About Hummels

The popular, collectible figurines known as Hummels, with their innocent and playful childhood themes, began in the midst of anything but innocence. The origins of these sweet-looking figures of children playing trace back to Nazi Germany and a time of tragedy and horror. Amid that turmoil, beauty found an outlet at the hands of a young nun and a ceramics factory owner. Together they created a product that, to this day, people around the world cherish, collect and at times pay a great deal to own.

History

Anyone familiar with Hummels notices a theme: playful childhood innocence. The figurines all have the same pastel-hued, delicate features and quality artisanship. It should be no surprise then that the subject matter of Hummels originated with one person, Maria Innocentia Hummel. Sister Maria, a Franciscan nun living in Bavaria during Hitler's reign, grew up in a devoutly Catholic home. Showing promise as an artist at a young age, she later decided to attend secondary school to become an art teacher. While living with some nuns attending her college, she chose to become a nun herself and teach art to children. Her sisters sent samples of her work to a publisher, who used the artwork in postcards and later published a book of Sister Maria's work (see reference below).

Partnership

The other half of the Hummel story includes Franz Goebel, a ceramics factory owner on the verge of bankruptcy. One of his workers happened to buy Sister Maria's book, thought the artwork might make sellable figurines and showed it to Franz, who agreed and met with Sister Maria. After some misgivings, she relented to Franz to help the workers about to lose their jobs. Her only condition: she approves all designs. And so began the Goebel-Hummel partnership. Maria visited the factory frequently to oversee the work and approve designs, signified by her mark on the bottom of the figurine (see reference below). She worked on many Hummels herself during the 1930s. To this day, all original Hummel figurines bear the stamp of her approval and a Goebel mold number on the bottom.

Significance

Though the Nazis disapproved of Sister Maria's work, they allowed it to continue as long as distribution did not occur in Germany. The cheerful children playing frivolous games particularly annoyed the Nazis, including Hitler (see reference below). Eventually the Nazis took over the convent, but the Hummel legend continued when Maria was allowed to stay. The income she generated, despite the Nazis taking 50 percent of it, helped her sisters and community to survive. Living conditions became deplorable at the convent, however, and Sister Maria contracted tuberculosis. After a brief recovery, she eventually succumbed to it and died in 1946; she was 37 years old. But the convent and millions of collectors have insured that her legacy lives on and continues to grow.

Function

Sister Maria worked on many of the original figurines herself. After her death, the convent oversaw the production of Hummels in much the same way that Maria had during her life. Even today, all new designs must be based on her extensive collection of artwork and approved by a board at the convent. And they are still made in the same way: poured ceramic pieces, hand-painted and glazed (see reference below). These safeguards insure that Hummel stays true to its origins. Part of all Hummel profits continue to return to the convent, which helps to educate children in the arts (see reference below).

Features

The Hummel collection today includes bells, plates and figurines. Though their popularity fades and returns like many collectibles, over the years their value has repeatedly returned. All original Hummels retain the same two trademark elements--Maria Hummel's seal of approval and a Goebel mold number on the bottom of each figurine--though the look of the trademark may change. Currently the trademark consists of a stamped replica of Maria's signature, a bumblebee and the mold number. Hummel in German means bumblebee (see references below).