Have you ever found the perfect M.I. Hummel online, only to be surprised when it arrives and it is much larger—or smaller—than you expected? If you look closely at the underside of a Goebel figurine, you will often see incised numbers followed by a slash and a fraction or numeral, such as #188/I, #188/0, or #142 3/0. These are not random factory marks; they are a precise German sizing code developed by W. Goebel Porzellanfabrik in Rödental, Bavaria. Understanding these suffixes is the secret to building a cohesive, well-scaled collection that showcases the expressive hand-painted brushstrokes and warm earthen color palettes of authentic Bavarian porcelain.
Quick-Reference: M.I. Hummel Size Suffix Chart (Smallest to Largest)
Use this chart to decode any Hummel size designator from petite 4/0 miniatures up to monumental /V exhibition sculptures, and click any green badge to compare live examples in our vault:
| Size Suffix | Scale & Typical Height | What It Means & Live Multi-Size Examples in Stock |
|---|---|---|
| 4/0 |
Petite Miniature ~2.75" to 3.25" Tall |
The smallest "quarter-zero" pocket scale—approximately one-quarter the volume of a standard figure. ✓ #2 4/0 Little Fiddler (3") ✓ #321 4/0 Wash Day (3.125") ✓ #135 4/0 Soloist ✓ #129 4/0 Band Leader ✓ #255 4/0 Stitch in Time |
| 3/0 |
Small Cabinet Scale ~3.5" to 4.25" Tall |
Slightly taller than a 4/0 miniature, ideal for small curio shelves and paired groupings. ✓ #142 3/0 Apple Tree Boy (4") ✓ #141 3/0 Apple Tree Girl (4") ✓ #47 3/0 Goose Girl (4") ✓ #111 3/0 Wayside Harmony ✓ #112 3/0 Just Resting |
| 2/0 |
Mid-Small Scale ~4.25" to 4.75" Tall |
One step below standard /0 size—one of Goebel's most popular everyday display scales.✓ #11 2/0 Merry Wanderer (4.25") ✓ #57 2/0 Chick Girl (3.5") ✓ #195 2/0 Barnyard Hero (4") ✓ #15 2/0 Hear Ye, Hear Ye ✓ #2014 2/0 Christmas Delivery |
|
/0 (or No Suffix) |
Standard Scale ~4.75" to 6.0" Tall |
Indicates the standard or original master scale once smaller or larger variations were introduced. ✓ #188/0 Celestial Musician (5") ✓ #7/0 Merry Wanderer (6.25") ✓ #47/0 Goose Girl (4.75") ✓ #135/0 Soloist (4.75") ✓ #57/0 Chick Girl (3.75") |
| /I or /1 |
Large Scale ~6.0" to 7.0" Tall |
The first enlarged scale above /0 (incised as Arabic /1 on many earlier molds and Roman /I on later pieces).✓ #188/I Celestial Musician (7") ✓ #142/I Apple Tree Boy (6") ✓ #141/I Apple Tree Girl (6") ✓ #7/I Merry Wanderer (7") ✓ #15/I Hear Ye, Hear Ye (6") ✓ #2014/I Christmas Delivery |
| /II or /2 |
Extra-Large Scale ~7.0" to 8.75"+ Tall |
Commanding cabinet-centerpiece scale with deep sculptural relief and rich shading. ✓ #3/II Bookworm Girl (8") ✓ #47/II Goose Girl (7.5") ✓ #15/II Hear Ye, Hear Ye (7.5") ✓ #21/II Heavenly Angel (8.75") ✓ #2/II Little Fiddler (11") |
| /III or /3 |
Library / Grand Scale ~8.0" to 10.25" Tall |
Grand statement pieces produced in much smaller quantities for serious collectors. ✓ #170/III School Boys (10") ✓ #177/III School Girls (9.5") ✓ #24/III Lullaby (8") ✓ #10/3 Flower Madonna (Large) |
| /V |
Monumental Scale ~10.5" to 11.0"+ Tall |
Exhibition-grade sculptures towering over 10.5 inches tall—the crown jewels of a display cabinet. ✓ #142/V Apple Tree Boy (10.5") ✓ #136/V Friends (11") |
The Standard Scale: The "/0" Suffix (and Unmarked Originals)
When a new M.I. Hummel figurine was first sculpted in only one size, it carried just its base mold number (such as #1 Puppy Love). Once Goebel's master modelers decided to produce that design in additional smaller or larger sizes, the original mid-sized version was assigned the "/0" (Slash Zero) suffix to designate it as the standard baseline scale. For example, #188/0 Celestial Musician is the 5-inch standard version that scales seamlessly within a traditional Nativity crèche.
Going Large: Roman & Arabic Numerals (/I, /II, /III & /V)
Whenever Goebel scaled a beloved mold *up* from its standard /0 size, the factory incised an ascending Roman Numeral (/I, /II, /III, /IV, /V) or, on many earlier pre-1970s molds, the equivalent Arabic numeral (/1, /2, /3). The higher the numeral, the grander the sculpture:
- /I or /1 (Large Scale, ~6" to 7"): Offers noticeably deeper facial modeling and broader areas of hand-blended pigment—such as comparing our 6-inch #142/I Apple Tree Boy or #197/1 Be Patient beside their smaller counterparts.
- /II, /III & /V (Extra-Large, Library & Monumental Scales, 7.5" to 11"+): Reserved for commanding centerpiece editions like our 8.75-inch #21/II Heavenly Angel, 10-inch #170/III School Boys, and 11-inch #136/V Friends. Try anchoring one of these monumental sculptures on a well-lit mahogany bookshelf or atop a Grandmillennial entryway console where its intricate brushwork can command the room.
Shop The Centerpiece Collection →
The Miniatures & Small Scales: 4/0, 3/0 & 2/0
When Goebel scaled a figurine *down* below the standard /0 size, they used **fractions with zero as the denominator** (2/0, 3/0, and 4/0). Think of the first number as how many times smaller the piece is than the standard mold—meaning **the larger the first number before the `/0`, the smaller the figurine**:
-
2/0 ("Half-Zero" — ~4.25" to 4.75"): Just slightly more compact than the standard
/0version, making pieces like #71 2/0 Stormy Weather and #198 2/0 Home from Market favorites for curio cabinets. - 3/0 ("Third-Zero" — ~3.5" to 4.25"): A charming small-cabinet scale seen on classics like #49 3/0 To Market and #68 2/0 Lost Sheep.
- 4/0 ("Quarter-Zero" — ~2.75" to 3.25"): The true "pocket" miniatures of the M.I. Hummel world, such as #2 4/0 Little Fiddler and #343 4/0 Christmas Song. These petite creations are ideal for shadow boxes, wooden thimbles/spice racks, or tabletop Hummelscapes.
- Curator’s Tip on "Double Mold Numbers": In the 1930s, Goebel originally gave separate mold numbers to different sizes of the same character before standardizing the slash system. That is why #11 Merry Wanderer is the smaller brother to #7 Merry Wanderer, #4 Little Fiddler is the smaller companion to #2 Little Fiddler, and #8 Bookworm is the smaller version of #3 Bookworm!
Why Sizing Matters for Your Collection
- Nativity & Companion Consistency: If you are building a Nativity crèche or pairing companion figures like Apple Tree Girl & Boy, matching the size code is essential. Goebel produced the standard Nativity set under mold #214 (~6"–7.5" figures) and the monumental Jumbo Nativity set under mold #260 (10"–12.75" figures).
-
Collector Rarity & Value: While larger Roman Numeral editions (
/II,/III,/V) carried much higher original issue prices, certain fractional sizes were retired decades earlier than the standard mold, making them prized sleeper finds. - Space Planning: Always check both the incised size suffix and the exact height in inches in our listing description before acquiring your next piece—a #188/I or #21/II requires at least 8 to 10 inches of vertical shelf clearance to breathe.
Ready to Test Your Expertise?
Now that you have learned to decode the sizing language of the Goebel factory, it is time to put your appraising skills to the ultimate test! 📏✨ We have built a fun, interactive challenge featuring pieces from across the decades. See if you can accurately identify base stamps, spot the rare size variations, and name the figures like a true curator. 🕵️♂️
Every single piece in our collection, from the smallest 4/0 miniature to the grandest /V library scale, is rigorously hand-inspected and backed by our 100% Satisfaction & Authenticity Guarantee.