All bisque dolls by F & W Goebel Germany, 1880 to 1930

The F & W Goebel porcelain works was founded in 1871 by Franz Detleff Goebel and his son William, but it wasn't until 1879 that they fired up their first kiln. By 1900, the company had grown to approximately 400 employees and was one of the largest firms in the region producing porcelain dinnerware pieces. William changed the company name to W. Goebel Porzellanfabrik and expanded the product lines to include figurines, dolls, lamps, candy dishes, and vases. In 1926, the company produced its most popular range of figurines, M.I. Hummel, based on the artwork of a Franciscan Sister, Maria Innocentia Hummel, and this set the stage for the company's success.

After Franz's death, Max Louis Goebel took over the company and successfully expanded the market for its products at home and abroad by establishing relationships with contemporary artists and increasing the number of master sculptors. more... During World War II, the company was only allowed to export M.I. Hummel figurines. After the war, Goebel experienced remarkable expansion and evolution, modernizing its factory while still maintaining its handcrafting and hand painting traditions.

In the 1950s, Goebel experimented with the production of toys, leading to the opening of a new factory in 1967 specifically focused on toy production. In 1952, Franz Goebel met with Walt Disney, resulting in a successful line of figurines and collectibles based on Disney characters. The company continued to expand through the 1960s and set up a sales organization in the United States in 1968.

In 1971, the company celebrated its centennial year, and the popularity of Goebel products, especially the M.I. Hummel figurines, continued to surge. The Goebel Collectors Club was formed in 1977, renamed in 1989 to the M.I. Hummel Club, reflecting the overwhelming level of attention the M.I. Hummel figurines were attracting. The collectors club soon became an important channel for the company's promotional and marketing efforts. less...