M.I. Hummel - english

M.I.Hummelclub



About M.I. Hummel



Heritage

Berta Hummel was born in Bavaria in 1909 with a wonderful gift - an instinct for observing her world and translating her observations into drawings, especially of children. In 1927, Berta enrolled in Munich's famed Academy of Applied Arts. There her talent matured and survived rigid training with its spontaneity intact.


Religion had always been important to Berta. She befriended two Franciscan Sisters from a teaching order that emphasized the arts. Berta decided to enter the Convent of Siessen upon graduation in 1931, and three years later, took the name Maria Innocentia.


The young Sister found herself in a setting that encouraged her talents. Soon, small German publishers began printing some of her artwork in the form of postcards. These charming cards came to the attention of Franz Goebel, the head of a porcelain company bearing his name. He was in search of a subject for a new line of figurines. And here it was!


Franz Goebel proposed to Sister Hummel the idea of transforming her drawings into figurines. An agreement was reached with the Convent granting Goebel the sole right to create three-dimensional works of art based on Sister Hummel's drawings.


The artist worked personally with Goebel Master Sculptors and Painters to create the new products. The first figurines were introduced in 1935 and were immediately successful.


Tragically, Sister Hummel died in 1946 at only 37 years of age. But her artistic legacy was carried on by Goebel.


M.I. Hummel Today

In early 2009, Manufaktur Rödental took over ownership of the M.I. Hummel brand, continuing the M.I. Hummel tradition of artistry in the same Rödental, Germany factory where the figurines have been created for over 75 years. A team of skilled craftspeople work with loving care, ensuring the artistic excellence that is the hallmark of these precious earthenware treasures continues.


Today, M.I. Hummel figurines remain the world's most beloved collectibles, a tribute to the spirit of childhood that they so masterfully reflect, and to the talent of a brilliant artist.

Merkjes (Marks) Hummel

Marks of Authenticity

Collectors and admirers all over the globe agree that the artistry and quality of authentic M.I. Hummel products are beyond compare. Only genuine M.I. Hummel figurines are created according to the strict quality control procedures of Manufaktur Rödental, the Convent of Siessen, and the Hummel family.




The Signature


To determine if a figurine, plate or bell is a genuine M.I. Hummel piece, there are definitive marks of identification. The first is the signature of Sister M.I. Hummel incised on the base of most every piece. When Sister Hummel made her historic contract with Franz Goebel, it was agreed that her signature, her personal stamp of approval, would appear on every piece. It does so, to this day. The only exception is on figurines without bases or any adequate surface to display the signature.


The Trademark


The other definitive identifier is the trademark on the underside of the figurine. Though the look of the trademark has varied since 1935, every authentic M.I. Hummel figurine will have a Goebel or Manufaktur Rödental trademark on its underside. Over the years, any change in the trademark has been a source of excitement for M.I. Hummel collectors. Most of the known marks used over the years are available by clicking the link below. However, from time to time, a rare and undocumented variation may surface.

When purchasing M.I. Hummel products, be sure to shop only at authorized M.I. Hummel establishments. And look carefully for two marks of authenticity - the M.I. Hummel signature and the trademark. They are your assurance of the continuing excellence and artistry of Manufaktur Rödental.


Timeline of Trademarks

retired figurines.pdf

Shophummel

Retired M.I. Hummel Figurines
The following M.I. Hummel figurines have been retired: A figurine that has been permanently removed from production. The molds are broken and the figurine will never be produced again. Therefore, they will not be listed on the CURRENT Suggested Retail Price List.

The M.I.Hummel Company marketing officials in Germany research carefully which figurines they plan to retire. They analyze both the length of time a figurine has been available in the marketplace and the popularity of the figurine. When made during their last year of production, these figurines usually feature a "final issue" backstamp and are accompanied by a final issue medallion hang tag. This backstamp was initiated in 1990.

Hum #	Name	Year of Retirement	First Modeled	Final Issue Back Stamp	Final Issue Medallion
Hum 1	Puppy Love	1988	1935	NO	NO
Hum 5	Strolling Along	1989	1935	NO	NO
Hum 203	Signs of Spring	1990	1948	YES	YES
Hum 79	Globe Trotter	1991	1937	YES	YES
Hum 68	Lost Sheep	1992	1937	YES	YES
Hum 65	Farewell	1993	1937	YES	YES
Hum 185	Accordion Boy	1994	1947	YES	YES
Hum 130	Duet	1995	1939	YES	YES
Hum 69	Happy Pastime	1996	1937	YES	YES
Hum 175	Mother’s Darling	1997	1945	YES	YES
Hum 143	Boots	1998	1940	YES	YES
Hum 17	Congratulations	1999	1935	YES	YES
Hum 153	Auf Wiedersehen	2000	1943	YES	YES
Hum 328	Carnival	2000	1955	Final Issue Millennium Backstamp	YES
Hum 124	Hello	2001	1939	YES	YES
Hum 361	Favorite Pet	2001	1959	Retirement Exclusive Backstamp	YES
Hum 355	Autumn Harvest	2002	1963	YES	YES
Hum 16	Little Hiker	2002	1935	YES	YES
Hum 4	Little Fiddler (Hum 2 is not retired)	2003	1935	YES	YES
Hum 52	Going to Grandma’s	2004	1936	YES	YES
Hum 86	Happiness	2004	1938	YES	YES
Hum 66	Farm Boy	2005	1937	YES	YES
Hum 73	Little Helper	2005	1937	YES	YES
Hum 2096/C	Celestial Drummer	2005	1999	YES	YES
Hum 214/O	Small Nativity Set	2005	1951	YES	YES
Hum 74	Little Gardener	2006	1944	YES	YES
Hum 171	Little Sweeper	2006	1944	YES	YES
Hum 2096/F	Celestial Strings	2006	1999	YES	YES
Hum 367	Busy Student	2006	1962	YES	YES
Hum 198	Home From Market	2007	1948	YES	YES
Hum 131	Street Singer	2007	1939	YES	YES
Hum 2096/J	Heavenly Horn Player	2007	1999	YES	YES
Hum 98	Sister	2008	1938	YES	YES
Hum 96	Little Shopper	2008	1938	YES	YES
Hum 2096/A	Angelic Conductor	2008	1999	YES	YES