logo  
inmamaskitchen.com©
home mothers recipes food is art seasons membership

 

A Nutcracker Suite

a pictorial history of the nutcracker

soldier
       
Editor's Note: When the delightful book, The Art & Character of Nutcrackers crossed our desk, we knew we had to write about nutcrackers as a Christmas special. We thank Collectors Press for allowing us to reproduce some of the wonderful images in their book. Scroll down to enjoy a brief pictorial history of the nutcracker and perhaps have a laugh or two. To purchase or to read the full book review click here
 
* * * * *
 
Early man opened nuts with a rock. But we humans are clever and we soon discovered that the nut needed to be held stable. The nutcracker was born, carved by hand with great care. On this yew nutcracker, we see ornate carvings, the pride of the carver, possibly a way of identifying the owner's property.
yew nutcracker

We humans are inclined to humor. Headed mouthward, tasty nutmeats were destined to be chewed by teeth. Quite logically, we might invent a nutcracker in the shape of a human whose teeth were strong enough to crack the hard shell.
king_nutcracker
monk_nutcracker
 Among those who might sacrifice their teeth, we see here (left to right) a king from 18th century England, a French monk of the 17th century, and a fine French gentleman of the court, also the 17th century.
courtier
   

 


  
A prevailing source of humor is the open-mouthed woman. None could escape nutcracker humor, and this bonnet-clad woman comes from Italy. What is unusual is not that her mouth opens quite wide, but that her eyes change color from brown to blue. Is this is a comment on the taste of nutmeats, or the emotional state of this woman?
anri woman

 

 
victorian nutcrackers
 During the industrial revolution, hand craftsmanship disappeared. But our Victorian ancestors valued elegance at the table above all things, and created nutcrackers to reflect both the innate elegance of the Victorian personality, as well as the pocketbook of the owner. These bone handled nutcrackers, accompanied by silver picks, might have been in a specially designed, fabric lined box.
 
  
In twentieth century America, women shed their bonnets and cut their hair. In the service of nutcracker-loving humanity, some shed all their clothes, providing designers with inspiration for curvaceous nutcrackers that would adorn the most elegant basket of fruits and nuts.
naked women nutcrackers
 

 

But no matter how much fun we have with monks, kings, and scarcely clothed women, our favorite nutcrackers are the soldiers that stand under the Christmas tree.

 

  
nutcracker_soldiers


Happy holidays to all

 

 

To purchase or to read the full book review click here

Guide to photographs in order of appearance:

  • Top close-up - Red King, 1978 German. Linden/Beech.
  • Early English Yew Nutcracker - 1669, England
  • King with Griffin Crest, Early 18th Century, England. Boxwood.
  • Monk with Metal-lined Mouth, 17th Century, France. Boxwood.
  • Gentleman of the Court, 17th Century France. Boxwood.
  • Anri Woman (Eyes Change Color) Early 20th Century Italy. Cembra Pine.
  • Nutcrackers with Ivory Handles, 19th Century England. Ivory/Silver Plate.
  • Female Figures, England Silver Plate, 20th Century United States, Aluminum
  • Erzgebirge Soldiers Late 20th/Early 21st Century Germany. Beech/Alder

 
Google

 

back to food is art    contributors   contact us  top of page   membership agreement   home   about us

©In Mamas Kitchen. Inc.