As Promised (IMAGE INTENSIVE)

It was a busy weekend. At least, the part of the weekend that I didn’t spend in bed with a migraine was busy. Since last I posted, I’ve had to give an official rebuke to the Minion (NOT related to the friggin Christmas Carols, unfortunately), attended a fund raising committee for the cat shelter I help with, celebrated The Socialist’s birthday, and taken Clueless to the vet (he hasn’t gained any weight, but at least he’s not lost any). And then there was the photographing of the Hummels. If I didn’t like these things before, I’m close to despising them now.

I’ve literally spent hours on this little project so far. I wanted to get a good record of these damned hunks of ceramic before I posted them, in case the postal service goes and does something I don’t even want to think about to them. I’ll purchase insurance for them for shipping, but for what these are potentially worth, I figured I’d better have some back up as to what’s in the box.

I’ll include what I’ve been able to find out or figure out about these. If any of you know more or can correct me, feel free to leave a comment.

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Barnyard Hero, Mold 195

This has the “full bee” trademark symbol on the bottom of the base, which Hummel People refer to as “trademark 2” (TM2). If I understand the vagaries of the changes in the trademark symbol, this style of trademark dates this piece as having been made between 1940 and 1956, closer to 1956 than 1940. I recognize the handwriting on the base as my grandmother’s. I don’t know if that will affect the price any. I do know that the crazing found throughout the lighter colored areas on the piece will affect the price this will bring. If in perfect condition, the value would be $300-$375 (all prices taken from Luckey’s 1997 Hummel identification and value guide).

The Doll Mother, Mold 67

This one bears TM3, the small stylized bee. Book value $230-$250, if perfect condition. This is the only piece I have with a label affixed directly to it, identifying it by name. I haven’t been able to find anything out about that, so I don’t know if it affects the estimate at all.

Eventide

Mold #99, TM2. There are a couple of rare styles to this one, but I have the conventional one. Its book value, if perfect, is $450-$500. I have no delusions of getting that much, though I wouldn’t mind being surprised. This is the one that I originally attempted to clean. I thought it was supposed to have that dull, matte finish, but then noticed that one of the sheep had a shiny nose. I looked up proper cleaning-at-home techniques on the web for this, but as you’ll see in the picture this piece (and the others) are way beyond that sort of salvage.

This is about when the Grey One, decided she had to insert herself into the festivities. Indeed, she’s here again now, sleeping on my lap while I try to get all the coding done for this entry.

Good Friends

Mold #182, TM2. You can really see the accumulated nicotine on the girl’s white sleeves (no that is, unfortunately, not just shadows.) This is the only piece I have with a little “(R)” symbol after the trademark. I assume it means “registered”. I doubt if it will affect the value, which would be $250-$280 if perfect. By the way, someone (I forget who) told me not to clean these things, as it would reduce their value. I know that is true for metal items, like coins or jewelry. I don’t think that counts for smoking stains on Hummels.

Happy Days

Mold #150, 4-1/4″, TM2. There is some crazing on the base, faces and white sleeves of the girl on this piece, and I fear we’ll find even more once the item is cleaned. Its book value is $225-$260, but I fear that The crazing will make it worth far less. Again, I recognize the writing on the base as my grandmother’s.

Let’s Sing – Ashtray Version

Mold 114, TM2. THIS one I have high hopes for. It’s an ashtray, so nobody in their right mind is going to complain about some nicotine damage, right? In my version, the kid with the accordion is on the left. If he’d been on the right it would have added an additional $100 to the value. As it is, the thing would be worth $200-$225 in perfect condition. While it has some spots on it, the thing was apparently never actually used as an ashtray. All nicotine stains are from second hand smoke.

Who says second-hand smoke doesn’t kill?

Shepard Boy

Mold 64, TM2. This is the only piece I have that has any damage on it other than dirt accumulation. There are two “flea bites” from the side of the left shoe of the shepard. The damage is in a rather unusual place – the shoe is recessed behind the standing lamb, and yet I can find no damage on the lamb itself. It makes me wonder if the nick is factory damage, but there is clearly no glaze over that point, indicating that the glaze was already on the piece when it was nicked. No matter … the flea bite is still there, and so I won’t be able to command the $$290-$315 book value given on this one.

We Congratulate

Mold #214E, TM2. I’m truly bummed about this piece. Ethics demands that I give it away. I’ve discovered that this was originally a piece of the Nativity Set my mother had. My sisters gave the nativity set away to somebody … I don’t know who. I can see how this piece was not kept with the set. It’s of two children in modern clothes, and really doesn’t go with the robed figures of the rest of the set. nevertheless, even though its book value iw $200-300, it isn’t really mine to sell. I’m awaiting word from my sister if she wishes me to go ahead and clean it first (it definitely won’t fit with the rest of the set if we do that) or if she wants it back as is.