Vintage Hummel, Goebel TMK 1-Germany (1935-49) "Joyful"

Vintage M.I. Hummel Goebel "Joyful" #53 — Rare Early Crown Mark, Germany Offering a genuinely early example of the beloved Hummel "Joyful" figurine — a sweet, rosy-cheeked girl kneeling with her mandolin, mid-song, dressed in her signature blue polka-dot frock and little brown shoes. This mold has been a collector favorite for generations, but what makes this particular piece special is its trademark. Turning her over, the base is stamped "GERMANY" with the mold number 53 incised into the clay, and — an incised crown mark, "hand-carved" into the wet clay before firing. This is the hallmark of Goebel's earliest trademark era, the Crown Mark (TMK-1), used from the company's earliest Hummel production in the mid-1930s through 1949. Pieces from this window predate the familiar "bee" trademarks entirely and represent the very beginning of the Hummel line as we know it today. Collectors of early Hummel know these Crown Mark pieces don't come around often — most of what circulates today carries later bee trademarks. If you collect by trademark era, or you're building out an early Goebel timeline, this one earns its place. If you are a true collector of Hummel early work, one look at this item and you will know what a rare find it is. Please, serious inquiries only. This is a (TMK-1). The stamping on the bottom proves it predates 1949 and is 1 of a very few early workings. Thank you