Nutcracker

A nutcracker with a functional design

A nutcracker is a mechanical device for cracking nuts. The earliest use of the term nutcracker in English dates from 1481.

The original old nutcrackers from the Nussknackermuseum in Germany, Neuhausen

Functional

Manufacturers produce modern nutcrackers—designed to crack nuts—usually somewhat resembling pliers, but with the pivot point at the end beyond the nut, rather than in the middle. The spring-jointed nutcracker was patented by Henry Quackenbush in 1913.^[1] These are also used for cracking the shells of crab and lobster to make the meat inside available for eating.

Nuts have long been a popular choice for desserts, particularly throughout Europe. The nutcrackers were placed on dining tables to serve as a fun and entertaining center of conversation while diners awaited their final course. At one time, nutcrackers were actually made of metals such as brass, and it wasn't until the 1800s in Germany that the popularity of wooden ones began to spread.

Parrots use their beaks as natural nutcrackers, in much the same way smaller birds crack seeds. In this case, the pivot point stands opposite the nut, at the jaw.

Some artists, among them the multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield, have used the sound nutcrackers make in music.

However, Nutcrackers were also used as a token of good luck and goodwill to protect people from evil spirits and danger. They were thought to bare their teeth at any evil spirits to scare them away, just like a guard dog might do.

Decorative

A collection of fairy tale nutcrackers

A variety of figure nutcrackers

Nutcrackers in the form of wooden carvings of a soldier, knight, king, or other profession have existed since at least the 15th century. These nutcrackers portray a person with a large mouth which the operator opens by lifting a lever in the back of the figurine. Originally one could insert a nut in the big-toothed mouth, press down and thereby crack the nut. Modern nutcrackers in this style serve mostly for decoration, mainly at Christmas time, a season of which they have long been a traditional symbol.^[2] The ballet The Nutcracker derives its name from this festive holiday decoration. The original nutcrackers were first seen in Germany and were thought to have guardian-like properties because of their strong appearance.

The carving of nutcrackers—as well as of religious figures and of cribs—developed as a cottage industry in forested rural areas of Germany. The most famous nutcracker carvings come from Sonneberg in Thuringia (also a center of dollmaking) and from the Ore Mountains. Wood-carving usually provided the only income for the people living there. Today the travel industry supplements their income by bringing visitors to the remote areas.

Steinbach nutcrackers have become popular in the United States as well, and the recreated "Bavarian village" of Leavenworth, Washington, even features a nutcracker museum. Many other materials also serve to make decorated nutcrackers, such as porcelain, silver, and brass; the museum displays samples.

Carvings by famous names like Junghanel, Klaus Mertens, Karl, Olaf Kolbe, Petersen, Christian Ulbricht and especially the Steinbach nutcrackers have become collectors' items.

Decorative brass populuxe nutcracker by the industrial designer Maurice Ascalon

The United States Postal Service (USPS) in October 2008 issued four stamps with nutcrackers for the first time. These featured custom-made nutcrackers made by Richmond, Virginia artist Glenn Crider.

See also

• Wooden toymaking in the Ore Mountains

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nutcrackers.

• Smithsonian Museum Nutcrackers
• Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum
• History of Christian Ulbricht Nutcrackers
• Nutcracker videos on the Internet Bird Collection
• Nutcracker Ballet Gifts
• Steinbach Nutcrackers
• Kurt Adler Nutcrackers