Nutcrackers have been around for centuries, the earliest ones being simple stones used to crack the shells. There are metal nutcrackers dating back as early as the third or fourth century B.C., porcelain and ivory nutcrackers, and of course the beautiful wooden nutcrackers that are avidly collected today. Today's wooden nutcrackers are made by a variety of companies and in almost every figure imaginable, from the stately kings and soldiers to whimsical licensed pieces.
Collect by company, subject, size -- whatever, but as always, when investing in a fine collectible, buy the best you can and only what you love!
The Art and Character of Nutcrackers
Barb Crews
A sumptuous book devoted to the art of the Nutcracker, not a price guide, but instead a museum in a book of pictures of more varieties of nutcrackers than one might never know existed.
This is an excellent choice for the nutcracker collector, as a gift or to buy for their own library.
Steinbach Nutcrackers
Kurt S. Adler, Inc.
Is there any name better known than Steinbach when it comes to nutcrackers? The Steinbach company has been in business producing beautiful wooden items since 1832 and they are well known for their figural, wooden nutcrackers.
If one wishes to start a nutcracker collection, Steinbach would be an excellent company to specialize in. The company produces nutcrackers in different sizes, giving collectors more choices when budget and/or space restrictions are important considerations.
The Nutcracker Museum
© The Nutcracker Museum
It's not only holiday collectors that collect Nutcrackers -- all sorts of folks collect them. The Nutcracker Museum was started because of a dance teacher who loved the Nutcracker ballet. After finding a few antique nutcrackers it was all over and now 6000+ nutcrackers later -- there's an amazing museum in the state of Washington.
- Read more about the Nutcracker Museum
Nutcrackers USA
Barb Crews
Can you imagine being asked to create four original custom orders and later find out these will be used for United States postage stamps? That's just what happened to Glenn and Diana Crider of Nutcrackers USA. And in 2008 his creations were on the annual holiday stamp for the US Post Office. The four nutcrackers includes a Santa, King, Drummer Boy and Soldier. Visit Nutcrackers USA to find out more about their products, including several nutcracker stamp related items.
Füchtner Nutcrackers
Wilhelm Füchtner is known as the "father of the nutcracker" producing the first Erzgebirge nutcracker in 1870 (made of spruce). His figures were considered to be the "prototypes of the world-renowned Seiffen nutcrackers".The Füchtner company is now in its sixth generation of continuing the family tradition.
Hollywood Nutcrackers
Kurt S. Adler, Inc.
Holly Adler has designed a collection of whimsical nutcrackers for Kurt Adler -- Hollywood Nutcrackers™. These pieces are more affordable and budget-friendly than the other nutcrackers shown on this page. The traditional designs of these nutcrackers are transformed into the unusual with the sparkly glitter, colors, fur and tassels. and colors.
Nutty Over Nutcrackers
Courtesy of eBay
Years ago, when New Yorker Roy Judelson and his wife Mary were just married, they put up their Christmas tree and began searching for one more decorative accent to extend the holiday mood around their home. What they found was a beautiful Steinbach nutcracker. Bringing it home, they wrote the month and year on the bottom, placed it in the perfect location, and began a tradition of buying new Steinbach nutcrackers from different locations around the world every year. Over time, the collection seemed to grow exponentially.
Kids and Collecting
© Samantha M.
It often surprises folks that kids collect the same things that adults do, but not me. I know too many that love the things we do. Their only problem is budget (obviously also an adult concern), so Samantha's solution is getting her nutcrackers as gifts.
