Angel figurines manufacturers are artisans who devote their time and attention to crafting exquisite symbols of spirituality, love, and protection. These sculptures serve as charming home decor pieces and hold sentimental value for gift-givers and recipients alike.
These are some of the best angel figurines manufacturers and artists. They produce a wide variety of styles, including seasonal and holiday figurines.
Scheibe-Alsbach
A porcelain angel is a great way to decorate your home or give as a gift. These figurines are beautifully made and can be displayed in any room of your house. They are available in a variety of styles, colors, and designs. They are also very inexpensive. This makes them the perfect gift for any occasion.
Founded in 1835, the Scheibe-Alsbach porcelain factory is located in Thuringia, Germany. The company produces high-quality porcelain statues of historical figures, including military generals and Napoleonic soldiers. Their porcelain statues are decorated in the Rococo style.
In the nineteenth century, the company was taken over by Fridolin Kister and continued its production of porcelain figures. The Kister factory was nationalized in 1972 and became the Porzellanmanufaktur Scheibe-Alsbach. Today, it is part of the Tettau GmbH in Rudolstadt near Volkstedt.
The history of the Scheibe-Alsbach plant begins with a former accountant named Ludwig Oels. He moved to the town of Scheibe in 1835 and began his business decorating pipe bowls and stems that he bought as “blanks” from Breitenbach. He applied for a license, but did not get an immediate response. Regardless, he proceeded with production and eventually grew his workforce to 18 employees. This incurred the wrath of the local forestry commission and he was forced to sell his business in 1839 to Daniel Kampfe and Friedmann Greiner.
Meissen
The town of Meissen is almost synonymous with porcelain. It’s home to Europe’s first porcelain factory, and its famous trademark is two crossed blue swords. The town is a popular destination for tourists and art lovers. Visitors can tour the factory and see how delicate porcelain is made. There are also tours of the castle and vineyards.
The Meissen manufactory was founded in 1709 by Augustus II the Strong of the Saxony. During the 18th Century, it experienced an artistic flourishing under the master painter Johann Gregor Horoldt and modeler Johann Joachim Kandler. The painters favored lush landscapes, port scenes and fete galante (outdoor parties and picnics in park settings) subjects. The sculptors produced figures and figural groups in the Rococo style.
Meissen is renowned for its decorative sculpture, and many of the pieces created by Kandler are inspired by Italian comedia dell’arte theatre. Stock characters from the comedy such as harlequins and foolish old men are among the most well-known of his work.
Other common motifs include “German flowers,” Watteau scenes and chinoiseries. The factory was shut down several times during the 19th Century, but it survived and was restored to Saxony after the German reunification. Today, the Meissen factory continues to produce high quality European hard porcelain and is considered one of the best in the world.
Thomas Blackshear
Blackshear is an American artist known for his bestselling religious prints and figurines, many of which adorn Evangelical churches. His paintings of Christ and other Biblical figures also grace the walls of countless private homes. His work is characterized by emotion-infused images that humanize African Americans.
In 1995, Blackshear created his most popular art line, Ebony Visions. The collection features a variety of figures that celebrate black life and culture. The first in the series was The Storyteller; an image of an African-American cowboy telling his version of a classic Western tale. In 2000, he expanded his celebration of black life figurines with the Jamboree Parade series, centered on youthful enjoyments. Other themed collections followed, including those reflecting religious praise and often whimsical, romanticized renderings of common folk appreciating everyday events.
Blackshear has taught three semesters at the San Francisco Academy of Art College and lectured on his art around the country. In 2006, he had a one-man show at the Vatican and unveiled his painting of Pope John Paul II for the 25th anniversary of the foundation. His works have received numerous accolades, including the Society of Illustrators coveted Gold Medal. He is also a well-known illustrator and designer of collector’s plates, having designed several U.S. Postal Service stamp collections, including a collection of Black Heritage stamps and others based on classic movies and jazz musicians.
Goebel
Goebel produces a wide range of figurines. These include a large selection of Blumenkinder, or flower children in English. The company also makes a line called Co-Boy, which features elf and gnome-like characters. These figurines are delicately hand-made and painted by folk artists from the Erzgebirge region of Germany. Some of these figurines have dates inscribed or stamped on the base, which can help you determine their age.
Most Goebel figurines are based on the art of Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel. They are produced from drawings or paintings that the nun created at the Convent of Siessen. After the nun’s death, the company acquired sole rights to her artwork and began making clay models of them. Goebel then used their pioneering earthenware to create ceramic figures based on the drawings and paintings.
The earliest Goebel figurines had a crown mark with the initials WG inscribed underneath. This was the trademark of Goebel’s founder, William Goebel. Some of these early figurines did not contain a bee or V, and were marked with the crown in blue ink. This was called a “Crown Mark” and is sometimes referred to as the Full Bee Mark by collectors.
After 1950, the Goebel company began using backstamps that contained a bee and a V in honor of Sister Hummel. These backstamps were sometimes printed in black and were referred to as the “Full Bee Mark.” These marks are commonly called TMK-2 by collectors. They are usually found on figurines made from 1950 to 1955.
