Some of the local members of the M.I. Hummel Club Chapter are well acquainted with the spectacular figurines that make up the Century Collection. As a complicated set of several figurines incorporated into one piece, these 14 Hummels express an interesting story told by the children depicted in the artwork. What many people do not know about such figurines is how difficult these are to paint once they are put together and prepared for this final colorful stage of their creation. A quick inspection under the base will reveal whether or not the figurine is of this collection showing the blue decal with the words “Century Collection”, the “XX” and the year of release.
Following the creation of the final Century Collection Series figurine, a series of Century Collection Mini Plates were made for each of the figurines. Each plate was four inches in diameter and priced at $30.00 each. A walnut display case was offered to show off all of these and was priced at $100.00.
There are some very beautiful and quite collectible items of this Hummel theme which were created in celebration of the new century, thus their name, “Century Collection”. Each will be added as time allows.
This page was updated on 7 September 2022.
HUM 406 – Pleasant Journey (1987)
This charming figurine was released in 1987 with four other new figurines. This is the second release of the Century Collection and was in production for that year only. Modeled by master sculptor Gerhard Skrobek in 1974, it has a copyright date of 1976 and a Missing Bee TMK-6 trademark. The bottom has a circular decal with the blue letters, “M.I. HUMMEL CENTURY COLLECTION 1987 XX” along with the name of the figurine “PLEASANT JOURNEY”. The initial release price of this TMK-6 trademark figurine was for $500.00 in the U.S. and $695.00 in Canada.
HUM 441 – Call to Worship (1988)
As one of the tallest in this collection at 13 inches, this figurine commands a lot of attention. It also has a working clock with chimes on the hour and works off a battery. Modeled by master sculptor Gerhard Skrobek in 1982 and given a copyright date of 1983, this is the third in the collection produced only in the year of introduction 1988. A circular inscription is on the bottom of the base with the words, “M.I. HUMMEL CENTURY COLLECTION 1988 XX”. The Missing Bee TMK-6 trademark piece was offered with an introduction price of $600.00 that year alone.
HUM 442 – Chapel Time (1986)
There are a number of variations of this figurine making it a very much sought out item. Early productions had a closed bell tower with only painted windows. Later versions had the windows open in order to provide for the heat of the firing of the mold to escape more freely. Other variations may be found in the round window just above the clock as open or closed as well as in base construction and the face of the clock in different colors. The clock is battery operated and keeps good time.
Originally modeled in 1982 by master sculptor Gerhard Skrobek, it was released in 1986 as the first of the Century Collection Series with an incised 1983 copyright. It was produced for only one year as a limited edition as with the others in this collection and will not be produced again. The suggested retail price was $500.00 when offered. The open window and open hole is the rarer version of this figurine and the one to look for.
HUM 471 – Harmony In Four Parts (1989)
At a height of 9¾ inches, this figurine was the fourth in the series to be created as a Century Collector’s piece. Modeled by master sculptor Gerhard Skrobek in 1986, it bears a copyright date of 1987 and the words, “M.I. HUMMEL CENTURY COLLECTION 1989 XX” and the name of the figurine “HARMONY IN FOUR PARTS” along with the Missing Bee TMK-6 trademark. Released in 1989 for the U.S. market for $850.00 along with seven other new figurines that year, this piece has become quite popular as it is seen on eBay with great frequency.
HUM 472 – On Our Way (1992)
As the seventh Century Collection figurine to be released, this popular figurine hit the U.S. market in 1992 along with five other new figurines from Goebel. Produced for one year only, it was modeled by master sculptor Gerhard Skrobek in 1986 and bears a copyright year of 1987 giving it a Small Crown TMK-7 trademark. It was introduced with a retail price of $950.00 in 1992.
HUM 487 – Let’s Tell the World (1990)
Standing at 10½ inches high and 8 inches wide, molded by master sculptor Gerhard Skrobek in 1987, this large figurine with a Missing Bee TMK-6 trademark incorporates two little boys pulling on a bell rope “Ringing in the Year of Freedom” while a third child looks in wonder. The bell actually rings when the small rope is pulled. Included, is a brass medallion with the obverse showing a relief of the figurine and the words “Let’s Tell the World, Ringing in the Year of Freedom, 1990”. This is the fifth figurine in the series with a circular decal in blue which has the words, “M.I. HUMMEL CENTURY COLLECTION 1990 XX” and “1935-1990, 55 Years of M.I. Hummel Figurines” through the circular decal along with the Missing Bee TMK-6 trademark. The issue price in 1990 was $875.00.
HUM 574 – Rock-A-Bye (1994)
Modeled by master sculptor Helmut Fischer in 1991, this popular figurine is the ninth in the Century Collection Series and has an incised copyright date of the same year and a Small Crown TMK-7 trademark on the bottom of the base. Introduced to the U.S. market in 1994 for one year only, a circular inscription on a blue decal shows, “M.I. HUMMEL CENTURY COLLECTION 1994 XX” along with the name of the figurine “Rock-A-Bye”. The initial issue price was $1,150 in 1994.
HUM 600 – We Wish You The Best (1991)
As the sixth figurine in the Centennial Collection, this figurine makes a good companion for HUM 471 – Harmony in Four Parts shown above. HUM 600 was released in the U.S. market in 1991 and was produced for only one year. Modeled by master sculptor Helmut Fischer in 1989, it incorporates the copyright date of the same year. The bottom of the figurine has a blue decal with the words, “M.I. HUMMEL CENTURY COLLECTION 1991 XX” with the name of the figurine, “We Wish You The Best”. The figurine was initially offered for $1,300 in 1991.
HUM 635 – Welcome Spring (1993)
At 12¼-inches, this large figurine is very intricate with the many flowers on the tree showing the first days of Spring. First released in the U.S. in 1993 as the eighth in the Century Collection Series, it was modeled in 1990 by master sculptor Helmut Fischer and has an incised copyright date of 1990. The blue decal on the bottom has the words, “M.I. HUMMEL CENTURY COLLECTION 1993 XX” and the name of the figurine, “Welcome Spring” with the Small Crown TMK-7 trademark. The issue price was $1,085 that same year.
HUM 660 – Fond Goodbye (1997)
This is the 12th figurine in the Century Collection Series and was released in the U.S. in 1997. It was produced for only one year and became quite popular. Modeled by master sculptor Helmut Fischer in 1991, it carries an incised copyright trademark of 1992 along with a blue decal on the bottom of the base with the words, “M.I. Hummel CENTURY COLLECTION 1997 XX” and the name of the item, “Fond Goodbye” along with the Small Crown TMK-7 trademark. The issue price that year was $1,450.
HUM 668 – Strike up the Band (1995)
As the tenth figurine in the Century Collection Series to be released, The U.S. market saw this one show up in 1995 being produced for one year only with an original price that year of $1,200. Modeled by master sculptor Helmut Fischer in 1993, this 7½-inch tall figurine bears an inscribed copyright date of that year along with a blue deal that reads, “M.I. HUMMEL CENTURY COLLECTION 1995 XX” and the name “Strike Up the Band” along with the Small Crown TMK-7 trademark.
HUM 751 – Love’s Bounty (1996)
This 6½ by 8½ inch figurine is the 11th in the Century Collection Series and was released in the U.S. in 1996. Master sculptor Helmut Fischer modeled this in 1993 and has an inscribed copyright of that date on the bottom along with an inscription on a blue decal showing, “First Issue 1996”, “125th Anniversary Goebel”, “M.I. Hummel CENTURY COLLECTION 1996 XX” along with “1871 W. Goebel Porzellanfabrik 1996” and the name “Love’s Bounty” with the Small Crown TMK-7 trademark. It came with an oval wooden base and a brass plate inscribed with “1871-1996 – 125 W. Goebel Porzellanfabrik”. An earlier version had an incised “125” on the bouquet of flowers that the boy is holding and the later version had this as a decal instead. The initial price of this figurine in 1996 was $1,200.
HUM 766 – Here’s My Heart (1998)
A 10¾-inch tall Here’s My Heart figurine was released in the U.S. market in 1997 as the 13th Century Collection Series and was produced in only the year of 1998. Modeled by master sculptor Helmut Fischer in 1994, it bears the copyright of that year as well as a circular inscription on a blue decal that reads, “M.I. HUMMEL CENTURY COLLECTION 1998 XX” and the name of the figurine, “Here’s My Heart” along with the Small Crown TMK-7 trademark. The original issue price was $1,375 in 1997.
HUM 1999 – Fanfare (1999)
As the 14th in the series, modeled in 1993 by master sculptors Helmut Fischer and Marion Huschka, this 11-inch tall figurine reportedly sold with an issue price of $1,500. More information will be provided when located. It bears the incised copyright of the year 1993 as well as a circular inscription on a blue decal that reads, “M.I. HUMMEL 1999, LETZTE AUSGABE – FINAL EDITION, CENTURY COLLECTION XX” and the name of the figurine, “Fanfare” along with the Small Crown TMK-7 trademark.