Hummel Figurines: What Doulton Collectors Should Know

Berta Hummel was born in Massing, Germany, in 1909. She graduated with honors from the State School of Applied Arts in Munich, then entered a convent and took the name Sister Maria Innocentia. Her drawings of children ended up on art cards.

Franz Goebel saw them, bought the rights, and launched the first figurines in 1935.

She kept control. Every clay model came to her for approval, and so did the painting. Her signature went on each piece. It's still incised on the base, and it's still the first thing to check. After the war, American GIs stationed in Germany shipped them home by the thousand. The PX system stocked them. The U.S. became Goebel's biggest market.

Goebel stopped making them on September 30, 2008. Another company uses the name today, but it isn't Goebel — every Goebel Hummel that exists was made before that date. No more are coming. What trades now comes out of estates.

Every piece we list is dated by its trademark, measured, described by condition, and backed by our assurance of authenticity.