Knowing how to care for Hummel figurines is what separates a collection that holds its value from one that slowly fades on the shelf. These pieces reward the collector who understands them — their value tends to hold and often climbs over the years, but only when the figurine is properly cared for. A Hummel that has been cleaned carelessly, stored in the wrong material, or left in a sunny window can quietly lose both its beauty and its worth long before the owner notices.
Having handled, sold, and collected these pieces for decades, I’ve seen the small mistakes that shorten a Hummel’s life — and nearly all of them are avoidable once you understand how these figurines are actually made. Proper care is really the other half of collecting; knowing how to tell whether a Hummel is authentic and what makes one valuable means little if the piece deteriorates on your shelf.
How to Care for Hummel Figurines: Why They Need Special Attention
Hummel figurines are made of earthenware, a type of ceramic, and any surface not sealed by glaze can absorb moisture. This single fact explains most of the damage collectors accidentally cause. Genuine M.I. Hummel figurines are still produced using the same traditional hand-painting and earthenware methods the brand has relied on for generations, and each one is created with a small air hole, usually placed on the underside of the Hummel. That hole isn’t a flaw — it’s there so gases can escape during firing. Without it, the figurine could crack or be ruined in the kiln. The inside of the figurine, however, is left unglazed, which means the interior can drink in water the moment it’s given the chance.
Once you understand that a Hummel is essentially a sealed painted shell over a thirsty, porous interior, every care instruction that follows starts to make sense — and it becomes clear why well-preserved examples are the ones that hold their value over time.
What Is the Best Way to Clean a Hummel Figurine?
The safest way to clean a Hummel is to cover the air hole first, then wipe gently with a soft cloth or use mild soap and water sparingly. The danger isn’t the surface — it’s the inside. If you submerge a figurine without covering that little air hole, water seeps into the unglazed interior, and from there the trouble begins. Trapped moisture gradually discolors the piece from the inside out, and eventually the colors begin to fade on the outside. I can’t count how many collectors have asked me why their Hummel faded even though they kept it well away from sunlight, never realizing the problem was the way they washed it.
If the hole is covered, gentle cleaning with water won’t hurt the piece, though I’d still avoid letting it soak. A mild soap or shampoo, or simply a soft dry cloth, is all you need. One word of caution from experience: a Hummel coated in soap and water becomes as slippery as ice. Always clean over a towel or padded surface so that if it slips from your hands, it has something soft to land on rather than the bottom of your sink.
Everyday Care and Handling
Most of the time, a Hummel needs gentle dusting rather than washing. For routine upkeep, a soft, dry, natural-bristle brush is your best tool — a clean makeup brush or artist’s brush works beautifully, slipping into the fine detail, folds, and crevices where a cloth simply can’t reach, all without introducing a drop of water. A quick, regular dusting keeps a figurine looking its best and greatly reduces how often it ever needs a proper wash.
When you do clean beyond dusting, never reach for chemical cleaners, ammonia, or glass sprays like Windex. It’s tempting to treat a Hummel like any other ceramic knick-knack, but these figurines are hand-painted, and much of that paintwork — including the delicate metallic accents — sits in an overglaze that harsh chemicals can dull or lift entirely. Mild soap and water, used sparingly, is as strong as you should ever go.
How you hold a Hummel matters just as much as how you clean it. Always lift a figurine by its solid base, using both hands, rather than by an outstretched arm, an umbrella, a walking stick, or any of the slender projections these pieces are so often designed with. Those thin, extended parts are exactly where breakage happens, and a single careless grab is all it takes. Handling from the base becomes second nature once you’ve seen how easily a fragile detail can snap.
What Is the Silvery Sheen on My Hummel?
That silvery, shiny film on a Hummel is oxidation, caused by the metallic oxide paints Goebel artists used to hand-paint the figurines. It appears as shimmering spots with a metallic look, and no amount of scrubbing will remove it. Oxidation is usually brought on by excessively damp storage, and — surprisingly to many — by wrapping a figurine in silk or tissue paper rather than colorless materials. The good news is that it’s preventable: store your Hummel in a dry, cool place, avoid extreme temperature swings, and wrap it in colorless foam or bubble wrap rather than paper. And if you’re reading this too late and the sheen has already appeared, take heart — professional refiring can restore the figurine to its original appearance.
Why Does My Hummel Look Like It Has Spider Webs?
Those fine, web-like lines across a Hummel’s surface are called crazing — hairline cracks in the glaze. It’s a more common headache than chips or cracks, and while crazing doesn’t structurally harm the figurine, it certainly isn’t pretty to look at. Crazing is caused by expansion and contraction, which happens when a figurine is moved repeatedly between humid and dry environments. To prevent it, keep your Hummel somewhere with fairly consistent temperature and humidity. Steer clear of high-humidity areas, since that brings you right back to the moisture-and-discoloration problem. Stability is the whole secret here: a Hummel that stays in one steady environment rarely develops crazing at all.
How Do I Keep My Hummel From Discoloring?
The two main causes of discoloration are sunlight and improper cleaning, so protecting against both keeps your colors true. Direct sunlight is a slow but certain enemy — if your Hummel sits in a windowsill, move it. Over time that light will wash out the colors just as surely as interior moisture will. And as we covered, always cover the air hole when cleaning so water can’t work its way inside. Keep those two habits and your figurine will hold its color for generations.
How Should I Store My Hummel Figurines?
The best way to store a Hummel is in its original box and padding, kept in a place with stable temperature and humidity. If you’ve kept the original packaging, always use it. If it’s long gone, wrap the figurine well in colorless foam or bubble wrap and, if you can, give it its own box for the best protection. Whatever you do, keep it away from areas prone to extreme temperature changes, which invites crazing, and away from excess humidity, which invites discoloration.
There’s one storage habit I have to warn against, because it’s so common and so damaging: never wrap a Hummel in newspaper. Many people reach for newspaper to protect fragile items, but the ink will blend into the colors of your figurine over time. It’s a fixable problem, but the repair is tedious and no fun at all — far better to avoid it entirely with colorless materials.
A Note on Buying Hummels
When you buy a Hummel from a retailer, make sure it’s being kept in a secured, enclosed cabinet. Retailers who genuinely care about their Hummels store them this way to protect them from the constant handling of curious customers. There’s no reliable way to tell by looking whether a figurine already has moisture damage or oxidation building up inside, so buying from a reputable seller who displays and stores merchandise with care is your best protection — and it pays to know how to spot an authentic piece before you buy. Hummels are not inexpensive, and that peace of mind is worth a great deal.
For years I ran a shop that sold Hummel figurines, and we kept every one in a secured, locked cabinet away from direct sunlight — because we understood firsthand what these pieces are worth, not only in dollars but in the tradition they carry, from the original artwork of Berta Hummel to the collectible value they still hold today. That experience taught me that caring for a Hummel is really an extension of collecting it: the pieces that stay beautiful are the ones whose owners understood how to protect them. It’s the same care we bring to every piece in our collection of authentic German gifts and collectibles — the Hummels, and the handcrafted wood art that shares the same tradition.
Recommended Storage and Collecting Supplies
A little preparation goes a long way toward keeping your Hummels in the condition they deserve. Below are a few products I’d recommend for storing and caring for your figurines — from colorless archival materials that protect against oxidation and discoloration to a trusted collector’s price guide for keeping track of what your pieces are worth. Having the right supplies on hand makes it far easier to follow the care steps above and preserve both the beauty and the value of your collection for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wash a Hummel figurine in water?
Yes, but only if you cover the air hole first. Water entering the unglazed interior causes discoloration from the inside out. Covering the hole and using mild soap with a soft cloth is safe.
What causes a Hummel’s colors to fade?
Fading is most often caused by trapped interior moisture from improper cleaning, or by prolonged direct sunlight. Keeping the air hole covered during cleaning and displaying figurines out of direct light prevents it.
Can oxidation on a Hummel be removed?
Not by cleaning — the silvery sheen won’t scrub off. However, professional refiring can restore the figurine to its original appearance.
Is crazing on a Hummel a serious problem?
Crazing is a network of fine hairline cracks that forms in the glaze — the glossy outer coating — of a Hummel figurine, giving the surface a faint spider-web appearance. It doesn’t structurally damage the figurine and won’t cause it to break, but it is a permanent cosmetic issue. Crazing develops when a piece is moved repeatedly between humid and dry conditions, causing the glaze and the earthenware beneath it to expand and contract at different rates until the glaze cracks. Keeping your figurine in stable temperature and humidity prevents it.
What’s the safest way to store a Hummel figurine?
Store it in its original box and padding, or wrapped in colorless foam or bubble wrap, in a place with stable temperature and humidity. Never use newspaper, as the ink transfers onto the figurine.
