Hummel / Goebel
Maria Innocentia Hummel's figure designs and sketches began to appear in Germany and Switzerland in the form of postcards in the 1930s. The German art publisher Ars Sacra was involved in the early popularization of the genre from postcards. Hummel postcards became popular throughout Germany, attracting the attention of porcelain maker Franz Goebel, head of the W. Goebel Porzellanfabrik. Goebel acquired the rights to transform Hummel's drawings into figurines, and in 1935 he created prototypes of the Hummel ceramic figurines. They were presented at the Leipzig fair, which was a major European exhibition for the industry. Goebel was known for introducing novel products that attracted American distributors. By the end of the year, 46 M.I. Hummel figurines were brought to life by the factory. In America it was sold at Marshall Field & Co. in Chicago and at other retailers.
After the end of World War II, Hummel figurines grew in popularity as American soldiers stationing in West Germany began sending the figurines home as gifts. Nostalgia for the figurines and the American soldiers who bought them led to Hummel figurines becoming a popular collector's item. The popularity grew even further when the figures began to be sold under the Army PX system. As travel to Europe became more common, these figurines were often bought as souvenirs. Its circle of collectors became so broad that their own collectors' clubs were founded, among them the Goebel Collectors' Club, the Bradford Exchange. Since 2003, M.I. Hummel and Swarovski collaborate to create exquisite mixed media figurines that showcase European craftsmanship at its finest.
After the end of World War II, Hummel figurines grew in popularity as American soldiers stationing in West Germany began sending the figurines home as gifts. Nostalgia for the figurines and the American soldiers who bought them led to Hummel figurines becoming a popular collector's item. The popularity grew even further when the figures began to be sold under the Army PX system. As travel to Europe became more common, these figurines were often bought as souvenirs. Its circle of collectors became so broad that their own collectors' clubs were founded, among them the Goebel Collectors' Club, the Bradford Exchange. Since 2003, M.I. Hummel and Swarovski collaborate to create exquisite mixed media figurines that showcase European craftsmanship at its finest.
