About German Nutcrackers

Nutcrackers are highly sought-after collectibles, mainly in the United States. The trend of collecting the German figurines didn't begin until the mid-1950s. However, the history of the nutcracker dates back hundreds of years. Nutcrackers became popular in Germany around the 1800s and were commonly given as gifts, and to ward off evil spirits. Nutcrackers each display unique personalities with distinctive dress and hand-painted faces and attire.

History

Though nutcrackers date back hundreds of years, the Brothers Grimm Dictionary, published in 1832, referenced "nussenkracker" for the first time. Nutcrackers were popular in the Erzgebirge region of Germany. During the Renaissance, nutcrackers were highly embellished. Popularity grew in 1892 due to Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Nutcracker." American soldiers returning from World War II brought back nutcrackers as gifts and souvenirs. Soon, the German carvings were found in collections in many Americans' homes.

Types

The decorative wood figurines often depicted figures of authority. Kings, soldiers and other members of the upper class were commonly carved. As "The Nutcracker" ballet became more popular,\ and made its first appearance in the United Stated in the 1940s, figures from the ballet were commonly carved as nutcrackers as well. Nutcrackers are commonly adorned in fur, embellished with rich paint colors, and hand-carved in great detail. Prices can range from a few dollars to several hundreds of dollars.

Significance

German nutcrackers were used for more than cracking nuts. Germans gave nutcrackers to bring good luck to a family and home. Folklore held that evil spirits were scared off when the nutcracker displayed its teeth. The nutcracker also represented the circle of life. When the nut fell from a tree, it would bury in the soil and grow into a tree--supplying wood for craftsman of the nutcracker. German folklore often includes stories of nutcrackers.

Process

Modern nutcrackers are made using a lathe, a system that allows many parts of the nutcracker to be made in large quantities. Nutcrackers were hand-carved hundreds of years ago. Still, fine hand-carved details can be found on modern nutcrackers. Each piece is finely sanded and polished. Nutcrackers are painted by hand, allowing each section to dry before the next layer of paint is added.

Expert Insight

The Steinbach family is well known not only in Germany, but around the world for its long tradition of creating nutcrackers. The family has produced nutcrackers for nearly 200 years in the same German region. According to Christian Steinbach, president of Steinbach Collections, producing one nutcracker can involve up to 134 steps.