When, in 1935, Franz Goebel entered into an agreement for the manufacture and distribution of ceramic figurines based on the drawings of a Franciscan nun, little did anyone know that the occasion would mark the birth of one of the world's most popular collectibles.
Born Berta Hummel in Bavaria in 1909, Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel had studied at the Academy of Applied Arts in Munich, and graduated at the top of her class before deciding to enter the Convent of Siessen, Germany. There, she taught art to children at a nearby school while continuing to produce the drawings that quickly began to attract the attention of the public, including the head of W. Goebel Porzellanmanufaktur.
In exchange for granting Goebel sole licensing rights, Sister Hummel and the Convent retained the right of final approval of all designs, with royalties accruing to the Convent in support of their educational and missionary work.
By the time of her death, of tuberculosis, in 1946, Sister Hummel had created over 500 sketches, drawings, and paintings from which Goebel figurines are derived to this day.
Originally, people bought Hummels because they were attracted by the depictions of innocent childhood. That is still true today, but an investment factor has crept into the picture. Hummels that once sold for just a few dollars can now fetch several hundred or even several thousand dollars in today's secondary markets.
Of course, a popular collectible will attract any number of imitations, copies, and outright fakes, so it is important to be able to identify and date the genuine article. Only through experience can one develop the appreciation for the differences in modeling, surface, and paint that allows experts to separate the wheat from the chaff and to recognize even unmarked Hummel rarities, but an acquaintance with the various marks usually found on the base of genuine figurines is a good place to start.
There may be several different marks on any one piece, but the signature, model number, size, trademark, and "date" are generally the most important.
1) Almost all Hummel figurines will bear a facsimile of the "M.I. Hummel" signature incised somewhere on the piece, usually the base. Where there is no room, a label may be attached.
2) Each design is assigned a model number. If a particular piece is one of a set, the model number will be followed by a slash (/) mark and then a letter: "a" or "b" if a two-piece set; "a," "b" or "c" if a three-piece set; etc.
3) If a figurine was issued in more than one size, there may be a "size indicator." This is usually a series of one or more slash marks following the model number, with each of the slash marks followed by an Arabic or Roman numeral.
4) The Goebel trademark can be of great help in dating a piece. Since 1935 the trademark has undergone several major redesigns and numerous minor ones, so a referral to any good Hummel guide or website will usually help to place your piece in a particular period.
5) Finally, you may see one of two "dates" on the base. If it is incised, it is probably a copyright date - your piece may not be as old as indicated. Beginning in 1979, however, the year of production has been painted on, so unless someone has deliberately erased or altered the date, you can be reasonably certain of its age.
Age and condition are not the sole factors influencing value. Some Hummels have been in production for decades, while others were withdrawn from production after a relatively short time. Some have been retired, and the molds broken, never to be produced again. There have been reissues. There have been prototypes (uniques!) that have made their way to market. There have been "mistakes." (A good example of the latter is #204 "Weary Wanderer." Only a handful of the blue-eyed version are known to exist, so while the piece generally sells for $300 to $700+, blue-eyes can be worth up to $3000 more!)
One last, important note: Goebel Germany has announced that it will no longer manufacture Hummels! Production, instead, has been shifted to Asia where the figurines will reportedly still be "based on the original Hummel artwork and approved by the artist's convent."
Goebel reports that it still has enough German-made pieces to satisfy collectors for at least the rest of this year, but in all probability, German-made pieces will increase in value as the Asian pieces become the norm.
For more reports on Goebel's restructuring, check out the Goebel links listed below.
Update 10/6/08: Goebel reached out to AuctionBytes to clarify their plans for the Hummel figurines. "Hummel figurines are currently only produced in Germany and have never been produced in Asia. M.I. Hummel ornaments, water globes and villages are the only Hummel products currently made in Asia. Goebel is confident that a new "solution" will soon be found for M.I. Hummel figurine production. Goebel is actively working in this direction."
In the collectibles market, knowledge is money. With that in mind, we highly recommend the following resources:
Books
"Hummel: An Illustrated Handbook and Price Guide," by Ken Armke
http://tinyurl.com/4gy5fg
"Luckey's Hummel Figurines and Plates: Identification and Price Guide (12th Edition)," by Carl F. Luckey
http://tinyurl.com/3wo6cc
"The No. 1 Price Guide to M.I. Hummel Figurines, Plates, Miniatures, & More, 10th Ed.," by Robert L. Miller
http://tinyurl.com/4vbwte
"Warman's Hummel Field Guide: Values and Identification," by Carl F. Luckey and Dean A. Genth
http://tinyurl.com/52xbpe
Websites
Goebel Porzellanmanufaktur
http://www.goebel.de/index_en.asp
http://www.goebel.de/247_ENG_HTML.asp
http://www.goebel.com/pressroom.asp
For the latest news on German-made Hummels.
M I Hummel
http://www.mihummel.com
Official website offers a reference section - including a comprehensive list of marks - a glossary, club, more.
The Donald E Stephens Museum of Hummels
http://www.stephenshummelmuseum.com/index.html
Advertised as the "Largest Public Display of M.I. Hummel Figurines in the World." Check out the slide show of a small number of pieces and some variations from their collection.
