Hummels! Where did they come from?

My mother and I just recently attended a local estate sale where she found an item she couldn’t bare leaving without. She had discovered a Hummel figurine of a little girl knelt down feeding several ducklings from a basket. I agreed with her that though it was an expensive purchase, it was well worth it as the figurine was in pristine condition and was clearly marked correctly on the bottom. But why would someone pay for such an expensive figurine? My mother and I both greatly enjoy the history of the items we collect, we love learning about why they were made, who made them, and what purpose they served.

The Hummel pieces beginning dates back to 1876 when Franz Goebel started a porcelain firm in Germany. Though it was not until much later in the 1930’s that Franz decided to create new figurines, the Hummels. During a time in the world of political turmoil, Franz believed that customers would respond to a product that depicted the gentle innocence of childhood. Now you are probably asking yourself; how did these figurines get the name “Hummel?” Someone had to design the figurines for the factory to produce and that person was named Maria Innocentia Hummel. Otherwise known as Sister Hummel, she enrolled in Munich’s Academy of Applied Arts in 1927 and upon graduating she entered the Convent of Seissen in 1931. Though Sister Hummel lived only to age 37, Franz kept her legacy alive by creating more Hummel figurines.

 Now how do you tell if a figurine is real or faux? There are two markings to authenticate a Hummel, the first is “Sister M.I. Hummel” marked on a piece, or the Goebel company marking which has changed some over the years but can be found on the bottom of pieces. My mother’s for example has the official Goebel marking and in addition is marked “Western Germany.”

Lastly what are they worth today? Though some pieces are only worth $50-$100, many are also valued at selling for close to $2,000.00. This is why it is so important to examine your figurine carefully and make sure you are not paying top dollar for a fake from China or Japan. I hope you have enjoyed this post, and the next time you come upon a Hummel figurine; remember why it was made, the artistic minds who created them, and the time in which they represent.

Please note the information above is according to http://www.drloriv.com/appraisals/hummel.asp, you can visit this site for the full article on Hummels as well as a picture of the Goebel trademark found on the bottom of each authentic piece.