Is this really a Hummel Figurine?

I found this write up through Kovel's newsletter. It is interesting to see how easy it is to mistake a piece like this. Read the question a reader had for them below. Their answer was very helpful and good to know!

Mystery Marks : HUMMEL-HUMMEL BY GOEBEL

Q: My mother collected Hummel figurines for several years, but there is one figurine we can't find listed anywhere. It is of a man wearing a black suit and top hat and carrying 2 buckets of water. It is 5 inches high. The words "Hummel-Hummel" are etched and painted on the base. It is marked on the bottom with a bee inside a V and an impressed crown over 2 letters. Can you tell me if it is a genuine Hummel and what it is worth? If it isn't genuine, can you tell me the history of it?

A: Your figurine is The Hummel, the nickname of Johann Wilhelm Bentz (b.1787-d.1854), a famous water carrier in Hamburg, Germany. Before Hamburg had a municipal water system, water carriers worked in the city. Bentz was supposedly the last carrier. Children would tease Bentz and yell "Hummel, Hummel," the German word for bumblebee. He would curse at the children, hollering "Mors, Mors." The Hummel became a symbol for the city of Hamburg and a statue similar to your figurine was erected in 1938. Today there are several Hummel statues throughout the city. Hummel is also pictured on the sides of Hamburg's water trucks, and when the Hamburg soccer team scores a goal, the announcer says "Hummel, Hummel" and the fans shout "Mors, Mors." Your figurine was made by Goebel (now Goebel Porzellanmanufaktur, located in Rodental, Germany). The impressed crown mark on the bottom over the initials WG (for William Goebel) was used c.1923 to 1949 and the bee mark was first used c.1950, so your figurine was probably made c.1949-50. Don't be confused by the name "hummel" on your Goebel figurine. Hummel figurines of adorable children were designed by Sister Berta Hummel and have no connection to this water carrier. The Hummel-Hummel figurine is a souvenir of Hamburg. It is probably worth less than $75.

New Arrivals! Vintage Needlepoint, Sewing Basket w Buttons, Rose China, French Art and More!

Here's what I've just listed this week:

Two vintage framed needlepoint roses...this is just one of them.

A vintage Noritake creamer. I love the colorful springtime florals.

Thank you, this has sold!

A charming touch of France...a little paperback book on impressionists.

Thank you, this has SOLD!

A very old "Rock Springs Park" souvenir pitcher.

Sweet and Shabby!

I haven't counted all of the buttons in this sweet sewing basket..there's a quite a few neat buttons in there...great for craft projects or just simply to collect!

Thank you, this has SOLD!

A vintage Limoges plate from Jean Pouyat...

hand painted and signed by the artist. Exquisite!

Thank you, this has SOLD!

This is a sweet vintage powder jar for the vanity. Love the look.



Thank you, these have sold!

I have a pair of these dainty ramekins... their sweet rosebud border is perfect!





Thank you, these have sold!

These two porcelain rose plates are gorgeous and great for hanging.

And a deep red tray, great for those summer afternoons on the porch!


Check out these new arrivals and more, just listed on Bella Rosa Antiques!

Antique Choo Choo Trains!

All aboard! While I was away from the blog this week, I took a fun trip to a railroad museum with my Dad.

I've loved the sights and sounds of trains since I was about 3 years old.

We lived next to a railroad crossing at the time and I would wave to the conductor late at night hoping he would see me and blast the horn. He always did and in my mind it was because I was waving....it was most likely because he was approaching a crossing.

This model display was really big and impressive. Here is just a cute close up of one of the "towns" as the train speeds by.

This museum has a large collection of really old original trains. See how big they are next to my Dad?

He was really impressed with this one...it's one of the first trains to ever run between Philly and New York around 1835. This one is a replica and on loan from the Smithosonian.

There were lots of antiques on display too. Vintage tools used by rail workers, old traveling items like crates, trunks, and suitcases which really appealed to me because I love looking at antiques.

We had a great time and Grandpop bought Dear Bebe a present from the gift shop....the book "Curious George Takes a Train." I had him sign it for her so she'll know about this special trip.

LuRay Cream Soups, Books of France, Paris, Vintage Recipes, Vanity Items and More!

We're adding great pieces to the website this week! I am THRILLED to offer the LuRay collectors two of the very RARE cream soups. I finally filled my goal of having a set of 8 and these two are extras in my collection and available now for purchase. They are hard to come by and we are offering them at a great price.

Here is one in Sharon Pink with the saucer.

And the other is in Windsor Blue with the saucer. They are being sold separately. It is the best way to sell them since collectors may only be looking for a specific color.

Thank you, this has SOLD.

I couldn't resist picking this book up for all of the gals who love all things French...

Thank you, this has sold.

This is a great book for coffee tables.

A couple of sweet hankies...and another I haven't shown the picture of...a ballerina hanky! So sweet!

Thank you, these have sold!

There was something about these vintage vanity items...I loved the graphics on them and their pastel colors. Great for a vintage vanity setting or a perfume collection.

Thank you, this book has sold!

We also have a very vintage recipe book which still has the original handwritten recipes on the inside covers. You can't find that in any store!

And a neat green glass ring holder. I love these and this one is very unique. The four strand aurora borealis necklace is a great find...I rarely see this many strands.


All to be listed this week!

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If you'd like to be on the list click here.

Going Daffy

Now here's the kind of daffy I like! The daffodils are in full bloom around our house. They peep out of the ground even when the leaves on the trees have not made their appearance. Signs of spring, cheerful hello's from the ground.

I'm loving it.

Yard Sales: What's Your Philosophy?

To me, there is nothing like coming out of a cold winter into warmer weather. Flowers start popping up and so do the yard sale signs.

Before I became an antique dealer, I rarely ever went to a yard sale. But for the past 8 or 9 years, I've really enjoyed them. My hubby can't AVOID them. He's driven to them like a moth to a flame. Lately it is getting harder and harder to find antique items at sales. The competition is fierce! That's why I rely on auctions to find the good stuff. But, sometimes a yard sale can be a great place for a treasure.

Here are some of the things I've learned about them if you're really interested in finding neat stuff:

1) Have your sales mapped out the night before.

2) Get up early. Get up early. Get up early.

3) Learn how to scan the tables quickly.

4) Don't be afraid to pick something up before you're

sure you actually want it. If you don't, someone else will.

5) Don't be shy about looking through boxes. I've found some of the

greatest items inside a box. If it's out there, it's waiting to be found.

6) Move on quickly to the next sale.

One year my husband and I were on vacation (yes, we even do this on vacation!) in a very rural part of Maine and went to sales even though we had no idea where we were going. It was a very interesting experience. You had to go to the local supermarket, look on their bulletin board, find the sales tacked on to it and then jump in the car and go hunting them down. Since we were not from the area we followed some of the other locals who had come to see what was tacked on the board. It was kind of like "The Amazing Race" for yard sales. They caught on pretty quickly that we were serious yard salers and they split themselves up into two groups so they could beat us to the next sale! It was very funny when we heard one of the ladies remark "Oh, we've got some outta stata's!" (out of staters.)


My husband and I have different philosophy's on how to yard sale. If I can't have fun then I don't want to do it. He feels if he can't get to them as fast as possible then why bother. So, we try to compromise and get a little of both in. Sometimes his way works better and sometimes my way works better. With a little patience, you can find a real gem you may not have noticed because you didn't stay long enough.

What's your favorite way to yard sale?

JUST LISTED! Vintage Clock Faces, Pin Ornaments, Mirror, Shabby Rose Plates

This week seemed to go by in a flash. Where does the time go?

Thank you, these have SOLD!

This past weekend the weather warmed up a lot. Just enough to tease me into thinking spring was finally here. Ha! It did get colder this week. Rats!

I do know it is short term because daylight savings is already in effect (yay!) and March 21st isn't too far away either. Not that it's going to be like Florida around here but one can hope.

I finally got a chance to load the rest of my latest inventory onto the Bella Rosa website. There's so many neat things to photograph and I love to display each piece to make it interesting to view on the site. Sometimes window shopping can be fun, too! I know...I like to look at all of the other bloggers stores and "shop." But every now and then I find something I just HAVE TO HAVE!

So here is my latest inventory in the "Just Listed" category, as well as the item's regular category. I created the "Just Listed" section to make it easy to see at a quick glance the "newest" stuff if you are a regular visitor.



These scalloped edged plates are soooooo neat because they have that vintage patina built in from time gone by. A dainty pink rose border is the perfect touch. I have some of the same pattern in Dear Bebe's nursery. Remember I did the baby meets shabby chic theme? I used the large meat platter as a tray to hold all of her lotions and other bottles on the dresser.

This little mirror (4" x 4") is too cute. I'm wondering if it came off of an old vintage photo album? I think it's great making it's own little statement all by itself.




Cake plates and I have a thing for each other. I love to buy (and collect) them and somehow they keep finding me! Especially this one with all of the pastel roses.


These pin ornaments are older and I just love the velvet pastel colors someone chose for the base. Too sweet! Secretly I'm thinking how great they are going to look this Christmas if they don't sell. Isn't that backwards? I'm supposed to hope they SELL. Not the other way around. I learned when you become an antique dealer you need lots of storage. Either that or will power. Seems like I have neither!

As always,

Antiquing: A Common Interest

(Thank you, this has SOLD!)

This blog is mostly about my latest finds for the website, Bella Rosa Antiques. Sometimes I post about the actual items themselves with a bit of history. Today's post is more about the story behind me and my Dear Hubby.


We have some things in common, which really helps our relationship. And you may be surprised to know we met online! I had listed my bio on "Love at AOL" and said I was looking for a man who enjoyed antiquing. I didn't think I would have too many replies on that request....but the one that did was a keeper! I guess the rest is history, as they say.

So our love for vintage things keeps us busy. While we may have different things we are interested in, we can both enjoy going out and hunting down old stuff. We go to antique stores, co-ops, auctions, estate sales, moving sales, and yard sales. I still think the best way to get the really good stuff is at an auction. I've seen some of the most beautiful and unique items sold this way.


My hubby likes vintage toys. I like old books, porcelain items or glassware. There are other random items that will catch my eye as well. Art, ephemera, and vintage fashions (clothes, hats, shoes, handbags!)



We haven't been to an auction lately and I'm getting the urge to go to one. But it also looks like spring is coming soon too...it will be great to go to local sales as well. I love the estate sales or moving sales. But this year we have a new addition to the family...our Dear Bebe...it will be interesting to see if she joins us in our love for antiquing as she gets older.

For now, we'll bring her along in her stroller and hope for the best!

Needlepoint Chair Covers ~ Clock Faces, Pin Ornaments & More

This weekend I went treasure hunting...and found quite a few treasures I couldn't pass up. Not with these luscious roses on them. What better inventory than this for the Bella Rosa website? I was so excited about bringing them to you. Here is what I found:

Thank you, the black chair covers have sold!

A set of 6, YES SIX, vintage needlepoint chair covers. Two in black, two in purple, and two in a lovely red. I can just see an entire dining room set covered in these beauties. Each one uniquely hand done. It is hard to find them these days... another lost art.






Thank you, the purple & red have now sold!

Then I came across this neat little box with the vintage rose .... and inside were pieces of old tatting! So sweet. Then I noticed inside on the lid, someone had written a sweet note with a date of 1898.

Thank you, this box & tatting has sold!

Needless to say, I was thrilled. And peaking of needles...um, I mean pins, I also found these ADORABLE vintage handmade ornaments. The colors are so soft and sweet. Would look great with a shabby pastel rose bowl or maybe even in your apothecary containers.

I absolutely loved this. A sweet little mirror with the words "Our Friends" etched onto it. May have come from a vintage album...but even by itself I find it irresistible!

And to add to my new "For Crafters" category... how about some old clock faces? The possibilities are endless to use in displays or mixed media arts. Someone creative could have lots of fun with these.

Thank you, the clock faces have sold!

All to be listed on our website, Bella Rosa Antiques, very soon! Keep an eye out for them. I never know exactly what day my listings will hit the internet...it just depends on how much I can get done inbetween Dear Bebe's naps and playtimes.

And as always...