Tanners Antique Retro and Craft Show January 2025 Newsletter

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Happy New Year!

We are gearing up for a fabulous new year of shows!

Our next show is

March 22nd and 23rd

Vendor Signups are OPEN! click here

Tanners 2025 Schedule

March 22,23

May 10,11

June 21,22

Boomtown Antique Show

August 22,23,24

Sept 27,28

Nov 22,23

All shows except the Boomtown show are at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center

Magic of Santa Arts and Crafts

Dec 6,7

Local Craft Shows info can be found at RenoCrafters - Click Here

Click the link below to go to the website for more information.

Click Here for the Tanne rs Marketplace Website

Click Here for the Magic of Santa Website

If you need a place to stay The Aiden Hotel just down from the Convention Center has nice rooms available.

We look forward to seeing everyone at the shows!

Click here for the Vendor Info Page

Click for Downloadable Vendor Signup Application

What's the story with these cute little Hummel figurines?

Hummel figurines (also known as M.I. Hummel figurines or simply Hummels) are a series of porcelain figurines based on the drawings of Maria Innocentia Hummel.

More than a century ago F&W Goebel was founded in Germany making slate pencils and toy marbles. They then went on to make coffee pots and other useful items but it wasn’t until 1935 that F&W Goebel really made its mark on the industry. By producing delightful figurines of children; thus creating the innocent childlike memories preserved in porcelain that we know and love today – M.I. Hummel.

The sketch art of Maria Innocentia (Berta) Hummel began to appear in the 1930s in Germany and Switzerland, mostly pastoral drawings of children. The German art publisher Ars Sacra was involved in the early popularization of the art on postcards. Hummel's "art cards" became popular throughout Germany, catching the eye of Franz Goebel, porcelain maker and head of W. Goebel Porzellanfabrik. Goebel acquired rights to turn Hummel's drawing into figurines, producing the first line in 1935. The figurines were introduced at the Leipzig Trade Fair, a major European show for the industry. Goebel was known for presenting new and novel products that attracted American distributors. By the end of the year, 46 M.I. Hummel motifs were on the market in America, sold at Marshall Field & Co. of Chicago and other retailers.

After the end of World War II, the popularity of Hummel figurines grew as American soldiers stationed in West Germany began sending the figurines home as gifts. Nostalgia associated with the figurines and the U.S. soldiers buying them led to Hummel figurines becoming a popular collector's item.

As travel to Europe became more commonplace, the figurines, with their folkloric appearance, were often purchased as souvenirs. A vibrant speculator market in Hummel figurines developed in the 1970s, and Hummel figurines skyrocketed in price. Today, figurine offerings include traditional M.I. Hummel figurines, special limited editions, a figurine series featuring Swarovski crystal elements, the Hope Series that donates a portion of the proceeds to the American National Breast Cancer Foundation, Annual Angels, and more.

The “M.I. Hummel” trademark was added to each figurine with the approval of Sister Hummel and the convent’s leadership. – This trademark still appears today. Sadly, Sister Hummel contracted Tuberculosis at the age of 37 and passed away in 1946 but she did leave behind extensive works so that Goebel could carry on producing the figurines from her drawings. The Convent of Siessen then decided to appoint an Artistic Board, even today all clay models and painted figures have to be approved. The board consists of a team of specialists that make sure that every figure is created in the correct company style and artists wishes. The Convent of Siessen, sculptors, master painters and Goebel management all ensure that each Hummel figure is to the standard that is required.

M.I. Hummel figurines continue to be produced in the original factory in Rödental, Germany, where they have been made since 1935. They are still created with the strict oversight of the Convent of Siessen, where M.I. Hummel lived and worked.

Dating your Hummel:

There have been several marks used over the years that help date Hummels.

They are listed from TMK-1 to TMK-8:

TMK-1 The Full Crown (1934-1950)

In 1935, the "Wide Crown - WG" trademark was added. On the earliest figurines, it was incised on the bottom of the base. This mark is known as the "Crown Mark".

TMK-2 The Full Bee FB (1940-1959)

The very large bee flying in the V remained until around 1956, when the bee was reduced in size and lowered into the V. It can be found incised, stamped in black or stamped in blue, in that order.

TMK-3 The Stylized Bee (1960-1972)

In 1960 the Stylized Bee was introduced. This new trademark was a bee with sharp angular wings, the wing tips are parallel with the top of the V.

TMK-4 The Three Line Mark 1972

A new trademark was introduced and ran concurrent with TMK-3. This new trademark looks the same as TMK-3, but now to the right of the V, the company added three lines of print which reads, © by Goebel, W. Goebel, W. Germany.

TMK-5 The Last Bee (1972-1979)

Developed and occasionally used as early as 1970, this major change is known by some collectors as the Last Bee mark as the next change in the trademark failed to incorporate any form of the V and Bee.

This time they started printing the name Goebel with the Stylized Bee and V above the name and positioned between the letters b and e. This new mark is better known as the "Last Bee Mark" and was used until 1979.

TMK-6 The Missing Bee (1979-1991)

In 1979 a new trademark was introduced which is easy to distinguish. The Goebel name remained, but the company removed the Bee and V from above the name and added W. Germany under the name.

In conjunction with this change, the company instituted the practice of adding the date to the traditional artists mark after the artist finished painting the piece.

TMK-7 The Hummel Mark (1991-2000)

In 1991 another trademark change was needed. The Goebel name and Germany remained and the W. was deleted. Also the original crown was added under the word Germany.

This mark is of historical import as this time the change was symbolic of the reunification of the two Germany's in the removal of West from the mark.

TMK-8 - The Current Hummel Goebel Mark

In 2000 the trademark was changed once more.

The only item that remains is the name Goebel, but they added a very large Bumblebee. This Bumblebee is to honor the memory of Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel.

How Much Are Hummel Figurines Worth?

So how much are Hummels worth? In recent decades, the market for Hummels has experienced fluctuations and dips in price, but current market trends suggest that truly outstanding Hummels can still achieve impressive prices at auction. Hummel production by the Goebel company ceased in 2008 when a subsidiary company assumed operation, so it seems the ever-increasing rarity of antique and vintage Hummels over time will support the longevity of the market.

While modestly priced Hummels dominate the market, exceptional examples of these rosy-cheeked children can sell between several hundred to several thousand dollars. Some, such as the “Adventure Bound” figure group, have reached prices over $4,000. At a January 2021 auction at Blackwell Auctions LLC, the sale of a rare Hummel Signs of Spring figure (below) yielded $5,500.