The Most Popular Hummels
Have you ever looked at your Hummels and wondered if you have any of the most popular pieces they’ve produced? If you read my post about trademarks, you know that pieces with the first 3 trademarks tend to be the most valuable as they’re older and more difficult to find. Even within those older pieces, there are some designs that spring immediately to mind when someone mentions Hummels. We’re going to walk through some of these most popular (and potentially most valuable) pieces today! I’ll try not to get too carried away, because there are so many beautiful and popular designs to love.
*An important note. Most of these figurines are so popular that they were remade multiple times in varying sizes and slightly different molds. Each Hummel is stamped with the mold number used on the bottom. Thus the Apple Tree Girl come in Variations like 141, 141/1, 141/3/0, and 141/V (Just to name a few). To keep things simple, I’ll refer to these pieces by their original number though many variations & numbers exist.
The Most Popular Hummels
Have you ever looked at your Hummels and wondered if you have any of the most popular pieces they’ve produced? If you read my post about trademarks, you know that pieces with the first 3 trademarks tend to be the most valuable as they’re older and more difficult to find. Even within those older pieces, there are some designs that spring immediately to mind when someone mentions Hummels. We’re going to walk through some of these most popular (and potentially most valuable) pieces today! I’ll try not to get too carried away, because there are so many beautiful and popular designs to love.
*An important note. Most of these figurines are so popular that they were remade multiple times in varying sizes and slightly different molds. Each Hummel is stamped with the mold number used on the bottom. Thus the Apple Tree Girl come in Variations like 141, 141/1, 141/3/0, and 141/V (Just to name a few). To keep things simple, I’ll refer to these pieces by their original number though many variations & numbers exist.
These 2 classic figures show up on every list of popular Hummels. Despite being simple, the Apple Tree Boy and Apple Tree Girl are consistently ranked as among the most popular ever made and some variations have higher values than others. Since they were extremely popular, they’ve been reproduced several times throughout the years. Depending on age and condition, the smaller versions may sell for several hundred dollars, but the colossal versions have recently sold for nearly $5,000.
Even if your version of this classic design is crazed or stamped with a newer trademark, bringing down its monetary value, you still have an incredibly popular and beautiful piece.
These 2 classic figures show up on every list of popular Hummels. Despite being simple, the Apple Tree Boy and Apple Tree Girl are consistently ranked as among the most popular ever made and some variations have higher values than others. Since they were extremely popular, they’ve been reproduced several times throughout the years. Depending on age and condition, the smaller versions may sell for several hundred dollars, but the colossal versions have recently sold for nearly $5,000.
Even if your version of this classic design is crazed or stamped with a newer trademark, bringing down its monetary value, you still have an incredibly popular and beautiful piece.
2. The Merry Wanderer (Hummel 7)
2. The Merry Wanderer (Hummel 7)
The Merry Wanderer is another classic piece that pops up just about any time you search Hummels. It is mold #7, meaning it is among the first designs ever produced. The original production of this piece was 32 inches tall, and it’s these large versions that are worth the most. An early version of this piece may be worth up to several thousand dollars. This piece has been produced in a variety of sizes throughout the years and I personally prefer the charm of the newer, smaller variations, even though they tend to be valued lower. For collectors who want to enjoy the charm of this cherubic adventurer decorating their home, it may be more practical to have a smaller, more handheld version than the larger, original size.
The Merry Wanderer is another classic piece that pops up just about any time you search Hummels. It is mold #7, meaning it is among the first designs ever produced. The original production of this piece was 32 inches tall, and it’s these large versions that are worth the most. An early version of this piece may be worth up to several thousand dollars. This piece has been produced in a variety of sizes throughout the years and I personally prefer the charm of the newer, smaller variations, even though they tend to be valued lower. For collectors who want to enjoy the charm of this cherubic adventurer decorating their home, it may be more practical to have a smaller, more handheld version than the larger, original size.
Extremely popular, but also among the most difficult to find, Adventure Bound is one of the larger and more intricate pieces produced. This piece was originally produced in the 1950s as a sample and then in the 70s for public purchase. Each production run has been limited due to the difficulty of producing a piece including so many figures. Sometimes known as the “Seven Swabians”, these boys have captured the hearts of collectors everywhere since their introduction. Adventure Bound is likely the rarest of all Hummels and often sells for $1,000+. If you have this piece in your collection, you have a true treasure.
4. Little Fiddler (Hummel 2)
4. Little Fiddler (Hummel 2)
Another one of the first Hummels ever created, the Little Fiddler has been immensely popular since it was first introduced in 1935. Known originally as the Violinist and then as the Wandering Fiddler, Little Fiddler is a perfect gift for any music lover. It has been produced in 5 different sizes over the years. In 1985, Goebel produced a limited run of the Little Fiddler with a gold painted base; creating only 50 of these special edition pieces for a celebration of 50 years of M.I. Hummel figurines. If you find one of these incredibly rare pieces, it’s valued between $1,500 and $2,000 with the most recently sold piece selling for $1,200. In my opinion, the original paint colors are much more charming and are a beautiful addition to any collection.
Another one of the first Hummels ever created, the Little Fiddler has been immensely popular since it was first introduced in 1935. Known originally as the Violinist and then as the Wandering Fiddler, Little Fiddler is a perfect gift for any music lover. It has been produced in 5 different sizes over the years. In 1985, Goebel produced a limited run of the Little Fiddler with a gold painted base; creating only 50 of these special edition pieces for a celebration of 50 years of M.I. Hummel figurines. If you find one of these incredibly rare pieces, it’s valued between $1,500 and $2,000 with the most recently sold piece selling for $1,200. In my opinion, the original paint colors are much more charming and are a beautiful addition to any collection.
A perfect piece for animal and music lovers alike, it’s not difficult to see why it’s among the most popular. In my mind, I tend to think of this piece as “Little Fiddler, with a Dog”, but its official name is “Puppy Love”. Any collector familiar with man’s best friend knows that this piece accurately depicts having hobbies when there’s a dog in the house. The exact position of the Fiddler has varied over the years, making the TMK1 version of this piece valuable. Other variations in size since the original are still extremely popular but have a lower value.
A perfect piece for animal and music lovers alike, it’s not difficult to see why it’s among the most popular. In my mind, I tend to think of this piece as “Little Fiddler, with a Dog”, but its official name is “Puppy Love”. Any collector familiar with man’s best friend knows that this piece accurately depicts having hobbies when there’s a dog in the house. The exact position of the Fiddler has varied over the years, making the TMK1 version of this piece valuable. Other variations in size since the original are still extremely popular but have a lower value.
As a bookworm myself, this is my personal favorite of the most popular Hummels. Originally, 46 copies of this piece were released in 1935, but larger versions were later introduced. A similar piece was created as part of a set of bookends with a coordinating boy figure. There are a couple notable differences between this figurine and the bookends. First, the book in this figure is in full color, while the book designed for the bookends is not. Secondly, the bookends have a hole and stopper on the bottom so that they can be weighted with sand. There is also no matching boy figurine outside of the bookend set. This figure was withdrawn from production in 1989 and could have a value of several hundred dollars or even up to $1,000 depending on the variation. If you can find it, this figure is the perfect gift for any book-loving collector.
As a bookworm myself, this is my personal favorite of the most popular Hummels. Originally, 46 copies of this piece were released in 1935, but larger versions were later introduced. A similar piece was created as part of a set of bookends with a coordinating boy figure. There are a couple notable differences between this figurine and the bookends. First, the book in this figure is in full color, while the book designed for the bookends is not. Secondly, the bookends have a hole and stopper on the bottom so that they can be weighted with sand. There is also no matching boy figurine outside of the bookend set. This figure was withdrawn from production in 1989 and could have a value of several hundred dollars or even up to $1,000 depending on the variation. If you can find it, this figure is the perfect gift for any book-loving collector.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this walk through some popular Hummels with me! It’s always fun to take a look at what collectors have loved over the years. As much as I love researching what others enjoy collecting, the best part of collecting is really finding your own personal favorites, regardless of their value in the eyes of others. I hope that you’ll fill your collection with items you love. Be sure to look at all our Hummel Figurines here.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this walk through some popular Hummels with me! It’s always fun to take a look at what collectors have loved over the years. As much as I love researching what others enjoy collecting, the best part of collecting is really finding your own personal favorites, regardless of their value in the eyes of others. I hope that you’ll fill your collection with items you love. Be sure to look at all our Hummel Figurines here.