The Beswick Price Guide: Price and Colour Guide to Beswick Pottery Collectables

Product Information

The first thing you need to do is look for the Goebel trademark, also known as a TMK, at the bottom of your Hummel figurine. Added to these are the surprisingly avant garde models by Colin Melbourne - the so-called CM series of the late 1950s - that have long polarised opinion in the collecting community. As cutting edge as Gredington was traditional, Melbourne is today much admired by the 'Festival of Britain' generation.

Goebel first started with TMK-1 (oldest) and moved all the way through TMK-8 (newest). Suffice to say, if you have a TMK-2 or a TMK-3, your Hummel is older and worth more. Rarity – Some Hummels were manufactured for decades, others were limited edition or special series. Obviously, the latter are more valuable. You’ve probably seen a Hummel figurine atop somebody’s fireplace—a sweet child reading a book, playing music, or going about their daily task. These porcelain figurines embody the simple beauty of the early 20th century Bavarian countryside. As you can see in the picture above, it’s easy to identify the shape and style of the bee and V symbols. A full bee is typically depicted in older models, and the image pays homage to Hummel, whose name means “bumblebee” in German. Prices three times those paid a decade previously were not uncommon and collectors were prepared to overlook damage to acquire scarce models.So, how can you tell if you have an authentic Hummel or merely a copycat? TMK Mark / Goebel Trademark

Goebel produced the first Hummel figurines in 1935 and production continues until this day. Each one goes through a long, painstaking process involving multiple artisan sculptors, master mold makers, and painters. Forgeries often weigh less than real Hummel figurines. The Goebel company uses a specific porcelain mix which makes the final product feel rather solid. Copies frequently use cheaper materials like chalk, plaster, or even plastic. After Hummel’s death in 1946, this right was transferred to an Artistic Board of the Sisters of Siessen, who continue to closely guard Hummel’s philosophy and artistic style to this day. Franz Goebel & Figurine Production Finally, real Goebel-made Hummels use a specific color palette defined by Maria Innocentia herself. Fake Hummels are usually colored similarly, but not quite the same, making it easy to spot a reproduction. These figurines display a group of school boys and a group of school girls, respectively. Each figure depicts the students standing together with their school supplies.After graduating with honors from the State School of Applied Arts in Munich in 1931, Berta joined the Franciscan Sisters of Siessen, where she was given the name of Maria Innocentia. In the early 1930s, Hummel’s drawings were published as postcards by Munich-based publisher Ars Sacra. They soon caught the eye of Franz Goebel—master porcelain maker and owner of the W. Goebel Porzellanfabrik. Eclectic grouping to include (4) Royal Albert porcelain Beatrix Potter figures, each with chips and damage, Beatrix Potter book, painted watering can, assorted Clarice Cliff style table items, (4) Royal Copenhagen cups and ramekin, Royal Copenhagen plates, Rumah Manis hand painted plate and bowl Bali, pottery plates, art pottery bowl, art glass vessel with chips at rim and brass pierced stand, This lot is consigned from the Personal Collection of Vladimir Kagan, 1927-2016. It was removed from his offices in Northern NJ."

Born in 1909 in Massing, Germany, Berta Hummel was encouraged by her parents to develop her artistic talent. When speaking of her creative insight, her mother, Victoria Hummel, said “… a bunch of pretty flowers, a pleasing child’s face, a beautiful evening mood, an autumnal forest. All these things could delight her and she would stand and look and look, for what seemed like an eternity.” Bottom etched number – used throughout the periods for signifying things like production year or release year. Sometimes, it’s just another factory control number. In 1940, Germany stopped sending products for Dubler to sell. Faced with huge demand, Dubler decided to create new products that closely followed the original art of M.I Hummel but were designed and manufactured in New York.

It was at the convent that sister Hummel started drawing sweet children with rosy cheeks performing daily tasks. The drawings represented her childhood in Bavaria—scenes of innocence and sincerity. A good way to liquidate the value of your Hummel figurine is to sell it at an auction. Most auction companies organize collectible auctions, advertised to networks of knowledgeable collectors and traders. It’s very easy to tell a forgery from an authentic Hummel figurine if you put them side by side and know what to look for. In addition to carrying the unique style and proportions of Maria Innocentia’s original drawings as well as its TMK mark and identification symbols, be on the lookout for the following when trying to decipher if your Hummel is authentic or not: Features If the Hummel figurines are part of an estate that you inherited or need to clear, consider organizing an estate sale. If advertised properly, the Hummel figurines can be the main selling point of the event and attract collectors who might buy other items as well. If you can, compare your figurine to a verified original, to ensure their features are the same. Weight

Each Goebel-produced figurine is stamped with the company logo. Different logos were used in different periods, which makes it easy to identify how old your Hummel is. In 1939 Arthur Gredington was appointed chief modeller and they began producing farm animal figurines. Arthur Gredington’s range of 190 Rearing Horsemen is one of the largest (and most popular amongst collectors) ever produced by the company. Under decorating manager Jim Hayward, there was a shift towards lifelike animal pieces, including cats, dogs, farm animals, fish and wild animals. Continued expansion enabled the acquisition of the adjoining factory in 1945 to accommodate offices, warehousing and new potting and firing facilities. From flamingo wall plaques to an outsize 'fireside' model of the popular penguin series, there are rarities in all subject areas. Some models were simply made in small numbers. Others are rare only in certain colours (the emergence of a model in 'trial' colours will always excite collectors) or in glaze variations (some figures were available in either matt or gloss finishes). Larger figurines and those with a base also received M.I. Hummel’s signature. HUM Numbers and Other NomenclaturesA young photographer snaps a picture of three children with their toys and dog. This is a complex scene with a number of characters and small details. Only 2,500 of these were produced, which is the main price- forming factor. We are now inviting entries for our forthcoming sales. If you have items you would like to consign, please request a free valuation using the link below.