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www.kidslovenutcrackers.com and
www.nutcrackerday.com
The Americans love the wooden toy
soldier nutcracker so often associated with Christmas, and
many have a collection of their own as large or larger than
the displays seen in department stores.
This type of nutcracker made an appearance around
1800 in Germany, and by 1872 Wilhelm Füchtner had started a
nutcracker production, making many of one design with his
lathe. He was
named ‘The Father of the Nutcrackers’ because his body
design has been continually used by most of the German
makers. The
Füchtner family, now in its 6th generation,
continues to make nutcrackers in the same workshop at
Seiffen in the Erzgebirge, and every collector of German
nutcrackers should have at least one of these “original”
nutcrackers.
The family of Christian Ulbricht, now including
members of its 4th generation, is the most prolific of
nutcracker makers today. With factories humming both in Bavaria and the
Erzgebirge, they strive to meet the great demand for their products.
The quality of their designs is superb, and their natural wood
finishes win hearty accolades from collectors.
From the smallest size to the large Premier size, there is no
better choice than an Ulbricht nutcracker.
Christian Steinbach started his factory soon after
WWII and reigned as ‘King of the Nutcrackers’ until his death in 2007.
Unlike the Ergzebirge makers who
basically made military type figures, he introduced many different
figures with rich cloth costumes such as Sir Galahad, Thief of Bagdad,
and The Twelve Days of Christmas. He also made signing trips to the US
which endeared him to his collectors. His
stylish and often flamboyant designs still demand a huge price on the
secondary market, and you can often find items with a Christian
Steinbach signature that will increase the value.
Although the Steinbach factory in the Erzgebirge still produces
nutcrackers , it is now under new ownership and no member of the family
is involved in its production.
Other larger Erzgebirge factories such as Richard
Glasser, KWO (Kunstgewerbe Werkstatten Olbernau), Legler, and Seiffener
Volkskunst produce quality nutcrackers, each with its own variance on
the traditional body style.
Smaller workshops such as Gunter Ulbricht, Mueller, Zeidler Holkunst and
Olaf Kolbe provide a variety of nutcrackers for the collector.
If you are interested in older turned Erzgebirge
nutcrackers, you may run across others in addition to the Füchtner
family who were producing nutcrackers from the beginning of the 20th
century. You can sometimes
find the names of Julius Glässer and Richard Langer in antique shops or
at estate sales. Remember
the early nutcrackers were not only used to crack nuts but were also
toys for children. so, it is difficult to find one that does not show
damage from ____use.
Between 1949 and 1990, the Soviet Union was in
control of the Erzgebirge, and exported products were marked with
‘Expertic’ or ‘GDR’ (German Democratic Republic).
‘Vero’ was the brand name used
for nutcrackers produced in the Seiffen factory originally owned by the
Ulbricht family when it was taken over by the Soviet Union.
Some collectors buy only those of a single maker
while others gather from many makers.
Some collect only soldiers, or kings, or sports figures, or
Santas, or nutcrackers that represent the activities of the family.
Some buy only small sizes to fit certain shelves, while others
like gigantic figures to
make a statement. Some only put their nutcrackers out at Christmas time
while others collect those that fit into the yearly holidays and
festivals.
When collecting nutcrackers, Remember, it is your
collection so you should collect those you truly like, those that bring
you keen pleasure and delight.
09/12/22
Dogs that are able to be carried at all times may come into the museum
and the store.
Service animals are always welcome.
735 Front Street
P.O. Box 2212
Leavenworth, WA 98826
(509) 548-4573
MUSEUM HOURS
11:00PM - 5:00PM Daily
We suggest visitors arrive at least 30 minutes before closing.
"To foster and encourage the interest of the general public of the importance of nuts in the diets of humans throughout history and in the evolution of the nutcracker. No other tool or collectible has shown such a wide diversity of material and design as the implements used to crack the hard shell of a nut".
Adults - $5.00 (Ages 17 - 64yrs)
Seniors - $3.50
(Age 65yrs +)
Youth - $2.00 (Ages 6 - 16yrs)
Child - FREE (Ages 0 - 5yrs)
Active
Military - FREE (Spouse & Children Free with ID)