Hummel Reuge Music Box Value Guide

This vintage wooden music box represents a mid-century collaboration between German porcelain giant Goebel and the prestigious Swiss movement manufacturer Reuge. Featuring the iconic 'Apple Tree Girl' lithograph by Sister Berta Hummel, it is a prized collectible for those who appreciate high-quality mechanical music and classic 1930s-style German artistry.

What Is Hummel Reuge Music Box Worth?

The typical price range for Hummel Reuge Music Box is $25 - $35 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The clarity and tempo of the Swiss mechanical movement when the music box is wound.
• The physical condition of the paper lithograph, specifically looking for fading, peeling, or water damage.
• The integrity of the wooden box, including the presence of original brass hardware and lack of wood splitting.
• Market demand for specific Hummel motifs, with 'Apple Tree Girl' being a highly recognizable and stable design.

How to Identify Hummel Reuge Music Box?

• Look for the 'Reuge' brand name stamped on the mechanical movement or the winding key.
• Verify the presence of the authentic Sister Berta Hummel signature within the paper lithograph artwork.
• Check for a 'Made in Switzerland' label or stamp, typically found on the bottom of the wooden casing.
• Confirm the motif depicts the specific 'Girl in Blossom Tree' scene, a hallmark of the 1960-1979 production era.

History of Hummel Reuge Music Box

These music boxes were produced through a collaboration between the German company Goebel, which held the rights to Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel's artwork, and Swiss movement manufacturer Reuge. Reuge has been world-renowned for its high-quality mechanical musical movements since 1865. The artwork featured, known as 'Apple Tree Girl' or 'Girl in Blossom Tree', is one of the most iconic Hummel motifs, originally designed in the 1930s.