When collectors marvel at the earliest and most iconic Goebel M.I. Hummel figurines, they are often admiring the sensitive modeling of Reinhold Unger (1880–1974). 🎻🕊️ Born on Christmas Day in 1880 in Unterwirbach near Saalfeld, Germany, and trained at the prestigious Royal Porcelain Academy in Lichte, Unger joined W. Goebel Porzellanfabrik in 1902. Over three decades before the first Hummel was ever conceived, he was already one of Bavaria’s most accomplished ceramic sculptors—making him the natural artist for Franz Goebel to call upon in early 1935 to translate Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel’s two-dimensional charcoal and pastel sketches into three-dimensional clay.
In fact, it was Reinhold Unger who sculpted the very first M.I. Hummel figurine in history: Puppy Love / Violinist (Hum #1), establishing the artistic blueprint for the 1935 Leipzig Trade Fair debut.
Capturing the Invisible Wind: Movement, Glaze & Bavarian Brushstrokes 🎨
Working side-by-side at the Rödental modeling benches with fellow founding sculptor Arthur Möller—who sculpted companion icons like Merry Wanderer (Hum #7) and Goose Girl (Hum #47)—Reinhold Unger possessed an unmatched gift for capturing atmospheric movement and tender human emotion.
Look closely at Unger’s signature designs like Stormy Weather / Unter einem Dach (Hum #71), March Winds (Hum #43), or our rare 10-inch School Boys / Schwere Aufgaben (Hum #170 TMK-2 Full Bee). Unger did not merely carve a static figure; he sculpted the invisible alpine wind catching the hem of a coat, the protective tilt of an oversized umbrella, and the natural earthy texture of the base. By establishing these early molds, he created the ideal canvas for Goebel’s velvety satin-matte glaze, allowing the Rödental painters' meticulous hand-applied brushstrokes and warm, muted Bavarian mineral color palettes to shine.
#170 "School Boys" (Schwere Aufgaben) 10" ($1,799.99) →
#136/V "Friends" (Freunde) 11" Girl & Fawn ($479.99) →
#88/I "Heavenly Protection" (Schutzengel) w/Box ($294.99) →
What Collectors Look For in Early Reinhold Unger Molds 🔎
From his joining of the Hummel project in 1935 until his retirement in the late 1950s, Reinhold Unger created more than 120 beloved molds. Here are the signature hallmarks our curators examine when evaluating his work:
- The 1935 Leipzig Trade Fair Foundations: Unger sculpted 19 of the Original 46 debut designs—including #1 Puppy Love, #3 & #8 Bookworm (Die kleine Leseratte), #13 Meditation (Gratulantin), #17 Congratulations, #21 Heavenly Angel, #24 Lullaby, #28 Wayside Devotion, and #42 Good Shepherd.
- Devotional Angels, Madonnas & The #214 Nativity Series: Because of his classical academic training in religious sculpture, Franz Goebel entrusted Unger with the factory’s most reverent devotional works—including #45/I Madonna With Halo (11.5"), #55 Saint George and the Dragon, dozens of Holy Water Fonts, and the complete 1951 #214 Standard Nativity Crèche Set.
- Beloved Companion Pairs: Unger modeled several of Goebel’s most famous fence-sitting and tree-climbing Perfect Pairs, including #111 Wayside Harmony paired with #112 Just Resting, and #56/B Out of Danger paired with #56/A Culprits.
- Pairing Unger’s Matte Glazes Across Makers: The warm, earthy mineral glazes of early Unger molds harmonize effortlessly in a collector’s display alongside the natural alpine maple wood grain of Italian ANRI carvings, the deep oxblood Flambé glazes of Royal Doulton, and the serene pastels of Spanish Lladró.
Curating Reinhold Unger Treasures in Your Home 🏡✨
🗿 In-Stock Vault Showcase: 28 Authenticated Reinhold Unger Works
We currently house over 70 authenticated Reinhold Unger figurines, Nativity pieces, and Holy Water Fonts in our active inventory! Click any green badge below to inspect his most celebrated designs (with mold numbers and original German titles):
Every vintage estate find in our gallery is clinically inspected under studio lighting for authentic factory backstamps and backed by our 100% Satisfaction & Authenticity Guarantee.
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