Hummel Dollsbest German dolls, figurines and toysHummel dolls not only make exciting collectors items but they are also made special gifts for those that are fascinated by dolls. In this article, we'll discuss these famous dolls as well as the history behind these remarkable creations. Very first M I Hummel dollsHummel dolls were initially created in 1950. When they were designed, they were initially manufactured outside the Goebel company through arrangements with another company. The first doll had rubber heads and soft stuffed bodies.Each one was 16 1/2 inches and wore custom made beautifully designed clothing. from rubber to venylShortly thereafter, they became available in other materials like rubber. However, only six rubber dolls were initially produced. In 1952, Goebel brought the entire line and added a smaller 10" size.Each doll's head consisted of "hard rubber" which is sometimes mistaken for "Paper-Mache" or "porcelain" however it is quite different. In addition, "soft rubber" was eventually utilized. Nevertheless, it wasn't until the early 60s that Goebel began manufacturing dolls in vinyl. As you might guess, vinyl is very stable and durable material. Soft stuffed Hummel dollsFor over two years, soft Hummel dolls featured rubber heads and were produced in Neustadt bei Coburg by the renowned artist, Hermann Steiner. The clothing for each doll was produced at Goebel. For instance, the dresses were crafted by Goebel's experienced designers.After 1952, Goebel also produced the doll in rubber. Amazingly, Karl Wagner was the sculptor and in 1982, he faithfully trained Helmut Fischer. In 1975, toy production ended for this type of "toy" and the only ones left were some M.I. Hummel dolls made of vinyl. In 1983, the vinyl dolls were replaced by porcelain dolls. Porcelain dollsBetween 1988 and 1994, Hummel created 7 dolls for the US based company Danbury mint. These dolls were named:-"Ride into Christmas" -"Umbrella Girl" -"Umbrella Boy" -"Friend or Foe?" -"Merry Wanderer" -"Goose Girl" -"Little Fiddler" On each doll, M.I. Hummel, placed his trademark and a series of engraved numbers at the back of the dolls back or neck. Due to the age of the dolls, the exact age of each doll cannot be determined. However, the engraved trademark appeared in the metal chill mould which could not be changed when the trademark was changed. Valuable ToysRecently, I came across these creations with a secondary market price of $300 each. In 1996 and 1997, new dolls were released. In 1996, Little Scholar, a 14" tall doll was released and in 1997, School Girl was released. Each one cost about $200.More German Dolls- Zapf Dolls- more German Dolls Return from "this" page to German Toys Overview Return from "hummel dolls" page to Best German Gifts |