Caring for your Hummels involves more than you think! The value of Hummel figurines never goes down, it only goes up, so it’s important to know how to preserve the memory of him. Read on for some interesting facts about how to preserve the value of Hummel figurines.
The best way to clean your Hummel:
Over time, your Hummels will get dirty. There are some important things to know about Hummel figurines before you clean them.
MI Hummels are made from faience, a type of ceramic. Any part of the figurine that is not protected by a glaze can absorb moisture.
These Hummels are also created with a vent hole. These holes are usually in a place where you wouldn’t notice. The reason for the hole is that gases can escape during the firing process. If this hole wasn’t there, the Hummel could be ruined.
The interior of the figurines is not glazed. If you put a figurine in water to clean it without covering the vent hole, the water can get inside. Once this happens, you will have moisture inside, which can gradually discolor the figurine. This fading process starts from the inside out and eventually the colors will start to fade on the outside. Many people wonder why the colors on their Hummel fade even though they keep it out of direct sunlight. Little do they know it was because of the way they were cleaning it!
If it covers the vent hole, cleaning with water should not damage it. However, I would still be careful about leaving it in water too long. Just make sure to use a mild soap or shampoo or just wipe it down with a soft cloth.
Important: A Hummel figure can be as slippery as ice when covered with soap and water. Clean on a surface that protects the Hummel in case it slips out of your hands.
How to get rid of that silver shine:
Have you ever seen this? It looks like shiny spots and has a silvery appearance. No matter how hard you try, it can’t be removed! It’s called oxidation. It is caused by re-oxidation of the metallic oxide paint used by Goebel artists to hand-paint the figurines. Oxidation can be caused by excessively humid storage or by wrapping the figure in tissue paper. How can you prevent this? Just be sure to store your Hummel in a cool, dry place and avoid extreme swings in temperature. Make sure they are wrapped in clear foam or some type of bubble wrap. But what if it’s too late? What if your Hummel already has this silver sheen? How do you get rid of it? Well, you’ll be glad to know there is a cure! Professional refiring will restore the figures to their original appearance.
It looks like my Hummel has spider webs growing on it:
Have you ever seen figurines that seem to have spider webs? This is usually a bigger problem than cracks or chips in your Hummel. Cracking is hairline cracks in the Hummel’s enamel. It doesn’t hurt your Hummel, but it’s not the prettiest thing to look at! To prevent cracking, keep your Hummel in an area where temperature and humidity levels are fairly consistent. High humidity areas are not good because then we are back to the problem of humidity, which can cause discoloration. Moving your Hummel from wet areas to dry areas back and forth will cause expansion and contraction and this is how cracking starts.
How to prevent your Hummel from discoloring:
Try not to keep your Hummel in direct sunlight. If your Hummel shows up on a window sill, move it! Direct light will discolor your Hummel over time. Also, be careful when cleaning your Hummel. Make sure you cover up the little hole we talked about earlier.
How to store your Hummels:
Many people like to store fragile items in newspapers. But I can tell you that this is a big “no no” for Hummel figures! Why? The ink from the newspapers will begin to mix with the colors in your Hummel. Don’t get me wrong: this is something that can be fixed, but it’s time consuming and not that much fun!
The best way to store your Hummel is to keep the box and padding to protect it. Always store this way if you can. If you no longer have the box, this is what you can do:
Wrap the figurine tightly in something like clear foam or bubble wrap. Try to put it in its own box if possible for the best protection. As I mentioned earlier, make sure the Hummel is not stored in an area where there are extreme temperature changes (cracking) or excessive moisture (discoloration).
When you buy a Hummel from a retailer, make sure it comes from a secure cabinet. Retailers who care about their Hummels will keep them stored this way to prevent damage from customers constantly picking them up. How would you know if the Hummel you’re buying has no moisture buildup or damage inside? You probably wouldn’t. But making sure it comes from a reputable retailer who takes care when displaying their merchandise will give you peace of mind. After all, Hummels don’t come cheap!