The Beswick Price Guide: Price and Colour Guide to Beswick Pottery Collectables

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These numbers are usually cast with the figurine or incised in the soft porcelain, so they are a permanent identification feature. Cross-referencing the HUM number online will easily tell you the name of the figurine and give you additional information about it. Larger versions range from 9 ½ to 10 inches tall and are permanently retired by Goebel. This makes them extra valuable if presented in good condition. Forever Friends (#2255) Conceived by Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel—a prolific German artist and Franciscan nun—the first figurines were produced by Franz Goebel in 1935. This piece was produced in 1000 units, which makes it an extremely rare Hummel figurine. It’s even more valuable with the porcelain identification plaque, which came with the original figurines. Where to Sell Hummel Figurines The Fine Art sale at Potteries Auctions on November 10 included a version of model 818 in Painted Gloss White.

Some were in production for many years. Lesser known breeds, such as Galloways, had shorter runs and consequently rank high on the most-wanted list. These figurines display a group of school boys and a group of school girls, respectively. Each figure depicts the students standing together with their school supplies. Finally, real Goebel-made Hummels use a specific color palette defined by Maria Innocentia herself. Fake Hummels are usually colored similarly, but not quite the same, making it easy to spot a reproduction. From the master, copies were produced, molding numerous figurine parts using liquid ceramic. Complex figurines are made from up to 40 individual pieces, which are molded separately and joined later. Prices three times those paid a decade previously were not uncommon and collectors were prepared to overlook damage to acquire scarce models.Goebel first started with TMK-1 (oldest) and moved all the way through TMK-8 (newest). Suffice to say, if you have a TMK-2 or a TMK-3, your Hummel is older and worth more. Except for a few short breaks during World War II and in the early 2000s, the figurines have been in continuous production, breathing life into hundreds of M.I Hummel’s drawings. M.I. Hummel’s Life & Figurine Conception A young photographer snaps a picture of three children with their toys and dog. This is a complex scene with a number of characters and small details. Only 2,500 of these were produced, which is the main price- forming factor. Bottom etched number – used throughout the periods for signifying things like production year or release year. Sometimes, it’s just another factory control number. Realism and accuracy were key to their appeal: as the desirable characteristics of Hereford cattle changed over time so did Gredington's models of the breed.

The first thing you need to do is look for the Goebel trademark, also known as a TMK, at the bottom of your Hummel figurine. The process to render the drawing into a completed porcelain figurine could take months and each step received the approval of the Sisters of Siessen. With all the work that goes into making these figurines, it’s no wonder that they’re so highly prized. World War II & Its ImpactA master sculptor then created a clay figurine from the drawing, spending weeks perfecting the shapes, lines, and features in an effort to stay as close to Hummel’s work as possible. Once the sculpture was approved, a master model was made. Hopefully, this article has been a good introduction to the world of M.I. Hummel and her darling figurines. Her legacy and vision of the pastoral German countryside will live on through the Hummel figurines.