Seated Boy with Lamb (Hummel Style)
Figurine (decorative folk art) • Unidentified manufacturer; style heavily influenced by Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel / Goebel pattern designs.
Style & Movement
Mid-Century Kitsch / Folk Art / Hummel-esque
Medium & Technique
Cast chalkware (plaster) or ceramic; hand-painted with polychrome pigment and matte finish.
Creation Period
Mid-to-late 20th Century (approximately 1950s–1970s)
Dimensions & Format
Estimated 8-10 inches in height; vertical figural format.
Subject Description
A stylized boy wearing a red hat, yellow shirt, and green pants, seated cross-legged and holding a small white lamb. The facial features are exaggerated with wide eyes and an open mouth in a singing or whistling expression.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair
Estimated Market Value
$5.00 – $20.00 USD
Auction Estimate
$10.00 – $30.00 USD (as part of a bulk collectibles lot)
Provenance History
Likely mass-produced as a carnival prize, garden ornament, or souvenir piece (often referred to as 'Chalkware'). Ownership history likely domestic/private collection.
Art Historical Significance
Low; representative of post-war suburban decorative taste and the commercialization of German sentimental folk motifs in international markets.
Notable Features
The piece mimics the 'Whistling Boy' motif popular in German ceramics but executed in a more primitive, larger-scale mass-market material.
Condition Issues
Visible paint loss and chipping on the chin, hands, and lamb. Significant scuffing and pigment transfer on the hat. Surface grime and potential underlying plaster crumbling.
Conservation Recommendations
Keep in a dry environment to prevent chalkware degradation; clean with a soft, dry brush only. Avoid abrasive liquids which will strip the thin paint layer.