Sister Figurine

Here are some more information for Sister Figurine:

Is it an antique and is it worth anything?

Would you know?

At some point in our lives most of us are going to put in a position where we have to ask ourselves the question-

Which of my treasured possesions should I keep because they might be worth something and which can I throw away?

Would you know??

We start our own homes full of enthusiasm and with all the lovely clutter that makes up our lives and that of the family, but as time goes on, the children leave home, we decide to move to a smaller house or maybe we decide to live abroad. At that stage we have to decide what to keep and what to part with.

As an antique dealer for many years I'm often invited into homes to assist customers with just that question - or with a cry for HELP!!

Well, we all have items we wouldn't part with for a million pounds, precious bits and pieces passed down from parents and little presents from partners, children and grandchildren. Then there's the layer of semi-precious items that, to make a bit more room, we could part with. Put these to one side and we'll Come Back to them later - our second best treasures.

But the 'cupboard fillers' are quite a different matter! How many teas services, lace cloths and glasses do we need? In fact, be really honest, when was the last time you set the table with a starched cloth and all the cutlery amd glassware matching?

Call me a slut, but I usually serve friends with tea in china beakers. Wine is poured into glasses that are dish-washer friendly and the crockery and cutlery is an interesting ........... mish-mash. It's the company and stimulating converstion that's important I tell myself.

So what should we keep and what should we part with? We've carefully put our special treasures to one side and now we must invite the children in to look through the 'second best' treasures.

Make sure they have a chance to refuse any bits you're thinking of parting with. An old scruffy chair to your way of thinking might be a favourite to them and the comfy setting for many a bedtime story.

On a personal note after my mum died, my sister and I were clearing her things and we found an enamelled dish of little value. Ir was put on one side to give to the charity shop when my son asked if he could have 'the money dish'. "Which money dish" I asked. "The one that gran always kept the pound coins in to give us when we visited". Luckily the 'money dish' was passed on to a very happy grandson.

So now the children, and possibly the grandchildren, have had their pick. Time to decide what to do with the rest. Space might determine how thorough the pruning must be, but it's worth knowing what you could sell and what you may have to give away.

Even antiques come and go 'in fashion'. At the moment the style is minimalist. One carefully placed figurine, one item of polished glassware, not the over-the-top, not an inch of wall showing, style of the Victorians!

Anything that needs polishing, ie, copper, brass, silver and silver plated items are unpopular especially with the younger generation who manage to juggle a full-on family/working life. Equally, if it won't go in the dishwasher, it's a bit of a no-no!

So we're narrowing the field of what we can easily sell.

Small, exquisite, exciting little pieces are desirable. It's easy to get good prices for antique sewing items, silver thimbles, old needle holders, silk winders, buttons, even wooden cotton reels and pin cushions.

Another highly collectable area is - drinking! Old cork screws, bottle openers, wine and spirit labels, champagne taps, spirit measures and the pub water jugs for serving up with a glass of whisky.

Check through your drawers for old fountain pens and pencils and boys will be boys so hang on to any sporting memorabilia. Would you believe that a feather filled golf ball fetched £6,000 and old golf clubs, tennis rackets and snooker cues and balls are highly collectable.

Smoking acessories are politically incorrect, but old silver vesta cases, cigar cutters and interesting cigarette lighters can fetch a tidy sum.

Don't neglect the children's toy cupboard. Early tin toys, lead soldiers and more recently Star Wars and James Bond can raise much needed cash. Would you fancy parting with over £1,000 for a Victorian marble? Well it's happened with a German end-of-the-day onionskin marble, so sift with care.

So there's a few tips when planning a bit of a life laundry. Lots more advice to follow because I have a little corner of the shop at present where I'm selling vintage clothing, shoes, handbage and costume jewellery and it's going down very well, especially with the younger age group.

Until then, happy spring cleaning!!

Loads of similar articles and a newsletter and resources for Antiques and Collectibles at:

http://www.architus.com

We run a small but beautifully formed General Antiques Shop which is situated in Kirkby Lonsdale In the Yorkshire Dales/Cumbria Border.

The Life and History of the Artist behind M.I. Hummel

Born in rural Bavaria the third of six brothers and sisters in 1909, Berta Hummel grew up living above a general store in the village of Massing.  At the tender age of six, she started her Catholic education and quickly impressed her instructors in the one room schoolhouse with her artistic ability.  

She continued her education at the Institute of English Sisters, Marienhohe, upon reaching age 12.  The boarding school twenty miles from her family was a financial burden but offered her the opportunity to begin formal artistic training.  Her father, who was forced to abandon his dreams as an artist for financial reasons, gave his daughter the ability to continue the dream that he was forced to abandon.  When Berta left Marienhoehe at the age of 18, she went to Munich to continue her education.

In 1927, Hummel continued her artistic education at the Academy of Applied Arts in Munich.  While living in a Catholic dormitory, her artistic skill blossomed.  Berta Hummel graduated near the top of her class and was invited to continue at the Academy as a teacher.

Instead, Hummel decided to devote her life and art to the service of God.  While at the Academy of Applied Arts, Berta became friends with two Franciscan Sisters who were training as art teachers in Munich.  In her spare time, she had borrowed and studied the Franciscan Book of Rules from her friends.  Upon her graduation, she joined 250 Franciscan Sisters at the Convent of Siessen, which was founded in 1259 and passed to a Franciscan Order in 1860.

Life at the Convent offered Hummel the ability to continue her artwork.  She taught art at a nearby girls school and often painted the children's portraits for their families.  In 1931, she completed her novitiate with the Convent and dedicated the rest of her life to her religious beliefs. She would henceforth be known as Sister Maria Innocentia.

While at the Convent of Siessen, Sister Maria Innocentia sold her artwork and used the proceeds to support the mission and her teaching.  Soon, her artwork featuring children would find its way to the owner of a well known porcelain firm, Franz Goebel.  Goebel decided that a line of figurines inspired by Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel's artwork would appeal to German families struggling in the difficult economic times.  Goebel created three sample figurines from her work and sent a representative to discuss the idea with Sister Hummel.

Sister Hummel and the Convent of Siessen received the overture well.  After working with Goebel sculptors and painters to develop the line of children's figurines, Sister Hummel agreed to allow Goebel the exclusive right to manufacture and distribute figurines based on her artwork under the trade name, M.I. Hummel.  Royalties from the agreement with Goebel went to the Convent of Siessen.

M.I. Hummel figurines were introduced to the world at the 1935 Leipzig Spring Fair.  The children's figurines quickly captured the attention of the public and were an immediate success.  Their success would be limited, though, as only a few years later figurine production was restricted in Germany during World War II.  As the war ended, the restrictions were lifted, and American G.I.'s were searching German shops for souvenirs to send home.  They found M.I. Hummel figurines manufactured by Goebel.  The popularity of Hummel figurines has grown since.

Unfortunately, Sister Hummel would not see her figurines grow to a worldwide sensation.  She contracted tuberculosis and passed away on November 6, 1946 at the age of 37.  Thankfully, her artwork and spirit would not die with her.  A prolific artist, she left behind an extensive collection of artwork that would used by Goebel to continue her collection of figurines.  And the Convent of Siessen established an artistic board to oversee the development of Hummel figurines at Goebel and ensure that the figurines continued to be known for their superior quality.

About the Author

To learn more about the history of Hummel figurines, please visit my website dedicated to collecting figurines.

Where can I find an inexpensive sculptor?

I've been looking online for a statue of a Jack Russell Terrier, but I want it to look exactly like my sister's dog. My sister died last year and her friend wants to dedicate a bench to her on the isle of Mull in Scotland with a statue / figurine type thing of her dog next to it. I haven't found any that look like him, so I'm hoping I can find someone who can recreate his likeness. (He is a lovely dog and very photogenic) Any help would be appreciated!

College students are always looking for cash.. they study masterworks.. and they might be more inclined to create a piece so that they may use it in their portfolio.. you keep your sculpture and they keep the photos for themselves for their portfolio.. + most of these students are going to be the latest and greatest set of artist so this might just work! And you would own a piece that they created and own the rights to it.. can't really lose in this situation..

Janet Sheridan: Wrestle mania
Recently, a friend of mine complained about the TV-viewing habits of her pre-teen daughter: “I can’t believe what she watches. Her favorite shows are mindless, but she hangs on every word.”

Thanks for visiting!