Porcelain, earthenware, ceramics

Sister Maria Hummel is the founder of the Hummel brand, which produces handcrafted figurines. Before taking her vows, she was called Berta. She was born in 1909 in Massing, Bavaria, and was skilled at drawing from a young age. She received training at the Munich Academy of Applied Arts. In the women's monastery, Sister Maria continued her artistic pursuits, and her works depicting angelic children were published as postcards. Soon, she was offered the opportunity to bring her ideas to life by creating porcelain figurines. This was done by Franz Goebel, the grandson of the founder of the famous Goebel porcelain factory. This is how the first Hummel figurines appeared in 1935. During World War II, production faced difficulties but managed to survive. After the war, the popularity of the figurines depicting adorable children soared, as American soldiers sent them to their families. This became a beloved tradition. Porcelain children became very popular in the United States. Sister Maria passed away in 1946 at the age of 37, but the figurines created based on her sketches were produced in Germany until 2008. Currently, the Berta Hummel Museum in Massing, Bavaria, opened in 1994, owns the largest collection of Hummel figurines in Europe. However, the largest collection in the world is located in the USA and belongs to the house-museum of former mayor Donald Stevens in Rosemont, Illinois. The politician was an avid collector of Hummel figurines. The most expensive figurine is Adventure Bound. Its recommended retail price is 4000 euros, but it's not that simple. In reality, the price of this artwork fluctuates around 1000 euros. The price is influenced by factors such as the condition of the item, year of production, and trademark. Hummel trademarks have changed periodically, so the older the figurine, the more valuable it is.