We all know Friar Tuck, the roly-poly monk who kept Robin Hood and his Merry Men on the straight and narrow especially in keeping their drinking to a minimum.. Goebel issued a series of approximately 125 different items forever immortalizing the good Friar Tuck. Other than their Hummel series, this was perhaps goebel’s most popular and most successful line.
The line was introduced in the early 50’s and most of the items showed the good friar wearing sandals. These are called “with toes”. About five years later, some efficiency expert realized goebel could save time and money by painting the feet all black and they are called “with shoes”. The line was discontinued in the early 80’s when goebel realized they had been using leaded paint in the brown. Some of the line was introduced in the mid 80’s with black collars, that is, a black paint where food or drink might touch. The faces also had a very shiny finish. Like almost all the goebel items, the line was discontinued in 1988.
Picture #01 (top right) shows condiment sets featuring the toes and shoes variations. The sale is P153/1, the pepper P153/0, the mustard S 183 and an M 42D tray. Picture #02 (above left) shows the “black collar” mustard and note how much fatter he is than the older models. The “shiny” salt and pepper sometimes came in a white basket. As seen in picture #03 (right), the salt also was produced in the same size as the pepper in both toes and shoes. The salt always has 3 holes, the pepper has 2 holes. He appears in a salt and pepper holding a bible. This is P176 and please be aware that the salt comes in both a tan and a red bible. The pepper always has a red bible. The musician slat and pepper are 78 088 and 78 089.
Picture #04 (left) shows a sugar and creamer on an oval tray with toes and the shiny model. All pitchers come in shoes only. This set can be numbered as M43A, B, C. Or the sugar might be found as Z37 and creamer as S141/0 and tray as T69. Identical to the sugar, is the H9 honey pot. The only difference beside the number is a hole in the edge of the lid for a spoon. However, many h9’s have been found without the indentation, and the experts continue to argue as to whether they came this way or they have a sugar top instead of the original honey pot top.
Picture #05 (right) shows the smaller pitchers beginning with S135, the only Friar to be found with blue eyes. This is just over an inch tall. Next is S141/3/0 and S141/2/0 and again S141/0 which is 4″ tall and used for comparison purposes.
Picture #06 (left) begins again with S141/0 . followed by S141/1. This is the only Friar to be found with the crown mark. The older models of all the pitchers also have crossed eyes. Next comes S141/II in the black top and S141/III.
Picture #07 (right) is of S 204 which also comes with multiple holes in the top. Of course, the reason for the top was to let the water out while keeping the ice in.
Picture #08 (left) shows us three sizes of beer mugs, ¼ liter, ½ liter and one full liter. They are T 74/0, T 74/I and T 74/III
In picture # 09 (below), we have the flask KL 97, shiny and the older style surrounding a friar stein, T 74/I. This is exactly the same as the mug, but it has a pewter lid. In picture #10 (below), we see the difference in the skinny decanter, KL 95 and the fat decanter, KL 92. Goebel also produced the fat decanters with a cigarette holder inside the bottom, KL 90, with 3 shot glasses inside, KL 91, and with a music box, KL 93. Picture #11 (below) gives us the largest of all the friars, the cookie jar, K29, made with the black collar as well.
