Goebel figurines were originally made in the 19th century in Germany. After about fifty years, the company became aware of the work of Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel. Sister Hummel had shown promise as a young artist and studied art, but she eventually pursued her religious vocation while continuing to design beautiful works of art that became manufactured by the Goebel Company. Ultimately, Goebel became known as the maker of the MI Hummel line.
There is some confusion about the relationship between the Goebel and Hummel figurines. MI Hummel figurines were made by Goebel, not the other way around. Goebel also adapted the art of many other artists into his figures. This confusion is compounded by the relatively recent demise of the Goebel company and the sale of its assets and trademarks to another company. Manufacturing continues, and there is even confusion as to whether purported Goebel figurines made in places like Thailand are authentic.
Goebel employed a number of trademarks on his works that occurred at the bottom of each one. The pieces created by his master sculptors also bear his names. Sr MI Hummel signed those articles derived from his work until his untimely death at an early age. Goebel trademarks can be easily found on the internet, and there are collector groups dedicated not only to the widely popular Hummels, but also to the broader genre of Goebels.
Hummel figurines are always in high demand. They may be the most sought after type of figurine in the world. If you search for sales of Hummel figurines on online auction sites, you’ll see that they routinely fetch thousands of dollars. The market for Goebel figurines of other styles is not as expensive and is within the financial reach of a much wider range of devotees.
People build their collections of these figurines in different ways. Some people are interested in acquiring only the figures that have already accumulated value. This would include older, hard-to-find figures as well as recently retired pieces. Others prefer to build their collection for future value and buy more modern designs at a relatively low price.
If you intend to become a collector of these items, you would be wise to familiarize yourself with their markings. There are collector groups found on the internet that produce newsletters and a wealth of information about items and the market.