Hummel Figurines
by Michey
The history of a gifted artist, known for her sketches, drawings and paintings - Maria Innocentia Hummel which inspired artists at Goebel Company.
The Life Of Maria Innocentia Hummel
Berta Hummel was borne in Bavaria in 1909. At 18th her father helped her to enroll in Munich at the Munich Academy of Applied Arts from which she graduated after 4 years. She was a shinny student appreciated by teachers and peers for her talent of drawing.
She and her family were deeply religious, as student she chose to live in a boarding house run by an order of the church. This is where she met 2 nuns of the Franciscan order from the Convent of Siessen located near the Black Forest in Wurttemberg.
The Convent was a teaching order with great emphasis on the arts.
In 1931 after her graduation she decided to enroll in that Convent where she took the name of Sister Maria Innocentia.
The order was a poor one in those days but she wanted to help raise some money for the Convent, so she received permission to exhibit and sell her art: drawings, paintings, postcards.
The most wanted pieces of art was her postcards with children figures.
Drawing - Little Fiddler
 Little Fiddler |
Drawing - Heavenly Angel
 Heavenly Angel |
Licence Agreement With Goebel Porzellanfabrik
Young and ambitious Franz Goebel, the 4th generation owner and head of W. Goebel Porzellanfabrik, was on a mission to create a new line of figurines.
But he had no inspiration from the start and he persistently looked for ideas.
Some day he discovered Maria Innocentia's postcards and he was fascinated by her drawings.
He was convinced that those two-dimension drawings can be transformed in three-dimension bas-relief figurines.
He discussed and convinced his master sculptors at Goebel first and then... he met with the Mother Superior and with Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel.
A license agreement was granted for W. Goebel Porzellanfabrik to be the sole right to produce and sell three-dimensional figurines created using Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel's drawings.
It was a crucial moment for both Franz Goebel and Sister Maria Innocentia.
Figurine - Puppy Love
 Puppy Love |
Figurine - Book Worm Girl
 Book Worm Girl |
The Production of Figurines
In 1935 at the Leipzig Fair which was a major International show, the first figurines were advertized and they had a tremendous success that has been their ever since.
Franz Goebel was right, his great instinct as a business man served him well.
It was remarkable that Sister Maria Innocentia herself spent a lot of time at the factory, working with Goebel's artists to ensure that the transition from paper drawings to ceramic bas-relief was done properly. It was a team work, numerous times Goebel's Artists went to Convent to show the products.
W. Goebel created a large variety of products:
- Figurines
- Plates
- Wall Plaques
- Book Ends
- Motifs on Wall Vase
- Religious Themes
- Motifs on Table Lamps
- Motifs on Bells
Figurine - Sensitive Hunter
 Sensitive Hunter |
Figurine - Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
 Hear Ye! Hear Ye! |
Figurine - Goose Girl
 Goose Girl |
Figurine - Chick Girl
 Chick Girl |
Group Figurines
In this post I want to stay only with Hummel Figurines, as they are the most wanted and admired products created by
W. Goebel Porzellanfabrik.
I start showing now some Groups Figurines.
In future posts I'll present other types of products created by W. Goebel using Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel drawings.
Group - Ring Around The Rosie
 Ring Around The Rosie |
Group - The Sever Swabians
 The Sever Swabians |
Group - School Boys
 School Boys |
Hummel Goebel Figurines on Amazon
 |  |  |
| M.I. Hummel "Apple Tree Boy" #142/I Goebel | Hummel Figurine Merry Wanderer # 7 Goebel Only $98.88 | c1950 Goebel HUM812/0 School Girl figure Goebel & Hummel |
 |  |  |
| Hummel Figurine Street Singer Goebel | c1950 Goebel & Hummel 58/1 Playmates ... Goebel & Hummel Only $84.4 | M. I. Hummel Figurine "Summertime Sur... Goebel |
The Tragic End
Unfortunately Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel died at 37th, in
November 1946.
She suffered of tuberculosis, a disease which was a scourge of her times; it has been misdiagnosed and poorely treated.
Her talent lived forever in the shining ceramic bas-reliefs created by W. Goebel.
The name of this figurine is "The Doctor".
Hummel Goebel Books
 |  |  |
| The Official Hummel Price Guide: Figu... Krause Publications Only $24.96 | Bakertowne's Price Guide For Mi Humme... CreateSpace | Luckey's Hummel Figurines and Plates:... Krause Publications |
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Do you collect Hummel Goebel Figurines?
Very interesting history behind these little figurines. Makes me want to investigate the Lladros I collect. Thank you!
There are a lot of collectors in USA. The fact that we was at the launch in1935 at the Leipzig Fair, was a start of a frenetic business development and create a great business relationship with Goebel which was both ways profitable.
Interesting to see that these little Hummel figurines have pass the test of time and were not just a collector's fad. I don't collect them, but I did once find one of these at a gaeage sale for dirt cheap and sold it on Ebay. Apparently I made a collector happy :)
Yes, they are lovely indeed.
Thanks for reading my post
How can I say no? These are more: I WANT! Thanks for all the lovely photos
My mother had a small collection and "book worm girl" is my favorite. I have it somewhere and can't wait to unpack and find her. I never knew how the Hummels came to be. I'm sorry to read that you lost your whole collection.
You are right... especially knowing that we lost her at 37... we know how unique and precious the bas-reliefs really are.
Thanks for reading my post.
Thanks for telling us the story of Sister Maria Innocentia. I grew up seeing them, too. Knowing the story makes me appreciate them even more.
Nancy, I am glad you collect them, the originals are very rare and precious now.
I had a collection, and in the last period of John illness, when he was terminal ill, for one year and 7 month I didn't work, as my presence to support, and take care of him was requested... In that period I sold on eBay my entire collection, it broke my heart but I had to do it!
All pieces was originals, as we was 2-3 years members of the Goebel club... this is how I learn about the tragic life of Maria Innocentia.
Thanks for visiting my post about Goebel figurines
Barbara, you are right, the plates started in 1971 when was the commemoration of 100 years of Goebel business.
I am glad you like it!