How Much Are Hummel Figurines Worth?

M.I. Hummel figurines have been produced by Goebel in Germany since 1935, based on drawings by Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel, and their value is determined primarily by the trademark stamped on the base. That trademark changed several times over the decades and dates the piece to a specific era. The Crown mark from 1935 to 1949 is the earliest and most valuable, followed by the Full Bee from 1950 to 1959, then a series of progressively simplified bee and Goebel marks through to the present. The market has followed the same trajectory as most twentieth-century figurine collecting, declining substantially since the 1990s as the original collector base aged. A common figurine that retailed for $200 in 1990 might bring $40 today. Value survives in early trademark pieces, rare and withdrawn models, unusually large figurines, and documented factory samples and errors. Damage is fatal in this category because Hummel collectors are exacting.

Trademark era is the dominant driver and should always be checked first, since a Crown mark example of a given model can be worth ten times a modern one. Model number and rarity come next, and withdrawn or short-production designs carry the largest premiums within any era. Size matters substantially because larger figurines were produced in far smaller numbers and are harder to find undamaged. Condition must be perfect, since Hummel collectors reject chips, hairline cracks, and repairs outright, and even a repaired flower petal can eliminate most of the value. Original box adds a modest premium but matters less than in some collectibles because the figurines themselves were displayed. Color variations and mold changes across production runs create sub-markets for specialists. Finally, the overall market decline means realistic pricing must be based on recent sold results rather than published guides.