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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