Most Valuable Hummel Figurines
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Hummel figurines can be charming or terrifying, but it’s hard to deny their longevity. Kitschy and collectible, Hummel figurines sprang into existence in 1935 — as a partnership between the religious artist Maria Innocentia Hummel and the German porcelain maker Goebel.
Maria continued to make set after set of adorable porcelain figures until her death in 1946. Goebel continued to produce Hummel figurines after her death based on sketches of hers that they discovered.
Hummel figurines transport viewers into a different, simpler time. Focused on childhood innocence and whimsy, they are the quintessential "grandma collectible." Because of that, their value is quite erratic. You can find decades-old Hummel figurines worth less than $5. Others can be worth thousands.
Another element to the Hummel figurine is that the same character was often reproduced year after year. So be aware that a 1935 Little Fiddler may not be the same as a 1985 Little Fiddler, even if they look similar in many respects.
These are the most valuable Hummel figurines.
30. Little Cellist
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Released: 1938
Sold: Feb. 20, 2022
Price: $150
Bottom line: The Little Cellist is sometimes called "The Musician." In newer versions, his eyes are closed. The older versions have his eyes open and focused in front of him. Older versions also have a rectangular base rather than a rounded base.
A 60-year anniversary edition of the Little Cellist can actually sell for more than the originals. In the anniversary addition, the Cellist has been decked out with a golden award.
29. Yankees Win
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Released: 2000
Sold: Feb. 11, 2022
Price: $160
Bottom line: This unique little sculpture is one of the most valuable Hummel figurines that wasn’t part of the original run.
Rather, this 2000-released figurine depicts a small child reading a newspaper declaring that the Yankees have won.
28. Bookworm
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Released: 1935
Sold: March 12, 2022
Price: $195
Bottom line: This adorable Bookworm is decked out in a festive green dress, looking at an exquisitely painted book of a flower and a duck.
There’s an extraordinary amount of detail in this figurine, from the lace bow in her hair to her slouched socks.
27. Worship
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Released: 1935
Sold: March 4, 2022
Price: $199
Also referred to as "At the Wayside" and "Devotion," this figurine shows a child praying underneath a large tower in which a statue looks over her.
Also iconic to this figure are a small pine tree and basket, potentially indicating that the girl has stopped wherever she is to pray.
26. Puppy Love
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Released: 1935
Sold: Jan. 16, 2019
Price: $200
Bottom line: Puppy Love is one of the oldest Hummel Figurines, released first in 1935. It features a young boy fiddling with a small brown dog.
The rarest editions of Puppy Love have the boy without a tie and with a slightly different head tilt. This little boy is likely the same little boy as in the Little Fiddler.
25. Stormy Weather
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Released: 1950
Sold: March 19, 2022
Price: $249
Bottom line: Stormy Weather depicts two young children hiding under an umbrella, presumably as a storm approaches. Like many of the older sculptures, it has a squared-off platform.
The children wear aprons, ties, and slouchy socks, and the boy holds a walking stick.
24. Merry Wanderer
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Released: 1935
Sold: March 9, 2022
Price: $250
Bottom line: The Merry Wanderer is a young boy striking out on his own, with a bag in hand and an umbrella in tow.
This sculpture is typified by the vest, which has five buttons. He was redesigned in 1972 by the sculptor Gerhard Skrobek.
23. Apple Tree Boy and Apple Tree Girl
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Released: 1968
Sold: Feb. 22, 2022
Price: $300
Bottom line: Generally sold as a set, Apple Tree Boy and Apple Tree Girl features two children playing in trees. The boy’s tree has fruit. On the girl’s tree, there are only flowers.
Apple Tree Boy and Apple Tree Girl also have been made into a collection of lamps.
22. Little Fiddler
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Released: 1935
Sold: Jan. 25, 2022
Price: $349.99
Bottom line: The Little Fiddler is a large 13-inch porcelain statue featuring just the fiddler from Puppy Love. As you can see, he has the same fiddle and the same bright blue tie.
Typical of the Little Fiddler is the brown hat, orange band and umbrella at his back.
21. Little Gabriel
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Released: 1950
Sold: Jan. 11, 2022
2022 price: $395
Bottom line: Also known as "Joyous News," this figurine depicts a winged little child blowing a horn. The child wears a star-strewn dress, holds a green satchel bag and has pink shoes with a light black accent.
While the Hummel figurines were designed to celebrate childhood youth and innocence, they were also extremely religious. Something this figurine clearly depicts.
20. Ring Around the Rosie
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Released: 1960
Sold: February 15, 2022
2022 price: $695
Bottom line: The children in this sculpture look pensive, don’t they? Maybe they know what "Ring Around the Rosie" is about (plague). Four little girls lock hands and circle each other in this whimsical scene, one with a flower crown and all of them in little aprons.
This sculpture was originally designed in 1957 but not produced until 1960.
19. Picture Perfect
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Released: 2000
Sold: March 6, 2022
Price: $800
Bottom line: While this is one of the most recent Hummel figurines, it’s still rare because only 2,500 of them were ever produced.
In this figurine, a photographer snaps a picture with an old-timey camera of three children. And we must not forget the dog.
18. Feeding Time
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Released: 2008
Sold: May 26, 2022
Price: $825
Bottom line: Here's another rare Hummel figurine because there were only 1,250 manufactured.
This adorable figurine depicts a happy girl attending to her flock and comes with a porcelain painting and easel.
17. Adventure Bound
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Released: 1971
Sold: Dec. 28, 2021
Price: $850
Bottom line: Seven children stack into "Adventure Bound," with an extraordinary amount of detail, and every child is unique. There are a few variants of Adventure Bound, but the oldest versions are the most valuable.
In this one, you can see one child holding a lantern and two children holding a spear, facing some unknown (and potentially imaginary) foe.
16. Little Goat Herder
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Released: 2010
Sold: April 13, 2022
Price: $860
Bottom line: From the Masterpiece Collection, this cheery item was designed by Marion Huschka.
Made in Germany, this item is limited to 1,999 pieces.
15. Forever Friends
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Released: 2007
Sold: Feb. 1, 2022
Price: $896
Bottom line: Forever Friends is a limited-edition run released in 2007, showing two children leaning over a gate and watching a swan with her children. Notably, there are three white swans and a single yellow fledgling.
There were only 1,000 of these produced, and they can be more valuable if they come with a plaque.
14. Strum Along and Little Troubadour
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Released: 1994
Sold: May 18, 2022
Price: $1,255
Bottom line: This Hummel/Goebel piece depicts two children playing a simple tune.
Designed by Helmut Fischer, both pieces appear separately for sale on various websites at lower prices. This particular item came with all the pieces intact, which made it a hot seller on eBay in May 2022.
13. Goose Girl
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Released: 1960s
Sold: June 8, 2022
Price: $1,275
Bottom line: This particular Goose Girl has three geese — less rare figurines have only two.
This item was limited to 1,250 worldwide, with just 500 in North America. If you find a three-geese item as the price here shows, you can make considerable cash!
11. Teeter Totter Time (Tie)
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Released: 2010
Sold: June 8, 2022
Price: $1,299
Bottom line: This piece depicts two children enjoying playtime on a teeter-totter, while their puppy watches, hoping to get in on the action.
This limited-edition piece comes from the Moments in Time series and is No. 86 out of 2,000.
11. Nativity Scene (Tie)
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Released: 1951
Sold: June 14, 2022
Price: $1,299
Bottom line: There are 12 pieces in this vintage, more than 70-year-old Hummel set made in West Germany.
Missing from the photo, but included in this sale from May 2022, was a manger complete with hay. The tallest piece is 8 inches, and the smallest is just under 2 inches.
10. Come On
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Released: 1986
Sold: Jan. 16, 2021
Price: $1,700
Bottom line: Modeled in 1986, this intricate sculpture shows a young lamb pulling at a boy who is determined to get somewhere. The boy wears a long coat, tie and hat.
This is one of the rarer Hummel figurines and was never produced in large volumes.
9. Good Shepherd — Large Figurine
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Released: 1935
Sold: Jan. 18, 2022
Price: $2,285
Bottom line: The Good Shepherd shows a young boy in a shepherd’s robe taking care of two lambs, one of which he carries and one of which he regards.
This particular Hummel figurine is a rare "large" version, which is very hard to find because it was discontinued.
The regular figurines are 5.75 inches to 6.25 inches, whereas the large figurine is a full 7.25 inches.
8. Hungarian Boy and Dog
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Released: 1940
Sold: Jan. 16, 2021
Price: $3,000
Bottom line: This sculpture is interesting for two reasons.
First, it’s part of the rare international children's series, intended to give insights into children across the world.
Second, it’s actually a reimagining of "Not for You," in which an American boy is seen holding something out of a dog’s reach.
7. Swedish Girl Figurine
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Released: 1940
Sold: Jan. 16, 2021
Price: $3,500
Bottom line: This is another of the international children's series. The Swedish girl holds out a heart-adorned letter.
She wears a red tie, blue hat and colorful apron while holding a wicker basket.
4. Sister’s Children (Tie)
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Released: 2009
Sold: Jan. 16, 2021
Price: $3,750
Bottom line: An intricate sculpture of seven children and one dog encircling a blooming tree, this figurine is actually a 100th birthday celebration for Sister Hummel.
Consequently, it includes familiar figures such as the little fiddler boy.
4. Serbian Girl Figurine (Tie)
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Released: 1940
Sold: Jan. 16, 2021
Price: $3,750
Bottom line: The Serbian Girl is part of a series of figurines that Hummel did exploring children of different countries.
In this one, the Serbian Girl wears an elegant dress adorned with many layers of fabric.
4. Old Man Walking to Market (Tie)
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Released: 1948
Sold: Jan. 16, 2021
Price: $3,750
Bottom line: An old man walks to the market with a pig in his sack and a rather fetching red tie around his throat. This was made as a sample in 1948 and is one of the rare sculptures that depicts an adult.
In general, any Hummel figurines that depict adults are going to be rare and valuable.
3. Old Woman Knitting Figurine
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Released: 1948
Sold: Jan. 16, 2021
Price $4,000
Bottom line: This is one of the very few Hummel figurines that depict an older woman rather than a child. In fact, this Hummel figurine shows an elderly, wrinkled woman knitting a piece.
In the Hummel style, she has on a brightly colored apron and adorned clothes. This was only made as a sample.
2. Bette Davis Jumbo Hummel Figurine
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Released: 1982
Sold: April 25, 2018
Price: $4,500
Bottom line: This extraordinary figurine measures at 2.5-feet tall and is made in the model of the "Merry Wanderer."
Signed by M.J. Hummel, Joachin Le Michot, and stamped with Goebel’s maker mark, this Jumbo Hummel Figurine is partly valuable for its origins. It was personally owned by Bette Davis.
1. Signs of Spring
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Released: 1950
Sold: Jan. 16, 2021
Price: $5,500
Bottom line: Signs of Spring was sculpted by Arthur Moeller and was retired in 1990. This particular version is considered rare because it has four posts, whereas the more commonly released version has three.
This was fairly common as the production runs would change and evolve, so the earlier editions have unique features the older editions did not.
Related: Most Valuable Collector's Items in History