d below crown in blue, also italy in all capital letters

by Jennifer Smith
(Jonesborough TN)

d below crown in blue, also italy in all capital letters:- I have two small angel figurines. One was given to me when I was a child by my great grandmother. It is about 6 inches high and has a blue cursive capital d on the bottom with a blue crown mark above it and some words below it that i can't read. The other I recieved after my grandmother passed away. It is about 5 inches high with a blue dress and golden wings and it simply says ITALY on the bottom which its painted green except the letters. I'm not interested in selling them I would just like to know the stories behind them.

Jennifer

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d below crown in blue, also italy in all capital letters

The forum Help Elf says:-

Jennifer

Many thanks for sharing the enthusiasm you have for your items.

I think we can help in your quest. The one marked with D and a crown there is quite a story behind.

Karl-Heinz Klette owned a small unit which he founded in 1950 in Küps, Bavaria, Germany. He specialized in decorated wares in the style of Dresden (hence the 'D' backstamp) which had been flattened in the war and was just more or less still rubble at that time.

This particular mark dates from after 1962.

Klette's small studio had associations with other small units - for example Franz Sieber in Rudolstadt (Thuringia) later to become associated with the name of Gisela Keilhauer both of whom used a similar crowned 'D' mark.

Sieber was at his most prolific in the 20s and 30s only to fall behind the Soviet block after the war (in Soviet occupied East Germany). Sieber escaped to the West in 1949 and settled in Küps, Bavaria, Germany. This is when he was able to help Karl Klette make your little angel figure.

Quite a story, right? Use the in-house search box located near the top of the page on every page to find out more details written on this site in various places.

As for the other angel figurine it looks like a typical piece of Italian church tourist shop souvenir ware. Very nicely done actually - looks early to mid 20th century. Maker unknown. Better consult the Vatican purchasing department!

For general free advice on how to research your collection, Peter wrote this page:

value of antiques.

H.E.