DESCRIPTION: Antique German cast iron hand painted Nutcracker on a wood base painted in red color depicting a soldier figure reminiscent from "The Nutcracker" ballet.

Nutcrackers in the form of wood carvings of a soldier, knight, king, or other profession have existed since at least the 15th century. Figurative nutcrackers are a good luck symbol in Germany. Modern nutcrackers in this style serve mostly for decoration, mainly at Christmas time, a season of which they have long been a traditional symbol. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker, based on a story by E. T. A. Hoffmann, derives its name from this festive holiday decoration. The carving of nutcrackers developed as a cottage industry in forested rural areas of Germany. Decorative nutcrackers became popular in the United States after the Second World War, following the first US production of The Nutcracker ballet in 1940 and the exposure of US soldiers to the dolls during the war.

CIRCA: Early 20th Century.
ORIGIN: Germany.
DIMENSIONS: W: 7 1/2" H: 6" D: 2 1/2".
CONDITION: Good condition. See lot description for details on item condition. More detailed condition requests can be obtained via email (info@akibaantiques.com) or SMS 305-332-9274. Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Akiba Antiques shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.