Hummel Figurines - A Piece of History

Hummel figurines probably have their precursors in ancient Greece. The Tanagra figurines of fourth century (BC) Greece depict real people in real activities. This was revolutionary. Until that discovery any figurines that we have uncovered have been depictions of god, goddesses or animals.

The figurines are named for the Boeotian town of Tanagra. Technologically they were quite advanced: they were coated before firing and then painted afterward. The best example is the "Dame en Bleu" ("Lady in Blue"), which is kept at the Louvre in Paris.

Tanagras depict real people in everyday clothes, wearing hats and carrying objects. So far the examples found are mostly women, but there are figurines of men and children -- boys typically. They run about 4 to 8 inches high. It is hard to say what their purpose was. Some scientists speculate that they were used in religious ceremony.

Sounds kind of familiar, doesn't it? Hummels are about the same size as Tanagras; they share the same subject matter and both are colorful. It makes you wonder if in a thousand years archeologists will wonder why we have Hummel figurines in our houses.

Berta Hummel, born in Germany in 1909, was a talented painter. As a side hobby, she created paintings and drawings of little Bavarian children. She entered a convent in 1931, after graduating from Art school in Munich. She expected to be kept busy at the convent with teaching drawing and design to convent students; she did not expect that her art would keep the convent open during the Nazi regime.

When Berta entered the convent, she took the name Maria Innocentia (hence the "MI Hummel" or "Sr MI Hummel" on many figurines). Her drawings became postcards as a way to generate money for the convent. The postcards led to a book which led to the figurines. Franz Goebel, who owned a porcelain factory, saw the book and his factory began producing the figurines. They were successful; consumers were enchanted by the innocent bright faces on the figurines.

In those same years the Nazi party was on the rise in Germany. As their power grew, things became difficult for the convent. Nazis were not kind to religion and the nuns were all but forced out of their buildings. Because the figurines were so popular, the convent and the figurine production were allowed to continue -- and the Nazis took half the money. Through it all, Sister Maria kept drawing.

She died too young, only 37, of tuberculosis just after the war ended. Her thousands of drawings, paintings and sketches still provide inspiration for the Goebel artists tasked with keeping the collection fresh.

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A Valuable Collectible - Goebel Figurines

Who hasn’t heard of the Hummel line of Goebel figurines? These beautifully crafted porcelain figurines have been around since 1935. Created from art work drawn by a Franciscan nun, Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel, they became the best selling porcelain pieces of the entire line of Goebel figurines.

Goebel closed its doors in 2008 but they were bought out by a firm located near Frankfurt, Germany and will continue to be produced, some still based on Sister Hummel’s artwork. Many of the original craftsmen, some now in their 70s, have been rehired to continue this wonderful tradition of producing fine porcelain figurines.

The Hummel line of Goebel figurines have become a valuable collectible over the years. A fan club of the Hummel line sprang up in American over 20 years ago and has over 13,000 members worldwide. A quick check on eBay will assure you that these pieces are still very much in demand. Prices for one piece can go up into thousands of dollars. There is a Hummel line of Goebel figurines piece titled “Forever Friends” that recently sold for $1,650.00 on eBay. A woman found a Hummel figurine at a garage sale and paid two dollars. The following week, she sold it for close to five hundred dollars.

Goebel marked all of their Hummel line of Goebel figurines on the bottom of each piece. Sister Hummel passed away in 1937 but up until that time, she signed all the Hummel pieces. Some other Goebel marks to look for are a double crown, a picture of a bee trademark, the word Goebel, and a mold number. The mark used from 1991 until Goebel closed its doors is a bee over the word Goebel with the word Germany underneath.

If you enjoy browsing through thrift stores and going to yard sales, you might just be lucky enough to find one of these very collectible Hummel line of Goebel figurines.

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No More Goebel Figurines?

After selling the M.I. Hummel line of Goebel figurines since 1935, Goebel shut its doors in October 2008. Problems began years before with the owner filing bankruptcy in 2006. The economic downturn had an effect on a company that had been in business since 1871. Although best known for their Hummel line of Goebel figurines many different artists produced drawings that Goebel figurines where fashioned after. Several types of porcelain figurines by artists like Charlot BYJ have had success and have value in today’s market, but their Hummel line of Goebel figurines were always their best selling and most loved figurines.

When Goebel shut down, 230 employees who worked in the Hummel factory lost their jobs. Not only the employees but collectors of the Hummel line of Goebel figurines were astonished and saddened. Collectors were emotional and believed there was no way that Goebel could stop producing the Hummel line. Goebel had tried everything they could think of to keep producing the line, even increasing production of the Hummels to make more revenue. However, this didn’t work and supply quickly outweighed demand.

In 2009 Hoechst Porcelain located near Frankfurt, Germany founded the firm Manufaktur Roedental and they acquired not only the copyrights to the Hummel line of Goebel figurines but also the production facilities. They have hired back many of the former craftsmen and production of these beautiful figurines is again underway. Since everything is still made by hand, one figurine can take up to twelve weeks to produce.

This year is the 100th anniversary of Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel’s birth (she is the artist whose drawings the figurines are modeled after) and the new company is hoping this will respark an interest in the pieces. Many new porcelain figurines are being produced for the occasion and hopefully the tradition of the Goebel figurines will be carried on.

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The History of Goebel Figurines

Like so many innovative and lucrative ideas the M. I. Hummel line of Goebel figurines started off simply with one person’s passion. Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel, a Franciscan Sister, was also a gifted artist. She loved making drawings of country children. She eventually had the drawings printed as art cards. Goebel, a porcelain manufacturer in Germany took note of the art cards in the 1930s.

The world was in political turmoil and Franz Goebel felt lovers of porcelain works would respond to Sister Hummel’s innocent theme. Sister Hummel worked hand in hand with Goeble overseeing her artwork as each artistic endeavor was turned into beautiful porcelain figurines. She would personally approve each and every porcelain piece. The Hummel line of Goebel figurines were an immediate success in Europe. It didn’t take long for these pieces to attract the attention of American soldiers stationed in Germany.

First established in 1871, Goebel started out by making children’s marbles and slate pencils. Even though the owners’ vision always included porcelain figurines, they lacked the money to produce them. Eight years later, the owners fired up their first kilns and produced dinnerware and Goebel figurines. But it was the Hummel figurines that changed Goebel history and helped make them the huge company they became.

Unfortunately Sister Hummel met an early death due to tuberculosis in 1937 at the age of 46. She was a prolific artist and had created art cards that Goebel continued to use. The company worked with an Artistic Board at the convent where Sister Hummel lived to ensure that her vision continued to flourish through their Hummel line of Goebel figurines.

If you’re lucky you can still find some of these amazing Goebel figurines at auctions and yard sales. Check the bottom as there are definitive identification marks. Most figurines will include Sister Hummel’s signature and a Goebel trademark. Some also include a mold number.

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