About Hummel Collecting
Hummel figurines have been popular with collectors since they were introduced in 1935. The figurines depict children doing a wide variety of playful activities. The M. I. Hummel company has released more than 1,000 figurine models, and many of them are worth a great deal of money. Appraisers can identify the value of a particular figurine.
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The Goebels
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In 1876, Franz Goebel opened a porcelain factory in Germany. As his two young sons grew older, Franz got them involved in the business. He sent them across Europe and to the United States to expand their business. While the Goebels produced a variety of porcelain items, Franz was most interested in creating figurines of innocent children. He believed such lighthearted images would sell well during the depressed 1930's. He sought inspiration for the artwork of the figurines
Sister Hummel
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Franz Goebel met Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel in the 1930s. Hummel was a nun who spent much of her free time drawing pictures of children. Goebel loved Hummel's drawings and believed they were the perfect inspiration for his new line of figurines. In 1935, Goebel produced the first line of Hummel figurines, and Sister Hummel oversaw the painting of each figurine.
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Authenticity
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Many companies have tried to capitalize on the popularity of the Hummel figurines by creating similar knock-offs. Hummels have two distinct marks of authenticity. The first is M. I. Hummel's signature, which appears on the base of almost every Hummel figurine. There are a few very rare figurines that did not have sufficient room on the base for Hummel's signature. Official Hummels also have a Goebel trademark somewhere on their base. The design of the trademark has changed over the years, but independent appraisers can authenticate it.
Collectors' Club
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Hummels became so popular that an official collectors' club emerged in 1977. Though initially called the Goebel Collectors' Club, in 1989 the members changed the name to the M. I. Hummel Club. New members receive a free figurine and a subscription to the Hummel collectors' magazine.
Hummels Today
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Franz Goebel's company continued to produce Hummel figurines until 2008 when it sold the Hummel line to Manufaktur Rödental. Rödental uses the original factory to produce the Hummels. Due to their lasting popularity, the value of Hummels increased steadily. As of 2010, a simple single-character figurine costs about $200, and a more intricate multiple-character model often sells for over $1,500.
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