Goebel Hummel Figurine: Little Herder (Little Goat Herder variant with Pigs)

This is a vintage porcelain figurine manufactured by W. Goebel Porzellanfabrik in Germany, based on the artwork of Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel. The piece depicts a young boy standing on a round, earthen-toned base with two small pigs at his feet. The boy is dressed in traditional alpine attire, featuring a textured blue-grey jacket with striped detailing, dark lederhosen, a white collared shirt with an orange-red necktie, and a matching orange-red stocking cap. The color palette is characteristic of mid-20th-century Hummel pieces, utilizing soft, muted earth tones applied in a matte finish with subtle gradients. The pigs are rendered in a warm tan with dark grey spotting. Anatomically, the figure bears the classic 'Hummel face' with wide eyes and rosy cheeks. The craftsmanship shows high-quality molded porcelain with hand-painted details. Regarding condition, the figurine appears to be in very good vintage state with no visible chips, cracks, or significant repairs; however, a faint patina of dust is present in the crevices of the boy's hair and jacket. Generally, these pieces from the mid-20th century (often identified by specific TMK trademarks on the base, such as TMK-2 through TMK-5) are highly collectible examples of German post-war ceramic art. The glaze shows the typical slight crazing often found in older earthenware, which is a common aging characteristic for this material.