Hummel figurine value
Most Hummel figurines sell for modest prices today because millions were made and demand has fallen. Older trademarks, larger sizes, rare models and perfect condition are what still command higher prices.
Reviewed October 15, 2026
Key facts
| Maker | Goebel, Germany |
|---|---|
| Model number | Incised under the base, often as HUM plus a number |
| Crown mark (TMK-1) | About 1934–1950 |
| Full bee (TMK-2) | About 1940–1959 |
| Stylized bee (TMK-3) | About 1958–1972 |
| Three line (TMK-4) | About 1964–1972 |
| Last bee (TMK-5) | About 1972–1979 |
| Missing bee (TMK-6) | About 1979–1991 |
| Hummel mark (TMK-7) | About 1991–1999 |
| Millennium bee (TMK-8) | About 2000–2008 |
How to identify yours
- Turn the figurine over and find the trademark stamp and incised model number.
- Older marks include a crown and a full bee; later marks are stylized bees and then text-only logos.
- Check fingertips, noses and edges for chips or repairs.
- Note the size: some models were made in several sizes.
Which ones are worth more
- Early trademarks
- Crown and full-bee marks from the earliest decades are the most sought after.
- Rare models and sizes
- Some models were made briefly or in unusual sizes.
- Perfect condition with box
- Undamaged pieces with original boxes and papers sell best.
What most are worth
Common models with later marks often sell for a small fraction of their original retail price.
Tips before you sell
- Photograph the base mark and model number clearly.
- Sell common pieces in groups; list rare marks individually.
- Disclose any repairs, even small ones.
Why so many of these exist
Hummel figurines were produced from 1935, based on drawings by a German nun, and became one of the defining collectables of the post-war decades. American servicemen brought them home, a collector market grew around them, and the manufacturer produced them in very large numbers for an audience that was told they were an investment.
That audience has aged out, and the market has fallen accordingly. Figurines that cost substantial sums new now sell for a fraction of their original retail, and large collections are frequently difficult to sell at all. This is the single most important thing to understand before researching an individual piece: the trend in this category has been down for decades.
What still has value is early production. The mark stamped on the base changed in recognisable stages over the decades, and figurines carrying the earliest marks, especially of models that were produced only briefly, remain genuinely collectable. The same model with a later mark is common and cheap.
What condition means here
- Damaged
- Any chip or repair to a finger, a flower, a hat brim or an instrument. In a declining market damaged pieces are effectively unsellable rather than merely discounted.
- Perfect, later mark
- Undamaged but from the later production decades. This is the bulk of what exists and it sells for very little, often less than the cost of posting it.
- Perfect, early mark
- Undamaged with one of the earliest base marks. A real collector market exists here, and the mark is doing almost all of the work.
- Early mark, scarce model
- An early mark on a model produced only briefly, ideally with its original box. This is the narrow top of the category and the only place where significant sums change hands.
Traps specific to this one
Every well-known collectable attracts its own fakes and its own misunderstandings. These are the ones that come up again and again with this item.
- Trusting the certificate
- Certificates and limited-edition numbering were sales material. They have no bearing on current value and buyers ignore them.
- Missing a restoration
- Repairs to extremities are common and skilful. An ultraviolet torch reveals overpaint and adhesive that ordinary light hides completely.
- Fakes and look-alikes
- Similar figurines from other makers are frequently sold as Hummel. The base mark and the incised model number settle it.
- Valuing from old price guides
- Guides published when the market was healthy list figures that have not been achievable for many years, and they continue to circulate.
How to read the sold listings
Search by model number and mark period together rather than by the figurine's name, because the same model spans decades of production at very different values. Use completed sales only, since this category is full of long-standing unsold listings at historical prices. If a collection is large, look up a handful of the earliest-marked pieces properly and treat the rest as a lot, because individually researching fifty common figurines will take longer than the total they realise.
Estimate yours from a photo
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Example estimate
Polaroid SX-70 Land Camera
$190
Usually sells for $120 – $320
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Common questions
Why are Hummels worth less than they used to be?
Supply is high and many collectors are downsizing, so prices for common pieces have fallen.
What does TMK mean?
Trademark. Collectors number the Goebel marks TMK-1 to TMK-8 to date figurines.
Does damage matter?
Yes. Chips and repairs sharply reduce value, even on rare pieces.