The star-studded film “Saving Mr. Banks” featuring Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson hit theaters at the end of 2013. Seen in a supporting role: Figurines from Wendt & Kühn. Making their theatrical debut as props decorating Walt Disney’s office, which this Hollywood film faithfully reproduced.
How that came about? <link>Read more about this exciting story.
Wendt & Kühn is investing a total of 1.5 million Euro in its Grünhainichen company headquarters through Autumn 2015. As part of this undertaking, the cornerstone was laid for a new building on May 30, 2014 and the further expansion of two new departments. Once this phase of construction finishes by the end of 2014, a new 268 square meter Wendt & Kühn World will arise behind the company’s historical façade. The grand opening is slated to coincide with the company’s 100th anniversary in October 2015. <link>Read more on the building project.
Another stage of construction at Wendt & Kühn headquarters in Grünhainichen has been successfully concluded. The completion of structural building work at the warehouse and the new distribution center was celebrated with a topping-out ceremony on 22nd August, with representatives from the design team and all the trades present. This means that work is still on schedule – both construction projects are due to be completed by the end of the year. <link>Find out more about our building project.
Our anniversary year officially kicked off bright and early with the ceremonious unveiling of the Grete-Wendt-Straße road sign on January 6, 2015. The street running past our Grünhainichen workshops shall now forevermore be known as Grete-Wendt-Straße. This tribute to company founder Grete Wendt makes a worthy prelude to our celebratory year, all leading up to the actual 100th anniversary of Wendt & Kühn on October 1.
Our artisans have already been hard at work for months crafting articles for our anniversary collection with love and care. Unique pieces and enchanting figurines were chosen from our legendary Grand Sample Cabinet for this momentous anniversary and supplemented by works of art designed to unite our long tradition with the zeitgeist of today.
National sales of the first items from our anniversary collection start in mid-February. All articles will be available at authorized Wendt & Kühn retail dealers. The coming months ushering in our grand 100th anniversary will see continually more articles being released in this special collection of joy and appreciation!
One hundred years after our company being founded, we’re resurrecting our nearly forgotten splinter boxes, a product line usually only known among those who delve deep into the story of Wendt & Kühn. Yet their designs are an intrinsic element of our history – after all, the name of their creator lives on in half our company name to this very day. <link>Learn more about the history as well as the artistic craftsmanship behind these exquisite wooden containers.
Puristic and aesthetically elegant: <link http: www.wendt-kuehn.de en collection _top>the White Timbre Edition. Reducing the whole of the avant-garde composition to contrasts in form and color allows the timeless beauty of the Wendt & Kühn musicians to shine like never before as individual works of art. Handcrafting perfection and impeccable aesthetics create excellence. Pure white underscores the unmistakable design concept to the Wendt & Kühn angels. In homage to a modern designer of her own time – Grete Wendt. The design riches our company founder left us now yield a new living legacy in this White Timbre Edition.
The Dresden Philharmonic Children’s Choir is conquering the world. The famous choir is currently on tour in the Land of the Rising Sun – Japan. One of the high points of their trip has to be their performance at the German Embassy in Tokyo. On October 15, 2015 a host of international guests were treated to an event of music by Purcell, Bach and André Caplet. Well-known Japanese business partners of Wendt & Kühn were also among the audience.
Wendt & Kühn is sponsoring the Japanese tour by the Children’s Choir, which was founded in 1967 at the suggestion of celebrity conductor Kurt Masur, himself a collector and admirer of Wendt & Kühn figurines.
All friends of the company take note: The Museum für Sächsische Volkskunst (Dresden Museum of Saxon Folk Art) is hosting a special exhibition in honor of Wendt & Kühn’s centenary. “100 years Wendt & Kühn - Dresden Modernism from the Erzgebirge” displays 300 exhibits to illustrate the creative achievement of the two founders of the company. The exhibition was due to finish on November 15, but on account of the overwhelming response it has now been extended to January 10, 2016.
Why should you go and see it? <link>Find out here.
The World of Wendt & Kühn in Grünhainichen was one of the winners of the Saxon State Award for Design in 2016. Under the slogan “Sustainability through Design – Responsibility for the FUTURE” its interactive area won a prize in the Communication Design category. The award is an integral element in the Free State of Saxony’s strategy for promoting medium-sized businesses. What makes the award so special? Find out here.