W. Göbel Porcelainfactory
In 1871 Franz Detleff Göbel (FDG) and his son William (WG) lived
in the ancient town of Öslau, in the german Thuringia-region. FDG
was a wholesaler in porcelain, pursuing ambitions to start his own
production. By 1871 he founded the company together with
his son.
Göbel's first porcelain firing took place in 1876. The
production primarly included distinguished figurines and
table service. As FDG grew older, his son William took
over. Due to William Göbel, that a figurine production was
started. Upon William Göbel's death, Max Louis Göbel took
over the family-business with business-know-how and enough energy
to send the company into the 20'century.
The sudden death of Max Louis Göbel after 18 years of leadership
and the simultaneous crash of the American stock market however
rocked the Goebel Factory to its foundations. Luckily Max Louis'
son and son-in-law Franz Göbel and Dr. Eugen Stocke - two able
businessmen, were ready to receive the baton. Göbel's survival
solely depended upon their innovation.
Just as his grandfather William Göbel, Franz Göbel was born with
the talent of spotting trends. The factory needed a new product and
he came upon artcards with sweet little children
in the most wonderful impression. The cards were based on drawings
from the young nun Maria Innocentia Hummel. Franz
visited the Sister with little test-models of figurines and started
negotiations with the Convent of Siessen. On January 9th
1935 an agreement was signed, granting Goebel monopoly of
production and sale. This date was later determined asthe official
birthday of the Hummel figurines, as they ended up
being called. During the Leipzig Spring Fair in March 1935, the
figurines were presented with immediate success.
By 1971 a new collectible was born, when Göbel launched the
M.I. Hummel annual plate, depicting the wonderful
little characters of the Hummel-drawings. The Göbel Collector's
Club was founded in the United States in 1977, the name changed to
The M.I. Hummel Clubin 1989. Yet another novelty was introduced in
1993, when Göbel introduced the
M.I.Hummel Christmas Bell. In 1999 Gobel
created the Nina & Marco figurines. By the
turn of the millennium Göbel's future is looking bright.
Sixth generation of Göbel's is in charge of the company.
W. Göbel Porcelainfactory
In 1871 Franz Detleff Göbel (FDG) and
his son William (WG) lived in the ancient town of Öslau,
situated in the german Thuringia-region - famous for its exquisite
porcelain. FDG was a wholesaler in porcelain, pursuing ambitions to
start his own production. By 1871 he founded the company
together with his son.
Slate pencils and childrens marbles was the starting point, as
FDG could not yet finance a proper porcelain-production.
Furthermore, the Duke of Coburg refused to permit a porcelain
factory in town, since he had a big fear of conflagration. Never
the less Franz D. Göbel was determined. Wisely he had found Öslau,
choosing it for its position by the Röden river, the surplus of
labour and for the riches in natural resources of clay. Within a
few years, FDG, now with the marble and slate pencil money to back
him, insisted that the Duke gave permission to build. The Duke
could hardly persist to refuse, and by 1876 the first building was
raised.
Göbel's first porcelain firing took place in
1876. From the start most of the production
included distinguished figurines and table
service. As FG grew older, his son William took over.
William, born with the talent of trend-spotting expanded the
production and sent his 16-year old son Max Louis to America. WG
was convinced of significance of exports to the USA, and Max Louis
was sent to spot the trends and report back to the factory, in
order to start producing series of American products.
Due to William Göbel, a figurine production was
started - this is now the main line of business. Max Louis
(ML) was an energetic and dymanic young man, who managed on his own
in America. He worked with the Marshall Field and other big
american companies. By 1911 ML was back in Ôslau. Upon his fathers
death, ML took over the family company with business-know-how and
energy enough to send the company into the 20.century. Following
the birth of the 20th century, Europe was urbanized and
the industrialisation rolled. ML was determined to produce to the
taste and income of a new working class. Some of the finest
sculptors of Europe was engaged by the Göbel studios, and Max Louis
established friendships with contemporary artists. Popular artwork
was used as the basis of producing decorative figurines.
During the first world war many german companies were forced to
close due to the enormous inflation. Göbel's however, survived, and
the crisis never prevented the company from creating and
innovating. By 1926 fine-grained earthenware was added to the
repertoire. The sudden death of Max Louis Göbel after 18 years of
leadership and the simultaneous crash of the American stock market
however rocked the Goebel Factory to its foundations. ML's death
marked the end of a highly innovative era. Luckily Max Louis' son
and son-in-law Franz Göbel and Dr. Eugen Stocke - two able
businessmen, were ready to receive the baton.
With the crash of the American stock market, the whole world
plunged into an economic crisis of proportions, and with the world,
Germany - already badly hit by the roaring inflation. Goebel's
tried his best to carry on business as usual, and their survival
solely depended upon their innovation. Ôslau is renamed Rödental.
Just like his grandfather William Göbel, Franz Göbel was born with
the talent of sensing the desires of his market. By the mid
thirties FG felt, that the factory needed a new product. By
coincidence he came upon artcards with sweet little
children in the most wonderful impression. He thought and
felt, that making these small characters as figurines, the
sweetness, joy and innocense of the little children might bring a
touch of comfort and encouragement to the needy German population,
strugling with the crisis of the thirties in pre-war-Germany. The
cards were based on the drawings of the young franciscan sister,
Maria Innocentia Hummel. Franz visited the Sister
and started negotiations with the Convent of Siessen. An agreement
was made and an exciting period followed developing the Hummel
figurines. In cooperation with the artists at Göbel, Sister Hummel
evolved a new colour-palette of glazes, suitable for the figurines.
On January 9th1935 an agreement was signed, granting
Göbel monopoly of production and sale of the Hummel-figurines. This
date was later determined as the Hummel-figurines' official
birthday. During the Leipzig Spring Fair in March 1935,
the figurines were presented for the first time, with immediate
success.
Following the beginning of Hitler's war in 1939 all production
of decoratives and artware was restricted, and Goebels were allowed
to produce the figurines for export only, in order to guarantee
Hitler foreign currencies. Simultaneously the factory was ordered
to produce dinner sets for the German army. A lot of German
factories were bombed during the war, but luckily nothing happened
to Göbels.
The production of figurines for the homemarket was of course
resumed immediately after the end of the war. The popularity never
dropped during the war. In the war-settlement for Germany Göbel
Porzellanfabrik ended up in the US zone. Now the American G.I.'s
fell in love with the sweet children's figurines, and a lot were
sold to American soldiers in Germany or exported to the United
States. A tragedy hit the factory when Maria Innocentia
Hummel passed away at only 37 in 1946. Luckily she left
behind a treasure-trove of drawings - the basis of new figurines.
The production never ceased. A new agreement was signed
with the Convent of Siessen. The convent now have the
right to refuse production of a figurine, if, in their opinion, the
figurine does not radiate the style and quality of Sister Hummel's
work.
The Göbel factory enjoyed considerable expansion and evolution
during the postwar years, but the traditional handcrafting and
handpainting was strictly maintained. By 1971 a totally new
collectible was born, when Göbel launched their M.I. Hummel
annual plate, depicting the wonderful little characters of
the Hummel-drawings. The plate won instant popularity by the people
already loving the little figurines.
The Göbel Collector's Club was founded in the United
States in 1977. By 1989 the name was changed to The M.I.
Hummel Club. By then the number of members were more than 300.000.
From the 1970ies the porcelain figurines become a more important
part of the production of W. Göbel Porzellanfabrik. Yet another
novelty was introduced in 1993, when Göbel introduced the
M.I.Hummel Christmas Bell. Due to the big demand,
Göbel created the Nina & Marco figurines - two little
friends - introduced in 1999.
By the turn of the millennium the future is looking bright, and
the artists still have plenty of ideas for new figurines. Sixth
generation of Göbel's is in charge of the company, represented by
Wilhelm and Christian Göbel as well as Ulrich and Detlev Stocke.
Goebel's is a company of great versatility. For example the company
was contacted by Daimler-Chrysler in 2003. The commission was to
create a statue of "The Woman and the Two Eagles" originally the
prize of "The Atlantic Crossing" in 1905. Now to be the prize of
the "NewYork - Cuxhaven/Hamburg Race" in July 2003. - The biggest
regatta ever to hit Hamburg.