MI Hummel Factory Marks and History


Goebel Hummel Figurines Marks Trademarks and Factory Marks
MI Hummel Factory Marks

MI Hummel History, TradeMarks, and Dating

The history behind Goebel’s M.I. Hummel figurines is short, and well-known by most porcelain collectors: Franz Goebel, of W. Goebel Porzellanfabrik, saw Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel’s artwork on a series of postcards and recognized an opportunity.

Goebel quickly signed an agreement to produce porcelain figurines based on her artwork, and introduced the first M.I. Hummel figurines in 1935. The rest is porcelain collector’s history.

What isn’t as well known is that it was the American G.I. and his base PX. (General Store), that really gave M.I. Hummel figurines their start.

Souvenirs from Germany

American G.I.’s stationed in Germany saw those cute porcelain figurines as the perfect souvenirs to send back home to moms and girlfriends. Their popularity with the soldiers soon caused the American base PX system to carry them as regular inventory. From this start, America became Goebel’s largest market for Hummel porcelain figurines.

Goebel and Hummel Factory Marks

*Note: The M.I. Hummel signature was stamped or incised on all pieces that were large enough to accommodate it, but for pieces that couldn’t, only the Goebel mark was used.

*Experienced Hummel collectors have noted that it is not unusual to find slight variations of these authentic trademarks.

Sister M.I Hummel Signature Mark

Goebel Hummel Trademarks M.I. Hummel signature

1934/35 — 1949/50

This signature mark was included on all Hummel pieces with enough base space. It was either incised as a signature, along with one of the other Crown Marks, or used as a backstamp in blue or black. As shown in Fig. 4 & 5

MI Hummel Signature
MI Hummel signature on Figurine base

Because of the small base area of most Hummel figurines, the absence of this signature is common, but authentic Hummels will always have one of the Goebel TMK marks on the bottom of the figurine.

See examples of M.I. Hummel signatures and marks currently being offered:
You can use this link to see the actual Hummel pieces currently being offered.
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Hummel TMK-1 through TMK-8 and Bee Marks

Goebel TMK-1 (CM) – The Crown Marks

Goebel Hummel Crown Trademarks
TMK-1 (CM) – The Crown Marks circa 1934/35 – 1949/50

Known as TMK-1, commonly referred to as; the Crown Mark, CM, or Crown-WG. The crown pays homage to the Imperial family, and the WG stands for William Goebel, founder of the company

  • Fig. 1: underglaze backstamp in blue or black
  • Fig. 2: incised factory mark
  • Fig. 3: underglaze backstamp in blue or black

These marks were used on all Goebel porcelain pieces, not just Hummel. When the size of the figurine base allowed, the M.I. Hummel backstamp was included with these marks. *The mark is sometimes found in an incised circle.

TMK-2 The Bees Marks circa 1949/50 – 1959/60

There were 12 variations of the Bee mark, either incised, backstamped, or in combination, (see Fig.12), and in blue or black, underglaze and overglazed.

Goebel Hummel Full Bee Trademarks TMK-2

TMK-2 the Bees circa 1949/50 – 1959/60

  • Fig. 6: full Bee combination incised/stamped mark 1950–1955
  • Fig. 7: full Bee backstamp in blue or black 1950–1959
  • Fig. 8: full Bee backstamp in blue or black 1950–1955
     
     
Goebel Hummel Full Bee Trademarks TMK-2

TMK-2 the Bees circa 1949/50 – 1959/60
  • Fig. 9: small Bee backstamp in blue or black 1956
  • Fig. 10: high Bee backstamp in blue or black 1957 *Note the bee’s elevation above the top of the “V”
  • Fig. 11: baby Bee backstamp in blue or black *Note the Bee is smaller and deeper in the “V” 1958–1959

 

Goebel Hummel Full Bee Trademarks TMK-2

TMK-2 the Bees circa 1949/50 – 1959/60
  • Fig. 12: circle Bee combination incise and backstamp in blue or black 1957–1960 *Note the stylized Bee is different
     

See an example of this BEE trademark available right now,

TMK-3 The Stylized Bee Marks circa 1959/60 – 1972

Goebel Hummel Bee Trademarks TMK-3

 
Fig.13 is known as the large stylized bee – used primarily from 1960 through 1963. The “W. Germany” is placed to the right of the bottom of the “V”. The mark can be black or blue and is sometimes found in an incised circle.

Fig.14, the small stylized bee, was used concurrently with the large stylized bee from about 1960 and continued after 1963 until about 1972. The mark is usually in blue. It is also referred to as the One Line Mark.
*Both marks are often accompanied by a stamped, (in black), “West” or “Western Germany”.




TMK-4 The Three Line Mark circa 1963/64 – 1972

This Hummel mark is often referred to as the “3-line” or “3LM” mark and was always* backstamped in blue.
*”Always” is a dangerous word – both Goebel and experienced collectors admit the possibility of a “black” TMK-4.

TMK-5 “The Last Bee” circa 1972–1979

Goebel Hummel Trademarks TMK5

Developed and occasionally used as early as 1970, this major change is known by some collectors as the Last Bee mark because the next change in the trademark no longer incorporated any form of the V and the bee.

The mark was used until about mid-1979, when they began to phase it out, completing the transition to the new trademark in 1980. Generally, the mark was placed under the glaze from 1972–1976 and over the glaze from 1976–1979.

TMK-6 “The Missing Bee” circa 1979–1991

Goebel Hummel Trademarks factory marks TMK6

The use of this trademark began in 1979. Goebel removed the V and bee from the mark altogether, which prompted the nickname; “the missing bee.” Along with this change, the company also began adding to the traditional artist’s mark with the date the artist finished painting the piece. But as with unpainted white overglaze pieces, it is not unusual to find Hummel pieces of this period without the date.

TMK-7 The Hummel Mark circa 1990–1999

In 1991 Goebel historically changed the trademark again. Until that year, the same trademark was on virtually all Goebel products, but this Hummel mark, TMK-7, is for exclusive use on products made from the paintings and drawings of Sister M.I. Hummel.
**Other Goebel products will bear a different mark than that used on Hummel pieces.

TMK-8 The “New” Hummel Mark circa 2000–current

Goebel Hummel Trademarks TMK8 factory mark

In 1999 collector feedback prompted Goebel to bring back the Bee. The new “Bee” mark, combined the iconic Hummel Bee and Goebel’s own mark. It debuted in 2000.




Sister MI Hummel left behind a collection of her drawings for the continuation of the Hummel figurine line. Her convent, the Convent of Siessen, appointed an Artistic Board that had to approve all of the clay models and painted figures before Goebels could begin production of any new figurines.

Goebels officially ceased production of authentic Goebel Hummel figurines in 2008.


Another expansion of the Goebel Hummel line was the introduction of Hummel plates. Issued both in series and annual special issue pieces, Hummel plates quickly caught on with collectors and have become an integral part of many Hummel collections.

These “raised-relief” ceramics can be authenticated by makers’ markings similar to the ones used on the Hummel figurines.
Goebel Hummel Bells are another segment of Goebel Porcelain collectibles in the Hummel line, and like the plates, are issued in series and annual pieces.

See a selection of available M.I. Hummel marked pieces:

See Goebel/M.I. Hummel German Porcelain pieces for sale Now!










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