Collecting Hummel Figurines

Hummel figurines are fun to collect, and can even be valuable. This article lists some of the most valuable Hummel figurines, and explains why they are valuable. "For Father", "Globe Trotter", "Little Goat Herder", and "Going to Grandmas" are great examples of valuable Hummels. As with all collectibles, the condition and the rarity of a Hummel will affect its value. However, the value of a Hummel is affected by many things. For example, part of what makes Hummels so valuable is the keen eye for detail, colors, and expressions.

Hummels have been on the marketplace for a long time. In the 1930s, Franz Goebel, the founder of Hummel Figurines, thought that in a world of political turmoil, customers would respond to a product that depicted the gentle innocence of childhood. The artwork of a Franciscan Sister named Maria Innocentia Hummel was introduced to Mr. Goebel. The nun made drawings of country children that were printed as art cards. These art cards would soon be famous around the world.

Goebel wanted to produce a line of figurines based on Maria Hummel’s artwork. She was contacted at the Convent of Siessen and was shown clay models based on her drawings. Sister Hummel thought the idea of turning her artwork into ceramic models was a wonderful idea, and she granted sole rights to Goebel to create ceramic figurines based on her original artwork. Sister Hummel was a perfectionist, so she insisted that she personally approve the sculpting and painting of each porcelain piece. It was determined that earthenware, pioneered by Goebel in the 1920s, was the proper material for the new line.

In order to determine whether or not a figurine, plate, or bell is a genuine Hummel piece, one should search for definitive marks identifying the Hummel as legitimate. The mark of Sister Hummel is carved into every piece. Sister Hummel’s stamp of approval appears on every piece and under the direction of the members of the convent, approvals were made with care. All Hummels have a mold number; a number that is incised on the bottom of each Hummel figurine at the factory. Goebel’s stamp on the underside of the figurine is yet another indicator. Hummel’s trademark has changed over the years, yet every authentic M. I. Hummel figurine will have a Goebel stamp on its underside. Any variation in this stamping causes a source of great excitement for Hummel collectors.

Hummel Figurines have been collected for over 80 years, and continue to have a strong market even today.