The appraised work is a Hummel figurine depicting a young boy dressed as a doctor, looking down at a small doll. It is marked ‘Germany” with the Goebel maker’s mark on the underside. Berta Hummel was a Bavarian nun in the early 20th century who assumed the name of Sister Maria Innocentia in 1931, when she joined a convent in southern Germany. She attended art school and dabbled in painting, creating playful scenes featuring jolly rosy-cheeked children. Her fellow sisters encouraged her to sell her work, and her paintings soon caught the attention of Franz Goebel, director of a German pottery company. He transformed her paintings into ceramic pieces, and they debuted to the public in 1935 with immediate success. Hummel died in 1946 and her ceramic pieces became particularly popular among American troops stationed in Europe, who brought them home as souvenirs after the war.

Throughout the mid-20th century, Hummels were considered desirable collectibles. Their appeal has continued but the market has experienced fluctuations and dips in price. Now, only Hummels of the highest quality and condition command high auction prices. It also appears that more complex ceramic pieces, usually featuring multiple figures and/or sets are the most desirable. The estimate provided is based on comparables recently offered and sold at auction. In many cases, pricing for similar examples available on the primary (retail) market vary, and are often higher than secondary (auction) market examples.