Bob Olszewski made a very small number (approximately 13) of Hummel and Royal Doulton inspired figurines, in extremely small quantities by hand, using the lost wax method prior to becoming an official "Master Artist" with Goebel in July, 1979. These first figurines were made during a period of time before another miniature artist advised Bob to get express permission to create Goebel figurines in miniature, at which point they were so astounded by his miniature creations that they decided to sign an exclusive contract with him, making him the only artist outside of Bavaria to produce official Hummel figurines. These early, unauthorized pieces are now known as the Pre-Goebel miniatures and are highly coveted though they are less detailed. I am happy to be bringing to you my prized collection of 11 such Pre-Goebel figurines. According to information available online, they may have been poured with gold. Although I cannot confirm whether they are bronze or gold, they do feel a bit lighter than his later pieces leading me to believe they may very well be gold. Each one represents a piece of history as one of Olszewski’s earliest and most highly sought after works, which rarely come up for auction, due to their scarcity.
Pre-Goebel Rarity: "Bringing Home the Tree" by Bob Olszewski
This figurine is called Bringing Home the Tree. It is just 3/4 inch tall, making it absolutely perfect in scale as a shelf sitter or curio piece in a 1:12 setting. It is the miniature version of a Hummel piece called Ride into Christmas, and was produced in 1978 when it was introduced with a total of 343 being created thereafter. This was one of the last five Hummel figurines Bob carved from photographs. Even though he did not have the actual figurine, he was able to visualize how the back would appear. Carving time was about 60 hours in September 1978. This piece is hand signed by Olszewski himself on the underside, and comes along with its original green velvet-lined box for safekeeping. It is in excellent condition and has never been displayed.
It depicts a heartwarming Christmas scene in which a young boy, bundled up in winter gear is pulling a small wooden sleigh laden with a freshly cut evergreen tree. The boy carries a lantern, its warm glow illuminating his path and casting a soft light on the scene. It is a timeless piece that evokes feelings of nostalgia, family traditions, and the magic of the holiday season.