European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 18, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Hummels Rosy cheeked figurines have charmed americans since end of Wii this 6-foot statue of the merry wanderer greets visitors to the store. By Effie Batman staff writer for about $3,500 per person Robert Miller of Eaton Ohio sponsors Tours of Europe for the passionate. The Points of interest include Dusty Flea markets and antique stores in shopping districts in Poland Hungary Slovakia and Austria. But the place where the travellers hearts quicken is a Small town on the Southern slope of the Thuringia Forest just outside Coburg Germany. That town is Rode Hal the site of the Corbel factory where figurines of Rosy cheeked children Are made the ones called hummels. Ask germans about hummels and they will think you Are talking about bumblebees. As a matter of fact the Goebel trademarks included a Bee for More than 20 years. Most germans do not distinguish them from any. Other Ceramic trinkets of Birds cats horses or even dinosaurs also made by Goebel. But for americans hummels have a mystique of their own. After world War ii Allied service members found they were an Ideal souvenir for folks Back Home. Today they Are among the top european collectibles for americans. People stationed in Europe Don t have to pay thousands of dollars to visit the hummels Home. Many americans also have German roots said Herbert Hennig recently Over a cup of Coffee at the Goebel factory showroom. He is the product manager for the Hummel line. All of us find ourselves in these drawings said Hennig. People remember either themselves or in their minds Good old Germany " the interest in Hummel Art goes Back to before the War. Sister Maria Innocentia born Berta Hummel in 1909, made postcard sized drawings to raise Money for her Convent in Siessen in the 30s. After obtaining the rights the porcelain factory introduced the endearing children at the 1935 Leipzig fair. Hummels have come a Ping Way since gis in occupied Germany traded chocolate bars and chewing gum for them. They no longer sell for a few Marks or dollars. Figures that stand just shy of a hand High Cost about $100 four years ago. Today they May Cost double that. On the resale Market where older or antique pieces Are exchanged the Price of a single figurine can reach into the thousands of dollars depending upon How much a collector yearns for it. Folks on the Miller tour most Likely kept an Eye out for such a treasure during their visit to Europe. The people at Goebel see nearly a dozen similar Tours each year. Former heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali had a soft spot in his heart for the Little tots in scruffy shoes. According to Hennig the company presented a Hummel plate to the Boxer in the late 70s. Collecting hummels May be a hidden passion Hennig said but he could not name any other celebrities who collect them. A couple of prominent might have this passion but because it s a secret one they do not show up with their names and Tell us hey i m collecting hummels " Miller author of a Hummel Price guide and As Well As the Leader of some of the Hummel Tours is among the most famous collectors. Donald Stephens mayor of the town of Rosemont iii., is planning to donate his extensive collection to a museum in the next few years Hennig said. Corbel s master Painter Wolfgang Kudewitz paints a Hummel group called adventure bound the seven  bavarian children at play Are most often captured in the figurines but the line also includes Angels Bells and plates. Annual and Christmas editions Are especially popular during the Holiday season. The painting of a Hummel figurine is like painting on Canvas Only in three dimensions Hennig said. Artists Are mostly from the Coburg area along with Thuringia known for centuries for its porcelain manufacturing. The Goebel company will be 125 years old in three years. Of More than 1,500 employees some 200 arc from the former East Germany. They tend to be introverted Home bound and very talented craftsmen Hennig said. Only the Best artists Are selected to paint the Hummel line he said. Hennig would not give sales figures but said that hundreds of thousands of the figurines Are sold each year worldwide. Sister Innocentia watched the people surrounding her particularly t in children and transferred that in a very special Way he said. The artist added a mixture of Romance in the characterization with a big portion of  one figurine of two Small children with their right arms raised waving handkerchiefs often piques the curiosity of americans he said. The piece is called auf Wiede Sehen and the children s goodbye Waves could be mistaken for a nazi Salute without the kerchiefs. There is no truth that this is the Case Hennig said. As far As he is concerned there is no mystery. He explained that when the product was developed 65 years ago there were a few pieces without handkerchiefs. He insisted they were added shortly afterwards for artistic reasons and not As some now suggest to quash any connection with an unsavoury political movement i m 35 years old. This Hummel figurine is about 65 years he said. And even though there is nothing in writing our people Here our sculptors to make More Clear what it meant this waving Good byte said it needs the  interestingly the figure with the two children waving Farewell was selected for a special edition commemorating the Berlin Airlift and recently promoted in cafes exchanges. The children May also be waving to the americans during the military draw Down in Europe. However the people at Corbel do not fear that this will Hurt business. If a person has fallen in love with figurines it really does t matter where he buys the figurines or where he collects the figurines Hennig said acknowledging that sales May drop slightly in Germany. It s a passion and it s proof of How great the Art of this Sisters How Universal How contemporary she  12 stripes Magazine november 18, 1993