UP FOR SALE:  Vintage Goebel Friar Tuck The Musician Monk Figurine Green Book KFO 1964-72 HTF

Supposedly The Musician Monks, (there is a set of three out there somewhere--and this does not include the Salt and Pepper set), are the only actual "FRIAR Figurines". They are the only items made that actually have no functionality other than to look cute.

Courtesy of World Collectors Net:

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 1950’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 bad 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.  

There were a few known pieces that were available to club members that came in colors as well.
Certain private individuals have commissioned Goebel to reproduce older motifs in blue and green and red for their own personal profit. These include ornaments in four colors, a red cookie jar with black collar and fat decanters in red, green and blue with black collars and blue and green banks. I look at these in the same light as “reproductions” and I don’t give them the importance as the original pieces as released by goebel. The special “club” pieces are different in that the “profit” goes to furthering the hobby

Here is a timeline to the backstamp for Goebel and Hummel:
1. TMK-1 (1935-1949)
Goebel and Hummel's "Crown Marks" display a logo with the initials WG inscribed underneath a stylized crown in honor of William Goebel, Goebel Company's founder. It's during this period that you also see the M.I. Hummel signature appear at the figurines' bases. This feature would continue into the 21st century.

2. TMK-2 (1950-1959)
The 1950s were characterized by Hummel's launch of their bee design marks. These stamps depict various differently styled bees sitting inside a V. The company actually changed the bee's shape and size every year from 1956-1959.

3. TMK-3 (1960-1972)
These "Stylized Bee Marks" that evolved through the 1960s and early 1970s are considered close variations of the original bee marks. Oftentimes, these marks include a written inscription - W. Germany - which denotes which region of the divided country the company operated in.

4. TMK-4 (1964-1972)
Alongside the 'Stylized Bee' variants are the TMK-4 markings. The only differentiating aspect between these markings and their concurrent TMK-3 series is the three-lined inscription written beside the mark stating © by / W. Goebel / W. Germany.

5. TMK-5 (1972-1979)
This 1970s series is referred to by collectors as the "Last Bee Mark" because it was the final series (for many decades) to include the company' infamous bee. The company began to showcase its name during this period and highlighted the Goebel brand by placing an illustrated bee above the last E in the company's title.

6. TMK-6 (1979-1990)
The most simplistic of all of the markings is the TMK-6 series. Here, both the bee and the 'v' were removed, leaving behind only the Goebel's name to take ownership for the figurine.

7. TMK-7 (1990-1999)
Following Germany's unification in the wake of the Berlin Wall's destruction came the company' seventh iteration of their famous markings. This series paid homage to this historic unification and added the original crown underneath the company's logo.


PLEASE REFER TO ALL PHOTOS FOR A BETTER VISUAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ITEM


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