Tuesday, March 24, 2009

tuesday's treasure chest


grandma julie's treasure chest is opening up this tuesday to reveal my first hummel purchase -- "the builder". i fell in love with this hummel the minute i saw it on e-bay as it features a little girl bricklayer complete with her little bucket of hod and her trowel. she's carrying 2 heavy bricks and has already started to lay a brick wall. see how cute she looks all nestled inside the treasure chest next to the tea set my dad bought in japan? click here to read the story of my dad's tour with general mac arthur in post wwii japan and the story of this tea set.



my dad's lifelong trade was a brick mason. his work ethic and a little bit about my love for his work can be read here in a previous blog. when i saw this hummel on ebay and bid on it i was just so thrilled and wanted it so badly. bill saw a second one on ebay and bid on it as well. wouldn't you know it? we won both of them so i have one and i gave the second one to jenna. this was not a big investment at all. i got it for a really good price. i just googled "the builder hummel" and you can buy a brand new one with trademark 8 for $228.00. trademark 8 hummels are in current production, i believe. mine is older and in mint condition and a much better deal than the new one. (patting myself on the back) hee hee


my "the builder" hummel is a trademark 4 which was produced between 1964 and 1972. the trademark is the little v with the bee inside it and the words (C) by W. Goebel W. Germany. my hummel also has the year 1955 stamped into the bottom of it which i think means that the mould for the ceramic casting was made in 1955. the trademark then indicates the actual year it was produced from that 1955 mould.

as i said this was my first hummel purchase and i've treated myself to a few more over the last couple of years, always at an excellent price. my favorite hummels other than "the builder" are the ones with little girls with little head scarves on. it makes me feel so nostalgic. did any of you wear head scarves tied under the chin when you were little? my sister and i did and we have such chuuby cheeks in those scarves!

i hope you enjoyed your first peek into grandma julie's treasure chest. check back next tuesday with another treasured item. until then, enjoy some fresh air!

11 comments:

Cindy said...

My Grandmother had a collection of Hummels. What a great find! I love it.

PrairiePeasant said...

She is so sweet. It is so wonderful to have these stories of our families, and a wonderful gift you have to share them!

steviewren said...

I have some sweet little note cards with the Hummel girls wearing scarves. I've never used them all because I love the picture too much to give them all away. Isn't that silly of me!

jennalee said...

Thanks for sharing G'ma Julie. Love your little treasure.

lori vliegen said...

seeing your Hummel brings back lots of memories of my aunt margie...she loved them and had quite a collection. they were all lovingly displayed on decorative wall shelves in her living room. i don't remember seeing "the builder" on her shelves...she's really cute! :)

p.s. i so enjoyed reading your past post about your dad!

Donna said...

Sounds like the perfect Hummel to have....it's beautiful.

Hugs,
Donna

Tess Kincaid said...

Hummels are adorable! How fun that you found one to commemorate your dad's trade! I have a Goebel nativity set that I just adore.

ArtistUnplugged said...

How interesting.....lovely treasure. It is a great feeling when you get a good deal. Thanks for sharing!

Cindy said...

i loved our first tour and the story behind your first hummel. i have a small collection from my brother, which are mostly music and art-related.

Nana Trish is Living the Dream said...

I lived in Germany in 1969 and 1970. Why didn't I get Hummels there. Yours is so adorable. Your grands will love the treasure. Too cute.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

It is great fun to find a meaningful treasure. I did wear scarves when I was a little girl. I usually wear hats now.