Hummel-Style Figurines Value Guide

Hummel-style figurines, produced between 1940 and 1970, capture the innocent pastoral charm popularized by Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel's original sketches. These porcelain pieces, featuring motifs like the boy with a goose or a girl at a mailbox, are highly collectible as affordable alternatives to official Goebel releases.

What Is Hummel-Style Figurines Worth?

The typical price range for Hummel-Style Figurines is $30 - $75 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Country of origin, with early post-war German imitations often fetching more than mass-produced Japanese versions.
• The presence of original paint without 'crazing' or fine cracks in the ceramic glaze.
• Completeness of the set, as having all three figures (boy with goose, boy with carrots, and girl with letter) increases marketability.
• Structural integrity, specifically checking for chips on delicate areas like the goose's neck or the edges of the mailbox.

How to Identify Hummel-Style Figurines?

• Check the base for a lack of the official 'V with a Bee' Goebel trademark, which distinguishes 'style' pieces from originals.
• Examine the bottom for 'Made in Japan' or 'Occupied Japan' stamps, common for post-WWII imitations.
• Look for the characteristic matte finish and muted earth-tone palettes typical of mid-century ceramic child figures.
• Identify specific pastoral themes such as the boy with carrots or the letter-at-mailbox scene which mimic classic Goebel molds.

History of Hummel-Style Figurines

Hummel figurines, officially known as M.I. Hummel, are based on the drawings of Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel. These charming ceramic figures became popular after their introduction in the 1930s by Franz Goebel in Germany. The popularity of Hummel figurines led to numerous imitations and similar styles being produced by various manufacturers, particularly after World War II. These 'Hummel-style' pieces often share the endearing, innocent characteristics of the originals but were produced by different companies, sometimes in other countries like Japan, to meet the high demand for such collectibles.