All About Steinbach Nutcrackers

Steinbach Style

Decorative nutcrackers first appeared in 16th century Europe. The Steinbach variety of wooden carved nutcrackers started to evolve in the 19th century, when out-of-work miners would spend their off-season producing little carved-wood figures. Since this inception, Steinbach nutcrackers have been synonymous with supreme quality and craftsmanship.

Go ahead and compare a Steinbach nutcracker to a bargain-basement imitator. The Steinbach nutcracker is carefully carved, with painstaking attention to hand-painted detail. Small touches, like costumes, props, and individual signatures set Steinbach nutcrackers apart from the rest. Many Steinbach varieties are made in limited batches, making them even more appealing to collectors.

The original incarnation of Steinbach nutcrackers included policemen, kings, and other state authorities. Early nutcracker enthusiasts enjoyed the irony of having authority figures complete a task as menial as cracking nuts. Once the novelty wore off, the nutcracker - a useful and decorative piece - made its way into the seasonal decor line-up. Now, it's simply not Christmas until your Steinbach nutcracker is carefully placed on the fireplace mantle.

Although the traditional authority nutcracker is still popular among collectors and enthusiasts, Steinbach nutcrackers have branched out to include a multitude of varieties. There is a Steinbach nutcracker to match every style, hobby, and personality. In addition to servicemen and authorities, Steinbach nutcrackers depict Shakespearean characters, figures from classic literature, and fairy tale legends.