One of the important components of a good educational website is being to provide information where no other source on the Internet may readily be located. Very little has been written, that I have been able to find, for recent questions since Robert Miller’s 2006 tenth edition of his Price Guide or even Heidi Ann Von Recklinghausen’s 2013 2nd Edition of her Price Guide. With the idea of the book, “HUMMELS 1978-1998: 20 Years of “Miller On Hummel” Columns By Robert L. Miller” where Mr. Miller answered people’s questions, this page is created to offer answers from avid collectors to those questions you may have never considered but nonetheless find interesting.
This page was updated on 13 August 2024.
Question: The TMK-2 Full Bee versions of the Hummel figurines show two different markings as to their origin. The “Western Germany” or “W. Germany” stamp on the bottom signifies the formation of the Federal Republic of Germany on 23 May 1949. Prior to this date, the stamp simply showed “Germany” allowing the owner to know whether they have an older or newer Full Bee version. On 3 October 1990, Eastern Germany was reunified with Western Germany to form the one country once again and the “Germany” stamp was used once more as reflected beginning with the TMK-7 trademark. My question is to whether the earlier version of the Full Bee trademark might be a little more desirable than the later version of the same trademark.
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Question: Is the incised Crown and Full Bee trademark part of the mold impression or is it pressed into the soft earthenware before firing? I have a friend who has a figurine with the Crown as well as the Full Bee trademarks, both incised.
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Question: The earlier Hummel figurines were made in the same colors and sculpted to closely resemble the original sketches by Berta (and later her sister) Hummel, as required by the monastery. When and why was there a departure from strict adherence to similarity to the sketches? Many of the later 2000 series seem to have the basic theme, but very few, if any, have a sketch for comparison. Were the Convent restrictions relaxed and for what reason?
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Question: There have been a number of variations within a Hummel figurine over the years. I have a question about HUM 6 – Sensitive Hunter. The trademark of Full Bee TMK-3: The leather pants straps on the back were no longer parallel to each other but crossed and formed an X when viewed from behind. How was this decided? Also, in 1981 the color of the rabbit changed from orange to dark brown. Was this to make it appear more realistic and does it reflect the colors of the original sketch?
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Question: Red 3 (slashes) Lines – Typically found on figurines of the Crown TMK-1 and Full Bee TMK-2 era, these marks are different than the artists marks for work on the face. What is the significance of these marks in red?
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Question: On the HUM 11 2/0 – Merry Wanderer figure, there seems to be variation in the number of the usual five vest buttons, with up to six or even seven. Some of these are raised buttons, while others are simply painted on a flat surface. Is there a known reason why this occurred?
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Question: I thought all Hummel figurines were made in Germany. There seems to be an exception with the Hummel HUM 35/0 – Good Shepherd. The photo on the website shows “Made in Holland”. Did World War II have an influence on this, as the figurine has the TMK-1 Crown trademark?
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Question: The figurine HUM 72 – Spring Cheer appears to have a yellow dress but my catalog shows the same figurine with a green dress.
Answer: There have been some significant variations in Spring Cheer over the years of its production. It was initially released wearing a yellow dress and no flowers in the right hand. During the period of the Stylized Bee TMK-3, the figure was produced with a green dress and flowers in the right hand having been restyled in 1965 by master sculptor Gerhard Skrobek who added the flowers to the right hand. This is the way the more recent versions are found. Some of the old versions without flowers were left over and were painted with a green dress to match the newer models. The one in the middle is the rarest of the two green dress models and is worth $1,200 to $1,500 in 2013 prices according to Von Recklinghausen. Records show that this figurine is Temporarily Withdrawn (TW) from production as of December 31, 1984. The suggested retail price for Spring Cheer was $55 in the 1984 price catalog.
Question: One of the fascinating things about collecting Hummel figurines is that you can find changes over the years for various reasons. Why did the figurines HUM 314 – Confidentially change the base of the cactus support?
Answer: This figurine was restyled in order to strengthen the stand that was holding the cactus due to frequent breakage. – Robert Miller, p 116
Question: I was reading about the figurine HUM 219 – Little Velma and wondered if you know anything about where I might be able to find one.
Answer: This figurine was never officially released from the factory due in part that it bears a close resemblance to two other figurines. To date, there have only been an estimated 15 to 20 examples located. It was designed by master sculptor Reinhold Unger in October of 1952 and received an unofficial name of Little Velma in honor of the name of the lady who brought it to the attention of Robert L. Miller. It was never placed in regular production due to its similarity to several other pieces, namely HUM 195 – Barnyard Hero and HUM 201 – Retreat to Safety. The Little Velma figurines were considered to be distribution samples and since it was never produced, Goebel never gave it a name. The majority of these figurines have been traced to Canada and it is currently not understood why they were shipped there and only Canada. – Robert Miller, p 10
Question: The figurine HUM 311 – Kiss Me has two styles, an earlier version with a doll having socks on the feet and legs while the later version is missing the socks and is a bit smaller. What caused the change from one to the other?
Answer: Sculptor Reinhold Unger designed the original model in 1955 and in 1963, sculptor Gerhard Skrobek restyled the figure at the request of the Convent to look more like a doll rather than a child. Both styles can be found with the TMK-3 Stylized and TMK-4 Three Line trademarks. – Robert Miller, p 164
Question: Why do some Hummel figurines have a round base whereas others have a square base? A good example where this was modified within a figurine is HUM 184 – Latest News where the base was changed from square (TMK-2 Full Bee) to a round one within the Stylized trademark (TMK-3) in the mid-1960s.
Answer: Hummel enthusiast Wolfgang Seidl proposed the following with supporting photographs. From left to right are the TMK-2, TMK-3 and TMK-6 trademark variations for the figurine HUM 184 – Latest News. “With the figurine Hum 184 – Latest News, the first production in this time period of 1935 to 1945 required a technique to do a square base with a cross inside. This was to carry the weight of the figurine and if the base was not strong enough to hold the heavy figurine, the middle of the base might fall through. During the years following, the production team came up with new ideas and techniques and the company found they could do the square base without the supporting cross. Later, they changed it again. This time, not for the technique but rather for the design and now the figurine received a round base. The nearly 100% answered (99%) to your question is: If a base is changed, it CAN be to carry the figurine, it can be for more space and it can be for the design AND it can also correct a mistake inside the production.” – Wolfgang Seidl
Question: There are several other duplication examples of figurines such as the Little Fiddler in HUM 2 and HUM 4 as well as the Book Worm located as HUM 3 and HUM 8 and the ever-popular Merry Wanderer found as HUM 7 and HUM 11. A later version of HUM 31 – Silent Night was renumbered HUM 54. Was there a reason for each of these duplications?
Answer: “A new and better answer for this question, to the numbers 2 & 4 and 7 & 11, I spoke with the old archiver (the person who made the Hummel archives in the time of the Goebel company) and he told me when we spoke about very small numbers 2 to 11, this was the beginning of the company and it can be that at this time (start of the MI Hummel series, the second world war and so on) the company had not started with the size program. With the numbers 3 and 8, this is different, the most important thing for a number is to change something on a figurine, with a candleholder or without a candleholder but by 3 and 8, it is easy because 3 is the figurine and 8 is the figurine as a bookend with a flat back.” – Wolfgang Seidl
Question: I’ve been told that the Double Crown figurines are more desirable and worth more. I would have thought that the older Crown versions with only the incised trademark would be older and worth more than the ones with the stamped Crown including those with both Crown marks.
Answer: “About the worth of a piece, I can say nothing because the design of a figurine is, MOST OF THE TIME, why people buy the lovely Hummel figurines, BUT I can make clear why some have both trademarks and others not. Rumors in the past told us that the incised trademark was by the production process and the stamp came on the figurine when it is sold to a dealer or to the collector. THIS IS WRONG. The correct version is that the incised trademark is in the mold and to these periods (only during trademarks 1 and 2, not in trademark 3 and younger). The molds are in the material of plaster and the must be cleaned during the production often, very often, because you can made only a few with each mold and an order from the head of the company was, we stamp all figurines to the incised trademark also because then we have clear information from which time period it is. This was also DURING the production process.” – Wolfgang Seidl
Question: I noticed that an earlier version of the HUM 332 – Soldier Boy has a red hat ornament whereas later versions have a blue ornament on the hat. Do you know the reason for this subtle change?
Answer: This figurine was first designed by master sculptor Gerhard Skrobek in 1955 and the early examples that have the TMK-2 Full Bee trademark with the incised copyright date of 1955 are worth considerably more than the regular production pieces. The older pieces are slightly larger and usually have a red ornament on the hat while the newer pieces have a blue one. The probable modification might be due to someone incorrectly believing it made reference to a Soviet soldier. Those with a trademark of TMK-4 can have either.
Question: I have a figurine of HUM 114 – Let’s Sing with the ashtray on the right of the little accordion player but a friend has the same figurine with the ashtray on the other side. Is this a rare piece?
Answer: – This figurine was originally modeled by master sculptor Reinhold Unger in 1938 with the ashtray on the left facing the little accordion player. It was restyled in 1959 by master sculptor Theo R. Menzenbach with the ashtray on the opposite side. The earlier ashtray is considered rarer and is difficult to find.
Question: Why do some figurines have the M I Hummel signature on the top of the base while others have the same signature on the side of the base?
Answer: This is VERY EASY. The question here is to which side is open on the mold. When the M I Hummel signature is on top, the mold MUST open to the top. In this case, it doesn’t work to the side. – Wolfgang Seidl
Question: The Advent pieces HUM 115, HUM 116 and HUM 117 were produced and marketed at the same time as the almost identical MEL 1, MEL 2 and MEL 3 figurines. Each was produced in the Crown (TMK-1), Full Bee (TMK-2) and Stylized Bee (TMK-3) trademarks. What was the reason for the duplication?
Answer: THIS IS A VERY, VERY, VERY GOOD QUESTION and I think we (the collectors) don’t have a correct answer. It CAN be that the company earned more money because for a Hummel figurine, they must pay royalties to the Convent. For a Mel figurine, this was before the agreement and is NOT considered a legitimate Hummel figurine. BUT … ??? !!! ??? !!! – Wolfgang Seidl
Question: Some of the earliest figurines were created in porcelain and soon changed to earthenware. What was the deciding factor in this?
Answer: This answer is again VERY EASY. At the time when these Samples were made, there were other rules from those of today (but I think these rules are the same???) Goebel (Germany) sent products to the USA and for porcelain, the government wanted more money than that for earthenware. This was the first detail. The second detail was that porcelain required MUCH MORE energy for the production (again more money), so the company looked for the best way to provide production and to send the figurines inside the USA. – Wolfgang Seidl
References
Miller, R. L. (1998). Hummels : 1978-1998 : 20 years of “Miller on Hummel” columns (1st ed). Collector News.
Seidl, Wolfgang (2024) Personal Correspondence