What are Hummel figurines?
Hummels are collectible porcelain figurines of children at play. The first Hummels were released in 1935, with new and reimagined older designs being released every year since. The child figurines are almost instantly recognizable as Hummels by their chubby cheeks, pouted lips, and black eyes. The colors of their hair, facial features, skin, and clothes are soft, never garish. The surface finish is always matte, but the whites of the child's eyes are glazed, making them look particularly lifelike.
Are Hummel figurines valuable?
Hummel figurines are not very valuable unless they're old and rare. There are thousands of Hummel designs on the market, and most are simply too high in quantity to hold any intrinsic value. This makes collecting and selling them secondhand not really worth the time and effort, especially considering you can only sell most of them for $15-$30 ($75 max) at auction. Plus, the figurines are outdated and old-fashioned in appearance, so a lot of modern collectors aren't interested in them from an aesthetic perspective, either. The good news for Hummel collectors out there, though, is there are a select few Hummels that still bring in hundreds (sometimes thousands) of dollars. We'll cover those valuable figurines later in the article!
How to Find the Value of a Hummel
Mark Every authentic Hummel worth money has the M.I. Hummel signature carved into the side of the base. Additionally, the figurine should have a mold number on the bottom that matches the number of the item in the Hummel catalog. Finally, each figurine has a trademark on the bottom showing when it was made. The trademark designs vary over the decades from 1935 to today, but they all feature a bee and a wide "V" or "W." If you find a Hummel figurine without a trademark or the M.I. Hummel signature, it's definitely a fake and not worth any money!
Age GmbH, the company that manufactures Hummels now, still releases new figurines every year. But collectors prize the oldest Hummels from the 1930s and 1940s more than the modern releases. The best way to tell the age of a Hummel figurine is by checking the trademark. The oldest trademarks show a wide "W" (for West Germany) on top of a "G" (for Goebel, the original Hummel manufacturer) with either the M.I. Hummel signature next to it or a wideset, stylized bee above it.
Limited editions Some Hummel pieces were released in limited quantities and never reproduced again, making them much rarer and more valuable! Picture Perfect (#2100) is a great example of a figurine with a limited run, as only 2500 of this figure were ever made.
Size Hummel figurines, particularly the older ones, are made in a wide variety of sizes. Some are so large, they almost look like real-life children! Bigger versions of the same design can sell for hundreds of dollars more than the smaller ones. Figures with wide bases and lots of figurines, like Adventure Bound and Ring Around the Rosie, are also highly sought-after, and you may be able to make a bigger profit off these items.
Design & construction complexity Another factor that can make a Hummel figurine worth more is its construction complexity. Take a look at the Adventure Bound, for example. This piece has not one, not two, but 7 figurines on the base. Each character has its own distinct clothes, expression, and pose. Such intricate designs – when combined with other factors, like age and condition – can make a figurine like Adventure Bound go for a pretty penny at auction!
Condition Like any other collectible, if your Hummel figurine is in good condition, that alone will definitely increase its value. The paint should be mostly if not all intact, and the glaze should look matte. There also shouldn't be any chips or pieces missing from the figurine or its base. If it has any of these flaws, that could lower its potential selling price at auction.
Rare & Most Valuable Hummel Figurines
Adventure Bound (#347) The Adventure Bound figurine is actually a group of figurines carved into a single, large base. 7 boys are shown clustered together looking forward. The small boy in the front is holding a spear, and the boy behind him has a lantern slung over his shoulder. We don't know where they're going, but they certainly look ready for an adventure! An Adventure Bound figurine in good condition from 1957 can sell for up to $5000 on eBay.
Picture Perfect (#2100) The Picture Perfect figurine is a great example of how a more modern figurine can sell for a lot of money at auction if it's a limited edition. This piece – which features a boy behind a camera getting ready to take a picture of his friends and their dog – was made in the year 2000 as part of a series commemorating the 25th anniversary of the M.I. Hummel Club. It was available to M.I. Hummel Club members only, and only 2500 of these figurines were made. Mint versions of Picture Perfect can go for $800-$1800 on eBay.
Merry Wanderer (#11) The Merry Wanderer may be the most recognizable Hummel, and it's also one that any collector would be happy to add to their collection! Featuring a boy in midstride with an umbrella in one hand and a bag in the other, this figurine was one of the earliest designs in the Hummel line. It's also the official symbol of the M.I. Hummel Club. 11" versions of the piece can sell for as much as $1500-$1700 on eBay.
Apple Tree Girl & Apple Tree Boy (#141 & #142) The Apple Tree Girl and Boy are two separate figurines commonly paired as a set. The figurine with the boy shows him sitting and facing forward on an apple tree in full bloom, with ripe green apples growing on the branches. The figurine with the girl shows her sitting and facing backward demurely on an apple tree just starting to blossom. Together, if they're in good condition, they can sell for anywhere from $100-$400 (and sometimes all the way up to $1800) on eBay.
Forever Friends (#2255) Only 1000 of the Forever Friends figurine were ever made, but that's not all that makes it special. This piece is incredibly detailed and complex. It shows 2 girls leaning over a fence feeding a mother swan and her 3 cygnets (baby swans). Everything about it – from the way the girls and the swans look like they could come alive at any moment to the exquisite details – makes this piece sought-after for its own sake. It typically sells for upwards of $1200 on eBay.
Ring Around the Rosie(#348) Ring Around the Rosie is another charming group set, but this time the figurines are 4 girls. The girls are holding each other's hands, their feet lifted as if they're frozen in the middle of a ring-around-the-Rosie dance. This figurine typically sells for $400-$800 on eBay.
Where to Sell Hummel Figurines
Auction house Reach out to auction houses online that have sold or are currently selling Hummels (Bartlett Auctions, Valley Auctions, and Abell Auctions are great examples). If the auction house thinks they have buyers who will want your piece, they'll ask to appraise it first. Once they determine its value, you can sign a consignment agreement outlining your minimum desired price. If the auction house sells it, they receive commission fees for their work. Keep in mind that with an auction, there's no guarantee you'll get more than the minimum price you set in your consignment agreement. Make sure you're happy with that amount before following through with the auction.
eBay Selling on eBay is a good option for if you prefer to handle the sale and shipping of your Hummels yourself. Remember to include the cost of shipping in the final price and eBay's seller fees so you can still turn a profit. Just like with an auction house, you do run the risk that no one will bid on your item or you won't get much more than the starting bid price. You also have to provide returns in case the buyer isn't happy with their item or it arrives to them damaged.
Facebook On Facebook, you'll find entire groups dedicated to connecting Hummel figurine buyers and sellers. Joining a Hummel Facebook group and listing your Hummel can be a quick way to make a sale. Just beware of scammers and always ensure the buyer pays you up-front with a legitimate payment method, like PayPal.
Estate sale If you recently had a loved one move or pass away who was also a Hummel collector, you can sell their figurines in an estate sale. An estate sale is a big sale of someone's belongings in the home where they lived. It's most common to hold an estate sale for an older person after they move into a nursing home or when they die. You may not be able to sell the Hummels for more than $20-$30, but it's the quickest, most hassle-free way to get them off your hands.
History of Hummels
The Hummel figurines were inspired by a nun's sketches of children. Maria Innocentia Hummel was born in Bavaria in 1909. Always a talented artist, she nevertheless felt compelled to take her vows as a nun in 1934 and dedicate her life to the church. Part of her work at the convent was taking care of children, and these children inspired her to draw illustrations of them playing.
The Goebel company started making Hummel figurines in 1935. In the 1930s, Maria showed her illustrations of children at exhibitions. Franz Goebel, a porcelain manufacturer, attended one of these exhibitions and was charmed by her work. In 1935, he partnered with Maria to translate the artwork into the timeless ceramic figurines we know today as Hummels.
The GmbH manufacturer took over Hummel production in 2009. Today, Hummels are no longer made by the Goebel company, but by another German manufacturer called GmbH. Despite the change in ownership, the figurines are still produced with their usual care in the same original factory in Germany. Best of all, they still feature the M.I. Hummel signature on the base in tribute to the original designer.
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