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Back in the early 1930s, a young, Bavarian artist enrolled in Munich's famed Academy of Applied Arts. Her name was Berta Hummel, a young woman whose intense passion for art was only outdone by her devotion to religion. While in school, Ms. Hummel befriended two Franciscan Sisters from a teaching order that excelled in the arts. Upon graduation in 1931, she entered the Convent of Siessen where she took the name Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel. The young novice was immersed in a setting that encouraged both her passions. In fact, within a short time, German publishers began printing some of her artwork in the form of postcards. The subject of these cards were children pictured in scenes that depicted early 20th century Europe. Meanwhile, Franz Goebel, the head of a porcelain company bearing his name, was in search of subject matter. You can imagine his delight when some of Sister Hummel's work was brought to his attention! Franz Goebel proposed the idea of transforming some of Sister Hummel's drawings into figurines. An agreement was reached, and in 1935, the first figurines were introduced. MARKS OF AUTHENTICITY: There are two specific ways a collector can determine if a Hummel figurine is authentic. For starters, almost all Hummel figurines are incised with the signature of the artist. Take a look at the base of the figurine. When Sister Hummel made her contract with Franz Goebel, it was agreed that her signature would appear on every piece. Although she passed away at age 37, her signature still appears on all authentic pieces. The only exception is on figurines without bases or without an adequate surface to display the signature. The other markings that authenticate each Hummel, are the official Goebel trademarks found on the underside of each figurine. In fact, since 1935, these stamps have varied slightly. They not only serve as a source of authentication, but also help to determine the age of each piece.  |
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| TMK 1 | TMK 2 | TMK 3 | TMK 4 | TMK 5 | TMK 6 | TMK 7 | TMK 8 |
| HUMMEL LAMP | MUSIC BOX |
