Hummels: The Collection That Was Never Just a Collection
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Vintage Hummel figurines have been widely collected since the mid-20th century, known for their craftsmanship, hand-painted detail, and connection to the artwork of Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel. Produced in Germany, these figurines became especially popular from the 1950s through the 1980s and remain a staple in many antique collections today.
“We didn’t call them collectibles. We just knew they mattered.”
My mom didn’t collect Hummels.
Her sister Bev did.
And when I say she collected them, I mean hundreds. Not casually displayed. Not tucked away. They lived everywhere—shelves, cabinets, corners that probably weren’t meant to hold anything at all.
Bev never married. No kids. But if you walked into her apartment, you didn’t get the feeling anything was missing. Those little figures filled the space in a way that felt… intentional. Like each one had been chosen, noticed, kept.
Sleepovers at her place were a whole thing—reading, movies, what we called “toothpick dinners” (which, to this day, I’m still not sure counts as an actual meal). And somewhere between all of that, I’d end up studying the shelves.
Because every visit came with a quiet challenge:
figure out which ones were new.
Somehow, I always knew.
What Hummels Actually Are (and Why People Collected Them)
Hummel figurines are based on illustrations by Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel, a German Franciscan nun whose artwork captured childhood in a way that felt simple, warm, and—somehow—timeless.
The Goebel company began producing them in the 1930s, but they really took off post-World War II when American soldiers brought them home. From there, they became one of those things people didn’t just buy—they committed to.
Each piece is:
- Hand-painted
- Made from porcelain
- Marked with identifying stamps that help date them
And for a long time, collecting them wasn’t just a hobby. It was a whole identity.
The Part No One Really Says Out Loud
A lot of people will tell you Hummels are “collectible.”
Which is true.
But what they don’t say is that people didn’t collect these casually.
They were careful purchases. Sometimes expensive. Often displayed like they needed to be protected—not just from damage, but from being overlooked.
And if you had a large collection, it usually meant something.
Time. Attention. Consistency. A certain kind of care.
Why They Still Work Today (Yes, Even Now)
Hummels aren’t just for curio cabinets anymore.
The way people are using them now is… different. Better, honestly.
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Mixed into modern shelves for contrast
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Grouped intentionally (not packed together like a museum)
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Used as small, unexpected character pieces in a room
They bring something a lot of newer decor doesn’t:
personality that wasn’t mass-produced last week.
From Bev’s Shelves to Ours (and Maybe Yours)
When Bev passed in the 90s, she left behind hundreds of these.
And eventually, they made their way to us.
Some of the ones in the shop now?
They were hers.
Not all of them. But enough that every once in a while, I still catch myself doing it—
Looking at a shelf and wondering:
wait… was that always there?
Shop the Collection
Some of these pieces are still available in the shop. Some already found their next home.
That’s kind of how this works.
If you’re starting a collection—or just adding one piece that feels like it belongs—you can browse what’s currently available here:
— The Daughter
(who definitely touched them when she wasn’t supposed to)