Vintage Hummel "Apple good Tree Girl" TMK-3 Figurine # 141 3/0, 1957

From an estate collection of wonderfully conserved old Hummels comes this precious Apple Tree Girl-- one good of the most famous of designs! This is the small version. The mold was made originally in the 1930's. The bottom is marked with the Stylized Bee in a V with an incised circle and "West Germany". (1957-1960, TMK3) She is in very good condition, with minor crazing to the glaze. She is 4.3 inches tall.

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A LITTLE HISTORY: "The Goebel company was originally well-known for their porcelain works of art. In 1935 the original owner's grandson, Franz Goebel made an agreement with artist Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel whereby the company was able to produce 3 dimensional porcelain representations of her drawings. Hummels put the Goebel company on the map."

Berta Hummel was born in Bavaria in the early 1900s. She enrolled in the Academy of Applied Arts in Munich, German. Children were the main subjects of her popular drawings which were published on postcards. The grandson of Franz Goebel, of the Goeble Company, noticed Berta Hummels talent and appeal. Goebel's company is the ONLY company granted the right to produce figurines based on M.I. Hummel's drawings. In 1935 the first Hummel figurines were introduced. They were very popular with the German public. During World War II, production of the figurines was restricted, but not forgotten. In fact some rare examples are stamped “US Zone Germany” Following the war, the German citizenry recovered and “Hummels” were sold in shops again. U.S. soldiers in Germany also bought the figurines to send back home.

ABOUT THE MANUFACTURING: The creation of an M.I. Hummel figurine is a laborious labor of love and art. A selected image is first sculpted in clay by an experienced artist. This process alone can take many weeks to perfect. Once the sculpture proof is approved, a master mold maker is consulted. Each figurine is reproduced in exacting molds, sometimes requiring a series of molded and assembled pieces. Each piece is assembled and smoothed so no seams are visible. Then, they are allowed to dry completely before the first two firings in a kiln. A third firing ensures color bonding and a smooth surface. Paint colors used for the next process were created especially to match the color palette that Berta Hummel herself used in her drawings. The master painter prepares a sample figurine which must meet strict approval. Finally, each figurine is artistically and lovingly painted by hand."Hummels became increasingly popular after World War II and many today are worth thousands upon thousands of dollars. Each Hummel tells a different story."

The name Hummel in German means bumblebee and the V stands for “Verkaufsgesellschat” or Distribution Company.

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.