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Birthdays, Bright and Beautiful
This year celebrate in a special way
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We're privileged to mark a milestone birthday this year, one with special meaning for M.I. Hummel fans everywhere. It was 100 years ago, on May 21, 1909, that Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel was born. To honor her artistry, vision and loving spirit, Manufaktur Rödental will release a highly-prized, strictly limited Commemorative Edition, Sister's Children. It's a joyful parade of the beloved Bavarian children that are the heart and soul of Sister Hummel's creative imagination. And it's a stunning and ambitious demonstration of
M.I. Hummel artistry at its finest. Each child in this figurine has been inspired by popular M.I. Hummel motifs as a tribute to her work.
Starting in the back to the left of the tree:
- School Boy (Hum 82) - A classic M.I. Hummel motif and because she taught at the Convent.
- We Wish You The Best (Hum 600) - The girl with the basket is part of this piece.
- Puppy Love (Hum 1) - This is an interpretation of the first M.I. Hummel figurine ever produced.
- Hummele (Hum 365) - This was her nickname in her youth.
- Goose Girl (Hum 47) - This is an interpretation of Goose Girl, one of the most popular motifs.
- Pleasant Journey (Hum 406) - This child sitting in the cart is an interpretation of the second and most popular figurine in the Century Collection, Pleasant Journey.
- Blumenkinder (Hum 914) - This is an interpretation of a Blumenkinder, which is based on a very typical
M.I. Hummel figurine.
- Tree & Bird - These were included because they can be found in many of her drawings.
This impressive figurine measures 12.25" in height, 17.00" in length, and 11.00" in width. Before a single figurine is complete, it will be touched 11,800 times. It consists of 84 molds, more than 40 different colors, and 235 working steps are necessary for the decoration. This never before seen masterpiece will be limited to 300 pieces. On the white piece of paper at the top of the tree will be "To Sr. M.I. Hummel" as this is a tribute to her art, her love of children and her philosophy "I want to bring joy".
This is a monumental piece, intricately detailed and extraordinary in its complexity. The longer you look at it, the more intriguing touches you'll discover, from the little Hummele at the end of the procession, to the eager puppy taking part in the fun. To order, please see the enclosed EXTRA! EXTRA! or visit www.ShopHummel.com Be one of the lucky few to own a true piece of M.I. Hummel history.
Birthdays are big in Germany
The candles glow. A wish is made. The celebrants sing. The cake is sliced and savored. Once a year, on the anniversary of your birth, the people close to you gather to express their love.
When you're a child, each birthday makes you feel more grown up. As the years pass, birthdays may make you feel just a bit "over the hill." And for the elderly, each birthday may be a time for reflection. But at any age, with balloons, presents, sweets and song, birthday parties mark the passage of the years and the joy of life.
Most cultures have some kind of birthday celebrations, but the customs most familiar to us originated in ancient times. For centuries, only kings were considered important enough to have birthday celebrations. It was believed that evil spirits were attracted to people on their birthdays, and giving gifts would keep those spirits away.
The custom of the birthday cake is thought to have originated with the ancient Greeks who baked round cakes representing the full moon in honor of their moon goddess, Artemis. The candles on the cake made it glow like the moon.
There is a long tradition of birthday celebrations in Germany. Centuries ago, Germans started baking sweet layered cakes for birthdays and put one large candle in the center to represent "the light of life." At some point multiple candles were used, one to represent each year of life. Some believed that smoke from blown-out candles carried birthday wishes up to heaven. A letter written in 1799 by the renowned writer, Goethe, describes a German birthday cake as "a generous-size torte with colorful flaming candles."
Remember how much fun you had at birthday parties when you were a child? Well, you have the Germans to thank. The children's party, or Kinderfeste, is an 18th century German invention, and to this day, the German people take pleasure in making birthday children feel special. Perhaps that's why many of Sister Hummel's drawings represent birthday celebrations and why we have so many beautiful M.I. Hummel birthday-themed figurines as a result.
German youngsters are allowed to skip homework and chores on their birthdays! In many homes, the family decorates the house in honor of the birthday child and places a special wooden birthday wreath on the table. The wreath has small holes for candles and a holder in the center for a taller, beautifully decorated candle called the "life candle" - lit on a child's birthday until the age of twelve.
Other families arise early and light slow-burning candles on a cake, one for each year and one for good luck. The candles are allowed to burn atop the cake all day. After dinner, the birthday child makes a wish, the candles are blown out, and it is believed that if all are extinguished with one breath, the wish will come true.
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Sister's Children
100th Anniversary Commemorative Figurine
Hum 2288
Item #232288, 12.00"
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