Nutcrackers are a fascinating carving project with literally endless variations in styles and colors. This project began with research into the history of these figure based nutcrackers. I was inspired to do this since my young Grandchildren had an interest int these figures after seeing them at a Christkindlmarkt.
After researching the styles and histories I began making sketches, settling in on a Prussian officers tunic as the style, I decided to make the Mustache the key feature while the rest is fairly angular. The images below show the overall process to make these carvings. I made three as gifts this year.
On these carvings I used a staining technique to get a vintage feel. After staining the colors i use a clear matte poly spray finish to fully seal the wood. I coat it with gel stain. I like General’s colonial maple. Use a toothbrush to get in all the crevices. Then with a clean rag scrub the gel stain off. There is an art to getting just the right amount off. In the images below the Nutcracker on the left with bright white pants has not been stained while the one on the right has, The first image shows the Nutcracker with the gel stain prior to it being wiped off.
These date back to 17th Century Germany when out of work miners used their carpentry skills to make the first versions of what we now know as nutcrackers
They were typically based on authority figures such as Prussian Soldiers and Kings. Common people were using these nutcrackers as a symbolic protest. They were having representations of authority work for them cracking nuts. In addition to the silent protest Nutcrackers were considered to be good luck totems. German homes typcially only had one nutcracker.
In 1892 Tchaikovsky’s suite tied these figures to Christmas and the Nutcrackers style that is still made today. .
Various factories specialized in mass producing Nutcrackers using lathes. After WW2 many American soldiers brought Nutcrackers back home to America.
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