Even a Redheaded League . . .Goebel – much more than Hummels

Sherlock Holmes once had to confront a very sinister group called The Redheaded League. In the world of antiques, however, you may confront another group of redheads, but they will hardly be sinister. In fact, they’ll be downright adorable.
These will be the Goebel “Redheads,” made between 1957 and 1988, and based on the de-signs of Charlot Byj, a New York greeting card artist.
Byj started making a line of greeting cards in the 1940s featuring cute redheaded kids like Raggy Muffin and Shaggy O’Hair and Shaggy’s mother M’Lady O’Hair. These drawings came to the attention of Franz Goebel, who signed a contract with Byj.
For nearly 30 years Goebel produced a whole league of “Redheads” figurines, starting with Strike, Oops, Little Miss Coy and Roving Eye. Of course, there was the requisite line of products—baby gifts, Christmas ornaments, plates, lamps, dolls, music boxes, and framed prints.
The German company, W. Goebel Porzellan-fabric (porcelain manufacturer) was founded by Franz Goebel and his son William as F & W Goebel in 1871. They made mostly utilitarian ware and did very well at that for a couple of generations.
It was grandson Max Goebel that moved the company in the direction of collectible figures, making the company one of the most successful makers of decorative figurines in the world.
The most popular of these are the Hummels. They share a similar story with the Redheads, only it was the 1930s artwork of a nun, Sr. Mary Innocentia, nee Berta Hummel, that inspired a whole line of figurines and products.
Hummels became all the rage in the post-war 1940s and ‘50s, so much so that today’s market is saturated with them, upsetting the ratio of supply and demand. But Goebel is much more than Hummels, and the rest of the company’s figurines are doing quite well on the market.
Aside from the Redheads, look for a whole menagerie of Goebel animals, a valuable line of Friar Tuck collectibles, glamorous fashion ladies, and religious figures, all expertly crafted and all very cleverly marketed to be irresistible.
To find out about your Hummels, go to the Hummels Collectors Club at www.hummels.com. They tell you how to read the trademark and model numbers, how to sell your Hummels, and their shop has Hummels for sale, so you can check their prices.
The most complete and easy to understand catalog of Goebel marks I’ve seen, however, is at www.nancysgifts.continentalimports.com/hummeltrademarks.html.
Appraisals: Friar Tuck salt and peppershakers, $175; Creamer, $50; Cookie jar, $400. Redhead, “Sea Breezes,” $100; “Marthe,” (nurse), $100. Set of eleven, “Animals of the Serengeti, 1982, w/booklet, 1982, $600; Billy Goat, #32035-14, $50; Buffalo, #CW58, 1965, $90; Squirrel & Acorn salt and pepper, 1950, $35; Madonna, walking with Child, all white, 9-1/2″ high, $45; Fashion figure, “Eleanor,” #1442, 8-3/4″ high, $95. Decanter, dog w/big ears, #KL8461, 1923-‘49, $550.
—Arthur Schwerdt, a certified appraiser, is the author of “The Antique Story Book: Finding the Real Value of Old Things,” and co-owner of The August Farmhouse Antiques on Route 9 in Swainton. Send your comments, questions or appraisal requests to aschwerdt@cmcherald.com.