stage, a clapper will be attached to the inside top to make the bell ring.
Once the glass bell has been allowed to cool down, the silvering process begins. A colleague fills the transparent bell with a solution of real sterling silver before swirling it around in hot water. This causes the silver to be deposited on the inside of the glass, and the bell now shines with its characteristic brilliance. When it moves along to the next workstation, colors are applied by dipping the bell in large buckets filled with gold or white paint. The transparent paint covers the silver undercoat like a soft veil – this is how the magnificent colored sheen is achieved. The excess paint is removed with a skillful whisking motion, and the bell is then left to dry. It’s a process that is all too familiar to the Wendt & Kühn craftsmen and women: our figurines are also dipped upside down in a paint bath and the excess paint is spun off. While this procedure is carried out three times for the wooden figurines from Grünhainichen, a single dip is sufficient for the glass bell. This creates a fine base for the subsequent decorative painting in both manufactories.
Even the next step in the process shows parallels with the work in the Grünhainichen workshops: the painters use a thin brush and a steady hand to apply the fine floral pattern around the body of the bell. The creative masterstroke is undoubtedly the gold mica, which makes the bell glitter in a delightful interplay with the matt background. To achieve this, the craftswomen sprinkle the bell with mica that sticks to the areas previously dabbed with adhesive. The leaves and tendrils begin to sparkle. Finally, each bell undergoes a quality check and is “crowned” with its Sternkrönchen® – the trademark of INGE GLAS®. A unique piece has been created from glass, fire and air, with dedication and a practiced hand.
HAVING PREVIOUSLY BEEN PLACED in a Petri dish filled with solvent, each star point is placed precisely on the central element.
ANGEL IN STARLIGHT
Only genuine with 25 points and 11 dots! This could well describe the heavenly arrangement in which an Eleven Dot Angel from Wendt & Kühn and a Miniature Herrnhuter® Star from the manufactory of the same name are paired together – with elegant design, gracefulness and technical sophistication. While tiny wooden arms, legs, blond curls and wings are pieced together to form an angel in the gluing department in Grünhainichen, the world-famous Herrnhuter® Moravian Star is being assembled point by point in the town of Herrnhut, in the Upper Lusatia region of Saxony, eastern Germany.
The Herrnhut star originated at the beginning of the 19th century in the boarding school rooms of the Herrnhut Moravian Church. First constructed by a tutor in mathematics class, it was used to help students better understand geometry. Symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem, the artifact gradually became a traditional feature of the Christmas celebrations. From those early days onwards, children have always made their stars on the first Sunday in Advent and carried this custom back to their families. To this day, the assembling and hanging of the Christmas star ushers in the start of the Christmas season.
POINT BY POINT: HOW THE STAR IS MADE
Although the first steps in the production of the miniature plastic stars are performed by machines, real manual skill and precision working remain indispensable in their manufacture. In the company’s own production facility, each individual star is formed using an injection molding process. The plastic is heated to 230 °C and pressed into metal molds. The small spike elements, only two or three centimeters long, require the utmost care, as they are not only delicate but also fragile.
Assembly now proceeds entirely by hand. The points are placed one by one in a Petri dish filled with solvent before being precisely and individually positioned on the central element. Each point must be positioned exactly –there must be no gaps, and no point is allowed to be out of true. It’s a process that requires concentration and extreme dexterity. Finally, each star has to pass a light test: it is only considered perfect if no light penetrates through the finely aligned joints.
A SIMPLE GREEN PEDESTAL, featuring an embedded Wendt & Kühn signet, provides the perfect stage for the angel and accompanying celestial bodies. The arrangement will be manufactured exclusively in 2025 and 2026. The star is illuminated wirelessly by means of batteries and has a timer function.
ANGEL WITH CRESCENT MOON AND HERRNHUTER ® MINIATUR STAR, ELECTRIC LIGHTING (16,5 x 7 x 13,5 cm; Angel and star: 8 cm) 5226/651/2025
Herrnhuter® Sterne has been manufacturing traditional Moravian Stars by hand in Saxony for more than 125 years. No matter whether the material was originally paper or, in the modern era, plastic, these shiny celestial bodies are created using a patented process that involves a high degree of precision. Ranging from eight centimeters to an impressive two and a half meters in diameter, they generate a festive atmosphere in living rooms, churches, and public spaces around the world.
THREE MANUFACTORIES, ONE CLAIM TO PERFECTION
Regardless of whether it is a heavenly angel produced at Wendt & Kühn, a delicate glass bell at INGE GLAS® or a shiny miniature star at Herrnhuter®, all three manufactories are united by their commitment to preserving craftsmanship, to upholding traditions, and to a love of detail. This is what sets them apart from soulless mass production. Every piece made here carries a story – of lived values and of the people who created it. And a modicum of hope that the handcrafted will never go out of style.
LIKE A GLIMPSE of an ideal world
Kneeling and with a dreamy expression, the angel with article number 34 holds a blue flower in its hands. The drawing for this design was signed by Olly Sommer (later Wendt) with her initials “O. S.” – before it, “2. II 1925”, written in her distinctive style using Roman numerals for the month. With this rather inconspicuous note, she wrote the first lines of a heavenly story about angels: the story of the Marguerite Angels, which tells of childlike ease, optimism and joy, and which continues to be written with sensitivity and creativity – even in the year 2025, a whole century later.
also featured the Angel with Marguerite Wreath on Clouds, which is making a return to the collection this year. Here with a somewhat unusual arm position (both arms raised).
The angel with the flower is one of Olly Wendt’s first Marguerite Angel designs. In its humble posture, it almost seems to be asking to be accepted into the community of Wendt & Kühn figurines. Needless to say, it was accepted! Many more interpretations of this angel were to follow, and over the years, the angel and its siblings have become an integral part of the company’s product range. Company founder Grete Wendt gave Olly Sommer – whom she had invited to Grünhainichen in 1920 for an internship – free rein in her creative work, and Olly soon became an important designer at her side. The distinct differences in the two women’s design approaches are unmistakable to this day. Both had their own distinctive design signatures that perfectly complement each other – and which continue to give the Wendt & Kühn range its special charm and vitality.
“There’s something familiar and reassuring about these little angels.”
A. HANKAMMER Rühen, Germany
Olly Sommer devoted herself to the group of the Marguerite Angels, creating a diversity that is truly impressive. 1929, for instance, saw the release of three standing heavenly messengers, complete with cake, flowers and two candles, to represent wellwishers. In August 1935, six hard-working angels, seated on tiny blue benches, were added: reading a book, decorating gingerbread, holding a Christmas tree or an apple basket, tending a lamb, and filling a chest with toys. Beginning in 2007, many more “busy” angels would join this industrious group of six. You could almost think they were Santa’s helpers, so eagerly do they paint, bake, knit, sew or make lace. And although they are all very busy, they radiate a sense of calm and serenity. In their hands, everything seems playful and light – like a childhood game, serving no other purpose than the simple joy of it. Natural, genuine, and unpretentious.
No matter what accessories the Marguerite Angels carry –whether they kneel, sit, stand, or float gracefully as ornaments on a Christmas tree, whether they are barely three centimeters tall or slightly larger, they all share a common charm: their delicate, almost fragile appearance and their innocent, childlike nature. And even if the world around them may be hectic and chaotic, they seem, with calm composure and a gentle smile, to want to bring optimism and joy to all who behold them. As if to say: I am here, always. Like a quiet, hopeful glimpse of an ideal world.
INSPIRATION
When Olly Sommer designed the Marguerite Angels –two years after company founder Grete Wendt created the first three Eleven Dot Angels – she brought to life her own personal interpretation of the angel motif. She adorned the blonde hair of her figurines with a wreath of marguerites, one of her favorite flowers. After walking through the meadows around Grünhainichen, she would often come home with a bouquet of marguerites. With their white petals, marguerites (from ancient Greek margarítēs, meaning “pearl”) symbolize purity, innocence, simplicity, and natural beauty. Their bright yellow centers, ringed with radiant white petals, are reminiscent of the sun – and perhaps they reminded her of the warm summer days of her childhood. Back then, she usually spent her vacations
OF FLOWER WREATHS AND FEATHER WINGS
They are strung like pearls – the snow-white marguerites in the angels’ hair, to which they owe their name. The white flowers appear delicate and natural, with a sunny yellow dot in the center that has been applied by the painters in the workshops using a fine brush for generations.
“They look so delicate – and yet there’s always a little mischief dancing across their faces.”
S. OFFERMANN Overath, Germany
in Jūrmala, a seaside resort on the Latvian coast of the Baltic Sea. There, she would wander through the nearby pine forests, picking flowers and weaving them into wreaths. In “Memories of a Little Girl”, a collection of notes written by Olly Wendt (née Sommer) in adulthood, she recalled: “I […] run around picking flowers. Colorful sweet peas. Then I sit down and weave a wreath. The wreath is finished. I run to Mama and place it in her brown hair, where a few strands of silver shine through. How beautiful Mother looks with the wreath! And then I make one for myself, too.”
Years later, when she placed a wreath in her angels’ hair, Olly Sommer brought her personal fondness for marguerites into their design. Undoubtedly, she was also guided by memories of those carefree childhood days.
Perhaps memories of the song and dance festivals in her hometown of Riga also shaped her creative ideas. Even today, people from all over Latvia – and from around the world – gather every five years, when hundreds of the country’s choirs, dance groups, and orchestras come together to set the nation’s heart beating to the rhythm of its folk songs. Singers, dancers, and visitors wear traditional costumes and intricately woven floral adornments. The wreaths form a magical circle – said to ward off misfortune and illness – and symbolize eternity and perfection. Having spent the first 17 years of her life in Riga, Olly Sommer may well have drawn inspiration from this vibrant floral tradition.
To make the headdress resemble a “real” wreath as closely as possible, the angels actually have a wreath of flowers placed in their hair. Only the tiny heads of the smallest Marguerite Angels have the flowers painted on – for the vast majority of the figures, the wreath is carefully glued in place. In the early years, one wooden blossom was applied at a time. It is hard to imagine how laborious the production and processing must have been. Since the delicately milled petals broke easily, the process was quickly revised. Soon the wreaths were cast in one piece from pewter, with a small amount of lead added for strength. This blend of materials made them soft and flexible, allowing each one to be shaped to fit snugly around the head.
Special Exhibition
“Featherweight and heavenly beautiful – the Marguerite Angels by Wendt & Kühn” – this is the title of a special exhibition in the Wendt & Kühn World in Grünhainichen. Here, visitors travel back in time to February 1925, when designer Olly Sommer, later Wendt, designed the first of these heavenly messengers. The exhibition showcases the delicate beings with their signature marguerite wreath in a never-beforeseen abundance of historical samples – including a private design that is exhibited publicly for the very first time. Figurines, music boxes, historical drawings, photographs, and documents from the company archive offer insight into the essence of the Marguerite Angels. They prompt the question of what gives the Marguerite Angels their unique character – and what their message is to us even today.
The exhibition will be on display at the Wendt & Kühn World in Grünhainichen through September 2026, open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.
In the second half of the 1940s, the material was changed again: From then on, the floral borders were made of die-cut cardboard – presumably because the thin card was even easier to work with. Whereas the typical strands of hair peeking out from under the floral wreaths on either side had previously been “cast” directly onto the pewter-lead version, they now had to be carefully crafted as delicate wooden strips and attached by the gluers in an additional step. A love for detail – right down to the hair tips. With the hairstyle complete, the cardboard wreath is then glued around the head. Neither the strands of hair nor the floral wreath may shift –even the smallest deviation can alter the angel’s charm.
“The angels remind me of my own childhood – of flower-filled meadows and marguerites.”
A. KLINK Stockach, Germany
While the marguerites appear to be “strung” in a precise, straight line, the angels’ wings are gently curved – almost like small feathers. Originally, they were made of wood, but because they broke easily, plastic wings have been used since 1955. With a steady hand, the painters in our workshops adorn them with a translucent light blue, painting small arches onto the base of the wing and three delicate lines across the wing itself, which gradually narrow as they reach the tip of the wing. “It all comes down to the correct brush technique,” explains Kerstin Lorenz, one of the master painters at Wendt & Kühn. “We have to ease off the pressure at just the right moment so the lines taper off as fine as a feather.” And so the painted wings of the Marguerite Angels appear completely natural and intuitive – each one just a little different. So why did Olly Wendt choose a shade of blue for the detailing? It was her favorite color.
An unknown author once wrote: “The wings of the angels are the dreams that lift us to greater heights.” And indeed, the Marguerite Angels with their delicate wings seem to uplift and inspire. With their gentle smile, they want to bring optimism – and make life, with all its challenges, at least a little (feather) lighter. With their marguerite wreath, they celebrate spring, a time of blossoming and new beginnings. Perhaps it is this harmony between the supernatural (the angel) and the natural (the marguerite) that makes the Marguerite Angels so magical – a magic that has enchanted collectors and enthusiasts around the world. For 100 years.
The Designer
When Olly Sommer (later Wendt) designed the first Marguerite Angels, she had been working as a painter and designer alongside company founder Grete Wendt at the Wendt & Kühn workshops for five years. Born in Riga on May 27, 1896, the daughter of a German textile merchant, Olly moved to Dresden in 1913, where she studied at the Royal Saxon School of Arts and Crafts, which company founders Grete Wendt and Grete Kühn had also attended. On the recommendation of her professor, Margarete Junge, Olly Sommer joined the manufactory in February 1920 for an internship –and stayed for the rest of her life. It was here that she met and fell in love with Grete’s brother Johannes. They married in February 1930, and their twins, Hans and Sigrid, were born that October. At Grete Wendt’s side, Olly Wendt grew into a gifted designer who remained loyal to the Wendt & Kühn workshops into old age. Olly Wendt passed away on June 13, 1991. She is remembered as a profound, sensitive, and warm-hearted person, as well as a great designer. She penned the groundbreaking designs that still characterize the company’s collection today, most notably the Marguerite Angels, but also animal figurines, the Moon Family, twin figurines, children’s figurines, and many more. In addition, she also gave many of Grete Wendt’s designs their distinctive coloring.
A fascinating film: The story of the Marguerite Angels and their creator, Olly Wendt, is artistically told “in sand”. Access it via the QR code or at www.wendt-kuehn.com/ angel-anniversary-2025.
Wendt & Kühn at WORLD EXPO 2025
Musical Eleven Dot Angels, delicate Marguerite Angels and colorful Blossom Kinder gather playfully in the display case at the German Pavilion shop at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. Also on display are melodious music boxes and an organ, which have been delighting visitors since mid-April. This marks the third time that Wendt & Kühn has showcased its collection at a World Expo.
Even as early as 1929, the company’s creations were shown at the Expo in Barcelona, where Wendt & Kühn showcased a colorful array – including Easter eggs, match holders, nativity figurines, and angels – as documented by photographs in the company archives. Less than a decade later, in 1937, came the highly acclaimed appearance at the World Expo in Paris. There, company founder Grete Wendt presented her “Angel Mountain with Madonna”, a composition that was awarded a gold medal alongside a Grand Prix.
Eighty-eight years later, our journey takes us to Osaka: at Expo 2025, the German
Pavilion features a restaurant and a shop where visitors are invited to enjoy German hospitality and discover and purchase exclusive, high-quality products that are quintessentially German. Here, they will also encounter the figurines from Grünhainichen, among them the Girl with Cherry Blossom. Created with a nod to Japan’s iconic cherry blossom, she feels particularly at home here. The other figurines, too, enchant visitors coming to the Expo from across Japan and beyond. Visitors are fascinated to learn that each piece is lovingly handcrafted with great attention to detail, and time and again, you can hear people remark on just how delightful and charming the little figurines are.
WORLD EXPO BARCELONA 1929 (photo detail): The Wendt & Kühn figurines were displayed under exhibitor number 33 in three display case sections.
A special highlight: visitors even had the opportunity to paint the eleventh dot on the wings of the Eleven Dot Angels themselves. A trained wooden toymaker traveled to Osaka to demonstrate to the Expo guests how to hold the stippling tool and what to keep in mind before they personally added the final dot on the wing to complete their angel. It was the perfect finishing touch – and a special highlight of Wendt & Kühn’s participation in the Expo.
The World Expo – or Expo for short –is an international showcase that since the 19 th century has brought together countries, companies, and organizations to present innovations, culture, and progress from around the world. These pioneering ideas and developments focus not only on technology and design but also on social visions and solutions for the future. The current Expo in Osaka, Japan, is being held under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”.
As a smart companion, the mascot of the German Pavilion stands ready to welcome visitors.
GOOD FRIENDS: Eleven Dot Angel and “Circular”.
An angel for every child
Friederike Weidt-Iziourov from Siegerland, Germany, peers into the three chests before her with a look of quiet satisfaction, then gently closes their wooden lids. Inside are gifts for great-grandchildren who have yet to be born – including Eleven Dot Angels from Wendt & Kühn, each with multicolored dots on their wings. A touching story about an unusual idea.
Shortly after her 80th birthday, Friederike Weidt-Iziourov spotted a teddy bear in a store – quite by chance. It quickly found its place on her sofa. “Still, I wasn’t entirely satisfied, because I wanted it to have a purpose of some kind, the three-time grandmother recalls. “One evening, I had an idea: I would dedicate it to my first great-grandchild.” The very next day, she bought two more bears and nestled each one in a handmade box. To each, she added a fluffy bath towel, a small toy ball, and a handwritten letter: I don’t know whether I’ll live to see you born, dear child. But with this gift, I hope to create a small connection between us. “I told my grandchildren about my idea – they were
Giving joy and doing good together
For over 100 years, the Eleven Dot Angels have symbolized childlike innocence and harmony. But many children are denied a safe and protected upbringing. With an Eleven Dot Angel featuring multicolored dots on its wings for the very first time, Wendt & Kühn is supporting the important work of the World Childhood Foundation – an organization committed to helping children around the world grow up in safety, free from sexual exploitation and abuse. Four euros from each figurine sold so far have already been donated to the Foundation. This year, around 3,000 additional angels – individually numbered and limited to 25,000 – will be crafted in our workshops to spread their message and serve as ambassadors for children’s rights across the globe. For further details, please visit www.wendt-kuehn.com/childhood
FOR HER FUTURE GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, Friederike Weidt-Iziourov filled chests with small treasures – including a very special angel. When her sons were growing up, she would gift them Blossom Kinder from Wendt & Kühn for their birthdays. And later, when her grandchildren came to visit, she would tell them little stories about the figurines.
so touched,” recounts Friederike Weidt-Iziourov, her eyes shining. “And it filled my heart with joy. The older you get, the more you realize how finite life is. Now I had found something that would speak of me – even after I’m gone,” she adds softly.
Although the chests were already well filled, Friederike WeidtIziourov wanted to add something truly special – something that would last beyond her great-grandchildren’s childhood years. “But I just couldn’t find the right thing,” she says. “I had almost given up searching when I came across the World Childhood Foundation Angel in the last issue of the elfpunktepost (eleven dot post) – and I knew instantly: that’s the one! It will remain by their side even after they’ve grown up.” For the kind-hearted older woman, this angel was more than just an “angel” – it was something deeply close to her heart. She had devoted her life to helping children grow up in safe, nurturing environments. In her more than 40 years as a nursery schoolteacher, she had worked in a wide range of settings and witnessed many things – much of it joyful, some of it heartbreaking. “The fact that this gift for my great-grandchildren now includes an angel with such an important message fills me with deep joy.” Of course, Friederike Weidt-Iziourov has no way of knowing whether she will ever have great-grandchildren – but to her, that’s not what matters: “There is always a child to whom you can give this gift. Everyone needs an angel by their side.”
Farewell
The figurines shown here have been on sale through our retailers for the last time this year. They will now return to the workshop’s historic Grand Sample Cabinet for at least five years. As this eleven dot post goes to print, some of these items have already been completely bought up by our Wendt & Kühn specialist retailers. It is only through them that you will be able to find out whether they are still available.
GIRL WITH BIRD ON HER FOOT (4,5 cm) 5231/3
DOLL STROLLER, SMALL (3 cm) 5231/5
ANGEL WITH TRIANGLE, ON COMET TAIL (5,5 cm)
650/70/16
WALL CLOCK, YELLOW, WITH GIRL AND BIRDS (14 cm)
5202/1
ANGEL WITH FRENCH HORN, ON COMET (7,5 cm)
650/70/17
ANGEL WITH SAXOPHONE, IN MOON (8 cm)
650/70/54
WALL CLOCK, BLUE, WITH SUSPENDED ANGEL (14 cm)
5202/5
GIRL WITH SCISSORS (5,5 cm) 5231/8
ANGEL WITH MELODICA, IN STAR (9 cm)
650/70/66
ERZGEBIRGE ANGEL, RED, WITH ELECTRIC LIGHTING (40 cm)
571/1E-ROT
NESTING BOX FOR STARLINGS (12,5 cm) 5231/6
ANGEL WITH FRENCH HORN, IN MOON, LARGE (30 cm)
771/17
PAPER NAPKINS ”GINGERBREAD ANGEL” (33 x 33 cm)
526/22/150
ANGEL WITH FRENCH HORN, IN STAR, LARGE (31 cm)
772/17
ERZGEBIRGE ANGEL, BLUE, WITH ELECTRIC LIGHTING (40 cm) 571/2E-BLAU
IMPRINT eleven dot post · 19 th Edition · Grünhainichen, Germany, August 2025
ANGEL, LARGE, WITH VIOLIN (60 cm) 650/2G
ANGEL WITH FRENCH HORN, ON COMET TAIL, LARGE (30 cm)
