Hummel Figurines

Berta Hummel - Back to School- Figurine Set

Hummel figurines had their beginning in the tiny village of Massing in rural Bavaria, in 1909 with the birth of Berta Hummel, the third of six children.

Hummel figurines were created from the drawings and sketches of an exceptionally artistic talent that blossomed at a very early age. She had a wonderful instinct of observing children in her world and translating these observations into drawings of youthful innocence, which would later become published on art cards and still later to become much loved and collectible Hummel figurines.

At the age of six Berta’s perceptive sketches won the appreciation and interest of her classmates and Catholic teachers in their one room country school house. By the time Berta Hummel was 12, she was to begin her formal artistic training at Marienhoehe, a boarding school some twenty miles from her home. Here with some religious inspiration, strict discipline and artistic encouragement under the guidance of Sister Stephania, she learned to work with the watercolors and pastels which would soon become the blueprints for Hummel figurines.

A Celebration Of Freedom Figurine

When she was 18, Berta went to study at the Academy of Applied Arts in Munich producing very impressive work. She never stopped drawing the cartoon like scenes of her Bavarian childhood.

In early 1931 Berta graduated at the top of her class at the Academy, but while she was there she befriended and became quite close to two Franciscan sisters. After graduation she entered the seven century old self-supporting Convent of Siessen, where she painted commanding religious works of art, and continued sketching children.

Late 1931 she took on the name of Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel and her artwork became published in art cards and books.

Sister Hummel’s works came to the attention of Franz Goebel a porcelain manufacturer who transformed several of her sketches into three dimensional statues. He went to the Convent with his figurines for her approval. Franz was well received and after some details were worked out, the Convent of Siessen accepted his proposal in which Sister Hummel would personally approve each figurine that would bare her signature.

This agreement was signed on January 9, 1935, the official birthday of M.I. Hummel figurines. The new line of Hummel figurines were brought to market at the 1935 Leipzig Spring Fair, and was considered a great success. These Hummel figurines of cheerful childhood captured the public’s imagination.

When World War II began Hummel figurines production was severely restricted by the German government. During the recovery after the war people started asking for Hummel figurines in their shops. Once again Hummel figurines became instantly popular everywhere and new figurines were produced. American soldiers occupying Germany wanted the timeless appeal of Hummel figurines to send home putting them in demand once again.

During the war years the artist’s frail health suffered when fuel was scarce and she was forced to work in a cold and unheated convent which lead to a lung ailment that was later diagnosed as tuberculosis. At the young age of 37 Sister Maria Innocentia passed away on November 6, 1946.

As her gift to the world Sister Hummel was very creative and left behind an inexhaustible treasure chest of artwork. This is the basis for new Hummel figurines which an Artistic Board at the Convent of Siessen was appointed to protect the legacy left for us by Sister Hummel and Hummel figurines.

This is our tribute to the joyous spirit of childhood and to
the brilliantly talented artist, the world’s most beloved collectible Hummel figurines.

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