This item is typically worth $10 – $10,000, depending on reference, condition, originality, and provenance.
Market values current as of September 2026Porcelain figurines are among the most common things people find when clearing out a parent's or grandparent's home. Shelves of Hummel children, Lladró ballerinas, Royal Doulton ladies and Precious Moments angels were bought by the millions from the 1950s through the 1990s, often as gifts or through collector clubs. Because so many were made, most sell today for far less than their original retail price.
A small share are worth real money: early-mark Hummels, retired or limited Lladró groups, Royal Doulton prototypes and color variations, and above all 18th-century Meissen. The maker, the mark on the base, the size, and the condition decide which group your piece falls into. This guide covers typical prices, a handful of documented sales, and how to check your own pieces.
Most common porcelain figurines sell for $10–$150. Early-mark Hummels, retired Lladró groups and rare Royal Doulton pieces can bring $500–$6,000, and 18th-century Meissen figures have sold for over $100,000.
Most valuable porcelain figurines
| Item | Typical value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Meissen figures, c. 1735–1750 (J.J. Kändler models) | $10,000–$180,000+ | Crinoline lady, c. 1737, sold for €127,400 at Bonhams Paris, 2024 (verified) |
| Meissen 19th–20th century figures (crossed swords mark) | $200–$3,500 | "The Chocolate Girl" sold for $3,250 at Cottone Auctions, 2025 (verified) |
| Royal Doulton Bunnykins prototypes | $1,000–$45,000 | "Celebration Time" prototype sold for £35,500 at Potteries Auctions, 2022 (verified) |
| Royal Doulton HN figures, early or rare colorways | $300–$5,000 | Common 1970s–1990s ladies usually $20–$100 |
| Lladró large limited-edition groups | $1,500–$30,000 | "The Queen of the Nile" sold for €25,000 at Subarna Subastas, 2019 (verified) |
| Lladró standard figurines (glazed, retired) | $50–$400 | Don Quixote groups often $900–$2,300 at auction (verified: $2,300, Kaminski, 2015) |
| Hummel TMK-1 (crown) and TMK-2 (full bee) | $150–$6,000 | "Signs of Spring" #203 TMK-2 sold for $5,500 at Blackwell Auctions, 2021 (verified) |
| Hummel TMK-5 to TMK-8 common models | $10–$75 | Pair of Apple Tree Boy and Girl sold for $80, Smith Auction, 2021 (verified) |
| Royal Copenhagen and Herend animals and figures | $40–$1,500 | Large, early or limited Herend Reserve pieces sit at the top |
| Nao and Precious Moments | $10–$250 | Early 1978 Precious Moments and some Disney pieces reach $100–$2,000 |
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What they actually sell for
The honest picture: most figurines from the 1970s onward were made in large numbers and are plentiful on eBay and at estate sales. Later-mark Hummels, Nao pieces, Precious Moments and common Royal Doulton ladies usually sell for $10–$75 each, and whole shelves are often sold as one lot. Price guides from the 1990s that list $200–$500 for these pieces reflect a market that has since shrunk.
Value concentrates in early marks, big limited editions, prototypes and 18th-century German porcelain. Documented sales include:
- €171,850 — Meissen group of lovers with a birdcage, c. 1745, Bonhams Paris (Merkle Collection), April 2024
- €127,400 — Meissen crinoline figure of a lady, c. 1737, modeled by Kändler, Bonhams Paris, April 2024
- £35,500 — Royal Doulton Bunnykins "Celebration Time" prototype tableau, Potteries Auctions, July 2022
- €25,000 — Lladró "The Queen of the Nile," Subarna Subastas, January 2019
- $5,500 — Hummel "Signs of Spring" #203 with the TMK-2 full bee mark, Blackwell Auctions, January 2021
How to tell if yours is valuable
- Hummel: Read the trademark on the base. TMK-1 (incised crown, 1935–1949) and TMK-2 (full bee, to about 1959) are worth the most; the "stylized bee" and later marks, and anything with the "last bee" or plain "Goebel" script, are usually common.
- Meissen: Look for underglaze blue crossed swords. Crude or overglaze swords, or very bright colors on a modern-looking figure, suggest a copy or a much later piece.
- Royal Doulton: Check the HN number and the backstamp. Low HN numbers, color variations and pieces marked as prototypes or trials are the ones to research.
- Lladró vs. Nao: Lladró has a blue stamp with the bell-flower logo; Nao is Lladró's lower-priced sister brand and sells for much less. Limited editions carry a numbered base.
- Royal Copenhagen: Three blue wavy lines plus a crown, with model and painter numbers.
- Condition: Check fingers, flowers, lace and bases for chips and glued repairs. Damage can cut value by half or more.
Where and how to sell porcelain figurines
For common pieces, eBay or a local consignment shop is usually best. Search sold listings for the exact model number and mark, and price to match what actually sold, not what people are asking. Selling a group as one lot saves time and shipping costs.
For early Hummels, Lladró limited editions, Doulton rarities and any Meissen, a specialist ceramics auction will reach serious collectors. You can find ceramics dealers and auctioneers in the ceramics and porcelain directory, compare commissions in the auction house fees guide, and read the selling guide before you commit. Unsure what you have? Get a free estimate from a photo of the figure and its base mark first.
Packing matters: wrap fingers and flowers separately, double-box, and insure anything worth over $100.
Trusted resources
- Hummel Manufaktur (current maker of M.I. Hummel figurines)
- M.I. Hummel collector reference: rare Hummels
- Hummel figurines history (Wikipedia)
- Meissen porcelain manufactory
- Royal Doulton
- Lladró
- Royal Copenhagen
- Herend Porcelain Manufactory
What Drives the Value
- Maker — 18th-century Meissen sits far above everything else, followed by early Royal Doulton, Lladró and Hummel; Nao and Precious Moments are usually low.
- Mark and era — Early Hummel TMK-1 and TMK-2 pieces and early Doulton backstamps bring the most; later marks are plentiful.
- Rarity — Prototypes, color trials, short production runs and low-number limited editions command strong premiums.
- Size — Large Hummels and big Lladró groups sell for more than small figures of the same model.
- Condition — Chips, cracks, glued fingers and flowers, or restoration can cut value by half or more.
- Box and paperwork — Original boxes and certificates add value, especially for Lladró, Precious Moments and limited editions.
- Market demand — Many 1980s–1990s collectibles are worth less today than their retail price because collectors are fewer and supply is large.
- Provenance — A documented collection history, as with top Meissen sales, can multiply the price.
Identification Checklist
- Turn the figure over first: the maker's mark, model number and any edition number are almost always on the base.
- Hummel trademarks run from TMK-1 (incised crown, 1935–1949) through TMK-2 full bee, stylized bee and later marks; the earlier the mark, the higher the value.
- Genuine Meissen uses underglaze blue crossed swords; lines cut through the swords indicate a factory second.
- Royal Doulton figures carry an HN number and printed lion-and-crown backstamp; low HN numbers point to earlier production.
- Lladró bases have a blue stamp with the bell-flower logo and often a model number; Nao pieces are marked Nao and are lighter in detail.
- Royal Copenhagen is marked with three blue wavy lines and a crown, plus model and painter numbers.
- Herend pieces are marked with a blue printed shield and Herend Hungary and usually a model number.
- Original boxes, certificates and club paperwork help identify the exact model and add value when selling.
How to Spot a Fake
- Meissen's crossed swords are among the most copied marks; overglaze or crudely painted swords and heavy, bright figures usually indicate later copies or other factories.
- Many Dresden-style or "Capodimonte" figures are sold as Meissen; check that the mark is underglaze blue and the modeling crisp.
- Hummel copies from Asia exist; genuine pieces carry an incised model number, the Goebel or Hummel trademark, and the M.I. Hummel signature on the base.
- Do not confuse Nao or other Spanish porcelain with Lladró; check for the Lladró logo and model number.
- Ground-off marks, painted-over bases or scratched-out lines may hide seconds or repairs; ask the seller about them.
- Shine a light through thin areas and look for color or texture changes that suggest restoration.
- For any piece that could be worth over $1,000, get a written opinion from a ceramics specialist or auction house.