Vintage Hummel 14/A Little Boy Bookworm, part of Bookend Set, 5.5" tall, TMK-6

Description

Goebel Hummel Figurine #14A Little Boy "Book Worm" 5.5" tall.  This is half of the Book Worm, book case set.  I did not realize until doing the research on this little gut, that this set was originally introduced as bookends, with the suggestion to add sand to them, through the bottom whole to help give them weight needed.  Hummel no longer suggest they be used as bookends.
Hummel
figurines were first introduced to the German public in 1935. They were received well and became popular. During World War II, production of the figurines was restricted, but they were not forgotten. After the war, as the German citizenry recovered, the figurines were sold in shops again.
The actual creation of an M.I. Hummel figurine is a laborious process. When an image is selected for production, it is first sculpted in clay by an experienced artist.  Once the figurine is approved, the sculptor and the master mold maker make decisions regarding the production. The figurine must be able to be reproduced in molds, sometimes requiring the figurine to be molded and assembled in a series of pieces. The pieces are made from liquid ceramic, which is poured into plaster molds. The pieces are assembled using more of the liquid ceramic as glue to hold them together. After the excess is removed, the figurine can be smoothed so that no seams can be seen. The figurines are allowed to dry completely then go through two firings in a kiln. They are fired a third time to ensure color bonding and soft surface. The figurines can then be painted. The paint colors used for this process were especially created to match the color palette that Berta Hummel herself used. Once the master painter prepares a sample figurine which meets approval, then the figurines can be painted to follow suit. Each one is lovingly painted by hand. This is a long process, but well worth the wait.
In 2008, the last Hummel Figurine was produced, ending an era.