Most people have heard about Hummel figurines and collectibles though not everyone is familiar with the history of how these figurines came into being. It is a fascinating story about an artist who painted children. Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel was a German nun and artist who was born in 1909 and passed away in 1946.She went to the Academy of Applied Arts in Munich. When she joined the convent, she spent a lot of time painting. Among her favorite subjects were children. The paintings were seen by porcelain company owner Franz Goebel who wanted to make figurines based on the paintings of the children. Thus, Hummels were born.
The first figurine was released in 1935 and continued with new pieces each year. The figurines were based on the artwork of Sister Maria Hummel and even after her death, the line continued by keeping with the basic feel of her work. In later years, some of the Hummel children figurines looked a bit more modern but there was still a recognizable Hummel signature about them. In addition to the familiar child motif in Hummels there are also other collectibles, notably a line of saint figurines that are significantly different than the child pieces. Recently, Goebel announced the discontinuation of the Hummel line after over seven decades of successful artwork with the collectible figurines.
With the announcement of the discontinuation, many people are scrambling to gather as many Hummel figurines as possible. While Hummel figurines have historically appreciated in value, the expected trend is for the value to increase at a much faster pace. Now, people who have amassed Hummel figurines and collectibles as an enjoyable hobby or past time, are now looking at their collection in a slightly different light, that of a potential lucrative investment.
There is no doubt that people who collect these figurines have a particular fondness for them and choose pieces based on personal preference and symbolism. However, now there is even more reason to collect the figurines. The sentimental value has never been in doubt and families have passed these items on for generations, continuing the collection. Now, people are starting to get their pieces appraised to determine their fair market value and insuring them against theft or damage. In a few years, many of the newer pieces will have appreciated significantly if current speculation is correct. The older, rarer pieces already collect a fair sum of money and this is only expected to increase.
Collecting Hummel figurines and collectibles is an enjoyable past time for many people and they add a bit of charm and sophistication to any home décor. People often choose the pieces for sentimental value and become attached to their significance. However, in addition to the emotional and aesthetic value of collecting Hummels, there is also a financial value as well. Because the value of Hummels appreciates each year and this is only expected to continue at a much faster pace, Hummel collecting is now also considered to be a lucrative investment opportunity.
Tags: Goebel, Hummel Figurines, Hummels, Maria Innocentia Hummel, Personal Preference, Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel
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