Ami Koestel ( 1907 – 1986 )

Annemarie ( called Ami ) Friedel was born on May 27, 1907
in Bayreuth, Germany. After graduating from school she
attended the art academy in Munich.  She married the publisher
and author Dr Walter Koestel.

After a stay in Stuttgart she moved to Dresden where she worked
until the end of World War 2. By a lucky coincidence she found
herself in Isny, southern Germany, where she was offered shelter
by friends, just a few days before the terrible bombardment of Dresden.

During the poor post-war period she manufactured figurines of angels for
her own enjoyment, sometimes also as objects for bartering for milk and
bread, but mostly as gifts for friends.  After encouragement by her friends,
Ami Koestel presented her angel figurines for the first time at the trade fair
at Dornbirn, Austria, in 1952, followed by successive exhibitions
in Nuremberg and Frankfurt.

The "Koestel - Angel" was born and hence a profession was created from
a hobby. Occupation resulted in turn for many women in the Isny area.
Ami Koestel passed away on September 9, 1986.

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