GOEBEL  M.I. HUMMEL

Annual Plates and Figurines

The following guide is intended to give you an overview of the Goebel and M.I. Hummel alliance, that made the now famous line of fine porcelain figures and bas relief annual plates.

Berta Hummel was born in Southern Bavaria in 1909. As a small child she displayed an interest in art and drawing. She created cards with verses for her friends and family. Her sketches reflected her happy childhood. She was very fond of children and drew whimsical renditions of them. Berta attended the Munich Academy of Fine Arts at age eighteen. While studying at the academy she became friendly with two nuns from the Franciscan Order of the Convent at Siessen. This friendship led to her decision to become a nun of that order. With her final vows, she was given the name of Sister Maria Innocentia. She continued her painting and her talent led to the Convent sending her back to the Academy to continue her studies. Along with her portrayal of children, she also sketched and painted religious subjects. Her delightful cards came to the attention of fine porcelain maker, Franz Goebel. In 1931 Franz Goebel, the Convent and Sister Maria Innocentia entered the copywrite process. Her drawings became three dimensional figurines in porcelain, and annual plates, unique only to Goebel. Sister Maria Innocentia passed away in 1946 and the Sisters at the Convent continued to monitor the Hummel line with the same critical care. The name M.I. Hummel is the confirming Goebel Hallmark of Goebel of W. Goebel Porzellanfabrik, Bavaria, W. Germany (at that time it was listed as W. Germany).

The Annual Plates were an extension of the same concept as the figurines and they were created in porcelain in Bas Relief. They are very collectible and a prized extension of the Goebel porcelain line. The plates are hand crafted and hand painted, thus adding to their collectiblity.

Plates are decorative and should not be used for food.