This lovely cookie tin is currently at our downtown boutique. It is antique, made in the 1920s when the American vocabulary still included the British usage ‘biscuit’ to mean ‘cookie’. An extravagant 2 & 1/2 lb. capacity, these sumptuously lithographed tins were likely bought as gifts. It features the Adventures of Robin Hood, handily captioned: Friar Tuck carries Robin Hood across the ford at Fountain Dale, Robin Hood and his men shoot for the Prince’s prize at Nottingham, Robin Hood and his men shoot the King’s deer. The sides are colored-in line illustrations, but the top is more romanticized, reproduced from a painting of Robin Hood with his forbidden love Maid Marian. The combination imitates how books of the time were illustrated – a full color reproduction of a painting on the cover and line illustrations inside.
The cookies were produced by the Loose-Wiles Biscuit Company, which officially changed its name to Sunshine Biscuits in 1946. At its height Sunshine Biscuits was the third-largest cookie baker in the U.S., producing the Hydrox (precursor to the Oreo), Cheez-It crackers, and Lemon Coolers. Sunshine Biscuits was bought by the Keebler Company in 1996, and both were subsequently purchased by Kellogg, so only some of Sunshine’s original snacks are still with us.
And may we suggest serving those Cheez-its on thematically-related fine china? From 1914 – 1967 English ceramics manufacturer Royal Daulton produced a line which included various sizes and shapes of Robin Hood plates: square, round & scalloped, various bowls including a lugged (handled) cereal bowl, coupe and rimmed soup bowls, as well as serving pieces: pitchers, tea caddies, tea and coffee pots, creamers & sugars, trivets, compotes, oval vegetable bowls and the rectangular tray we have here. There were also decorative wall plates, plant pots, candlesticks, match box holders and vases. It was popular! The black lines are printed transfers while the colors are hand-painted so no two pieces are alike. Like the tin, scenes are captioned: Robin Hood Slays Guy Of Gisborne, Robin Hood the friend of the poor, Robin Hood the King of archers, Robin Hood Little John and the jovial Friar Tuck, Alan-A-Dale, Maid Marian, Life in the Forest of Sherwood, and Under the Greenwood Tree, which is also the name of the pattern.
Counter-intuitively as a leader of outlaws, Robin Hood is NOT the toughest guy around; most stories of him recruiting his Merry Men begin with him getting an a**-kicking. But he’s able to laugh at himself while admiring his opponent’s prowess and his disarming personality combined with his unbeatable skill at the longbow invariably turns an enemy into a friend. His charm is so enduring that at the turn of the last century when these products were made, multiple authors wrote Robin Hood books, later followed by comic books, T.V. series, and so, so many movies.
But unlike fellow Brit King Arthur, whose legend springs from ancient history, Robin Hood is not an historic individual. Both the name ‘Robin’ and surname ‘Hood’ were so widely used in the Middle Ages that their combination is like “John Smith” and for a time ANY wanted felon might be referred to as a ‘Robin Hood’. It entertained folks to imagine all that chaos as the work of a single guy so multiple stories and rumors were eventually combined into an imaginary nobleman brought down by a single bad decision, only to redeem himself as champion of the most vulnerable. Unsurprisingly, these stories came from impoverished people suffering greatly under the capricious rule of a wealthy few. Robin Hood was (and probably still is) the hero people need because above all else, he is unfailingly kind-hearted and honorable. Refreshing!
Highly recommended: “The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood” by Howard Pyle, an American who never set foot in England but who clearly adored the original material: https://www.alibris.com/The-Merry-Adventures-of-Robin-Hood-Illustrated-Classic-Howard-Pyle/book/42303235?matches=3
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/b7SuXeJd2W4
Tuesday Treasures was started by our staff member, Jeanne Lusignan. Each week she will be featuring items that have been found at our estate sales. If you would like to submit a treasure for Jeanne to feature in a future installment of “Tuesday’s Treasures”, please follow the button below and send us an email! Please attach a few photos of your treasure in a beautiful setting as well as any details you have about your item such as manufacturer, use, age, region of origin. If you don’t know about the piece, that’s okay! We still might be able to research it for you! Don’t forget to tell us what makes this item such a treasure to you!