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

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A master sculptor then created a clay figurine from the drawing, spending weeks perfecting the shapes, lines, and features in an effort to stay as close to Hummel’s work as possible. Once the sculpture was approved, a master model was made. The Fine Art sale at Potteries Auctions on November 10 included a version of model 818 in Painted Gloss White. If you can, compare your figurine to a verified original, to ensure their features are the same. Weight Factory control number – a small 2-digit number hand-painted or incised used to signify who assembled the Hummel figurine.

Hopefully, this article has been a good introduction to the world of M.I. Hummel and her darling figurines. Her legacy and vision of the pastoral German countryside will live on through the Hummel figurines.Once you’re sure of the type, authenticity, and you have a ballpark of it’s worth, it’s time to make some cash. Here are the most popular ways you can sell your Hummel figurines: Auction Houses Modelled in 1987 by the studio's latter day chief designer Graham Tongue, it depicts a pit pony called Kruger who retired from the Chatterley Whitfield colliery in 1931. A run of four (or possibly five) was made to mark a royal visit to the colliery in 1987.

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). 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. The fake figurine might have missing, added, or displaced features. For example, the head is turned to the other side, the facial expression is different, or a patch of grass is missing. 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.

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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.

Conceived by Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel—a prolific German artist and Franciscan nun—the first figurines were produced by Franz Goebel in 1935. Realism and accuracy were key to their appeal: as the desirable characteristics of Hereford cattle changed over time so did Gredington's models of the breed. 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. Here are some of the most valuable Hummel figurines on the market. Bigger models tend to be valued at higher prices. Adventure Bound (#347)

Most Valuable M.I. Hummel Figurines

These numbers are usually cast with the figurine or incised in the soft porcelain, so they are a permanent identification feature. Cross-referencing the HUM number online will easily tell you the name of the figurine and give you additional information about it. Each figurine has the so-called Hummel or HUM number. It’s a 1 – 4 digit number that identifies its model. For example, Adventure Bound is #347. Figurines produced in different sizes, also have designators appended to the HUM. 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.