In the 1970s into the early 1980s, Hummel plates were very collectable and at times the demand outstripped the supply. That is not so much the case these days when you can purchase an entire set of plates for less than it cost to ship them. There are some exceptions, of course, as there are with many of the figurines. The plates are arranged in ascending order of their HUM number. Here are some of the nine different plate series worth keeping any eye out for to add to your collection to make it more complete.
This page was updated on 13 August 2021.
Annual Plate Series – 1971 to 1995
In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of W. Goebel Hummelwerk, the introduction of the annual plates was initiated by the company. The first edition, HUM 264 was offered in 1971 with the “three line” (TM-4) trademark and featured the popular Heavenly Angel as a semi-relief image placed on a 7½-inch wide plate with 33 stars along the outer edge.
Did you know the 1973 plate had 32 stars?
1971 HUM 264 – Heavenly Angel
1972 HUM 265 – Hear Ye, Hear Ye
1973 HUM 266 – Globe Trotter
1974 HUM 267 – Goose Girl
1975 HUM 268 – Ride Into Christmas
1976 HUM 269 – Apple Tree Girl
1977 HUM 270 – Apple Tree Boy
1978 HUM 271 – Happy Pastime
1979 HUM 272 – Singing Lesson
1980 HUM 273 – School Girl
1981 HUM 274 – Umbrella Boy
1982 HUM 275 – Umbrella Girl
1983 HUM 276 – Postman
1984 HUM 277 – Little Helper
1985 HUM 278 – Chick Girl
1986 HUM 279 – Playmates
1987 HUM 283 – Feeding Time
1988 HUM 284 – Little Goat Herder
1989 HUM 285 – Farm Boy
1990 HUM 286 – Shepherd’s Boy
1991 HUM 287 – Just Resting
1992 HUM 288 – Wayside Harmony
1993 HUM 289 – Doll Bath
1994 HUM 290 – Doctor
1995 HUM 291 – Come Back Soon
Happy Anniversary Plate Series
Only three plates were placed into production as the Happy Anniversary Series that represent the 5th, 10th and 15th years in support of the annual plate series which began in 1971. These are some of the largest of the plates created by the Goebel company that show, in relief, the sketches of Sister M.I. Hummel. They measure 10¼-inches across. They also offer some of the brightest colors of the more popular scenes that are collected as figurines.
1975 HUM 280 – Stormy Weather
1980 HUM 281 – Spring Dance
1985 HUM 282 – Auf Wiedersehen
Friends Forever Plate Series – 1992 to 1995
There are four unique plates that make up the Friends Forever Plate Series. They were designed and modeled by master sculptor Gerhard Skrobek and released from 1992 to 1995 . They differ from the Annual Series, as they are slightly smaller with a 7-inch diameter and have a different design for their decorative border. The plate shown to the right is the last in this series, HUM 295 – Surprise.
1992 HUM 292 – Meditation
1993 HUM 293 – For Father
1994 HUM 294 – Sweet Greetings
1995 HUM 295 – Surprise
Four Seasons Plate Series – 1996 to 1999
From 1996 to 1999, this four-part series was designed by master sculptor Helmut Fischer and released to the public. Each 8½-inch wide plate represents one of the the four seasons, Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn. Unlike other plate designs the four seasons series used a bas-relief design that produced a stunning 3D effect.
1996 HUM 296 – Winter Melody
1997 HUM 297 – Springtime Serenade
1998 HUM 298 – Summertime Stroll
1999 HUM 299 – Autumn Glory
Christmas Plate Series – 1995 to 2000
The Annual Christmas Plate Series was the shortest-lived of all the plate series. Goebel released its first annual Christmas plate, HUM 693 – Festival Harmony with Flute in 1995, with its last of the six official Christmas plates being released in the year 2000. Modeled by master sculptor Helmut Fischer these plates were different from many of the other plate designs with a raised relief instead of flatter featured images. This gave the angel figure on the plate, a more 3-dimensional appearance, that almost made the plate look as if a figurine was resting on the plate itself. These plates have a six-point star.
1995 HUM 693 – Festival Harmony with Flute
1996 HUM 692 – Christmas Song
1997 HUM 694 – Thanksgiving Prayer
1998 HUM 695 – Echos of Joy
1999 HUM 696 – Joyful Noise
2000 HUM 697 – Light the Way
Celebration Plate Series – 1986 to 1989
These four 6¼-inch wide M.I. Hummel Club members-only plates in bas-relief were molded by master sculptor Gerhard Skrobek and released to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the former Goebel Collectors Club, now the M.I. Hummel Club. Beginning in 1986, one plate was released each year for four years and were only made available to club members who held a redemption card. Each of these have the Missing Bee TMK-6 trademark.
1986 HUM 738 – Valentine Gift
1987 HUM 737 – Valentine Joy
1988 HUM 736 – Daisies Don’t Tell
1989 HUM 735 – It’s Cold
Miniature Plate Series – Little Music Makers – 1984 to 1987
The Miniature Plate Series can be categorized into more than one series. Here are the Little Music Makers series, each only 3¼ inches wide. The plates are shown in order of the year introduced and not the HUM number.
1984 HUM 744 – Little Fiddler
1985 HUM 741 – Serenade
1986 HUM 743 – Soloist
1987 HUM 742 – Band Leader
Miniature Plate Series – Little Homemakers – 1988 to 1991
The Miniature Plate Series can be categorized into more than one series. Here are the Little Homemakers series, each only 3¼ inches wide. The plates are shown in order of year as well as the HUM number.
1988 HUM 745 – Little Sweeper
1989 HUM 746 – Wash Day
1990 HUM 747 – Stitch In Time
1991 HUM 748 – Chicken Licken
Century Collection Miniature Plate Series – 1986 to 1999
From 1986 to 1999, these twelve 4-inch wide mini-plate featuring a limited edition M.I. Hummel figurine was released each year. The example shown here is HUM 890 – Let’s Tell the World. Unlike the other plate series, this particular series also release a version in cobalt blue on a glossy white background, similar to the traditional designs that were used for decorating pottery and chinaware.
1986 HUM 886 – Chapel Time
1987 HUM 887 – Pleasant Journey
1988 HUM 888 – Call to Worship
1989 HUM 889 – Harmony in Four Parts
1990 HUM 890 – Let’s Tell the World
1991 HUM 891 – We Wish You The Best
1992 HUM 892 – On Our Way
1993 HUM 893 – Welcome Spring
1994 HUM 894 – Rock-A-Bye
1995 HUM 895 – Strike Up The Band
1996 HUM 896 – Love’s Bounty
1997 HUM 897 – Fond Goodbye
1998 HUM 898 – Here’s My Heart
1999 HUM 899 – Fanfare
Millennium Plate – 2000
In celebration of the year 2000, Goebel introduced a special edition plate with the Star Gazer art from M.I. Hummel. There are 33 stars around the perimeter on this 7½-inch wide plate bearing the signature with the HUM 920 number. A copyright date of 1999 is found on the reverse as well as the Big Bee TMK-8 trademark.
Annual Plate Series 2 – 2000 to 2004
These 7-inch wide plates are very colorful in contrast and are apparently very hard to find as represented by their secondary market price requested.
2000 HUM 920 – Star Gazer
2000 HUM 921 – Garden Splendor
2001 HUM 922 – Afternoon Nap
2002 HUM 923 – Bumblebee Friend
2003 HUM 924 – The Florist
2004 HUM 925 – Garden Gift
Miniature Annual Plate Series – 1997 to 1998
Beginning in 1997, these twenty-five 3¼-inch wide miniature plates were introduced for collecting and different wooden display cabinets were offered to show off the plates. The Miniature Annual Collection plates were originally only available in the European market, released for sale at the rate of four plates at a time. They were priced at $19.95 each plus $2.50 shipping and handling. The first plate shipped initially and then you received the remaining plates two each month. The hardwood display cabinet to display these was available for $19.95 plus $2.50 shipping and handling.
1971 HUM 971 – Heavenly Angel
1972 HUM 972 – Hear Ye, Hear Ye!
1973 HUM 973 – Globe Trotter
1974 HUM 974 – Goose Girl
1975 HUM 975 – Ride Into Christmas
1976 HUM 976 – Apple Tree Girl
1977 HUM 977 – Apple Tree Boy
1978 HUM 978 – Happy Pastime
1979 HUM 979 – Singing Lesson
1980 HUM 980 – School Girl
1981 HUM 981 – Umbrella Boy
1982 HUM 982 – Umbrella Girl
1983 HUM 983 – Postman
1984 HUM 984 – Little Helper
1985 HUM 985 – Chick Girl
1986 HUM 986 – Playmates
1987 HUM 987 – Feeding Time
1988 HUM 988 – Little Goat Herder
1989 HUM 989 – Farm Boy
1990 HUM 990 – Shepherd’s Boy
1991 HUM 991 – Just Resting
1992 HUM 992 – Wayside Harmony
1993 HUM 993 – Doll Bath
1994 HUM 994 – Doctor
1995 HUM 995 – Come Back Soon
Factory Workers Plate
It is reported that there may be as few as 100 of this plate created by the W. Goebel Porzellanfabrik. The 10th anniversary plate was produced by and for the workers at the factory where the annual plates were also created. This plate was not made available to the general public thereby making it that more scarce and hard to come by. This one was photographed in a serious collectors rare and unusual M.I. Hummel set. Robert Miller’s latest price guide has this plate appraised at between $2,000 and $2,500.
References
Antiques HQ (2021). Hummel Annual Christmas Plates. Retrieved from https://www.antique-hq.com/hummel-annual-christmas-plates-3089/
Miller, R. L. (2003). The no. 1 price guide to M.I. Hummel: Figurines, plates, more. 9th Edition. Cumberland, MD: Portfolio Press.
Replacements, Ltd. (2021). Plates by Goebel retrieved from https://www.replacements.com/collectibles-goebel-hummel-century-collection-plates/c/235494