School Girl Plate Appraisal

Goebel M.J. Hummel 1980 Annual Plate 'School Girl' (Tenth Edition)

This item is an authentic 1980 M.J. Hummel Annual Plate, titled 'School Girl,' produced by the W. Goebel Porzellanfabrik in West Germany. The plate is presented in its original retail packaging, which identifies it as the 'Tenth Edition' in the annual series. The piece is constructed from fine hand-painted earthenware with a characteristic bas-relief (raised) design. It features a young girl with pigtails carrying a backpack and a basket on her way to school, rendered in the classic Hummel sepia-toned palette with muted reds, yellows, and browns. The plate measures approximately 7.5 inches in diameter. The rim is decorated with a series of small, raised circular studs. The year '1980' is prominently displayed in red raised lettering at the bottom of the central scene. The packaging shows minor signs of storage wear, including light scuffing and small checkmarks in ink, but the plate itself appears to be in excellent condition, likely reflecting its status as a collector's piece. The craftsmanship reflects the high standards of 20th-century German porcelain manufacturing, specifically the Goebel factory's partnership with Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel's artwork.