Goebel Hummel Figurine: Little Goat Herder / Joyful

This is a vintage earthenware figurine featuring a young girl, highly characteristic of the M.I. Hummel style produced by the Goebel factory in Germany. The piece stands on a circular, slightly domed base. It depicts a young girl in traditional Germanic attire, including a dark bodice, a yellow apron with blue floral patterns, white puffed sleeves, and white socks with horizontal orange stripes. She holds a small orange flower in one hand and carries a woven basket over her left arm. Her hair is rendered in a light brownish-red tone, styled into two small pigtails tied with bright orange ribbons. The facial expression is sweet and youthful, with large eyes and a rounded face, painted in soft, matted tones typical of Hummel glazes. This style of figurine was famously based on the drawings of Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel and reached peak popularity mid-20th century. The glaze is matte rather than high-gloss, emphasizing the soft pastel color palette of tan, blue, yellow, and orange. Regarding condition, the piece appears to be in very good vintage condition with no visible cracks or large chips from this angle. There is some minor surface dust and potentially light crazing on the base, which is common for ceramics of this age. The craftsmanship is high-quality, with careful hand-painted details on the apron and face. While the specific maker mark on the bottom is not visible, the design and execution strongly indicate a genuine Goebel mid-20th-century production.