The toymakers of seiffen, in postcommunist east germany, are struggling to make ends meet. According to tradition, nutcrackers represent strength and power, and they are symbols of good luck and goodwill. Long before the first christian ulbricht nutcrackers were designed. The steinbach family made their fortune mining, but their legacy is in nutcrackers. When germany splintered into east and west, the erzgebirge region was behind the wall. The decorative nutcracker has been a popular german novelty piece for over 200 years now. Rich deposits of gold, silver and tin brought prosperity to the region during the 15 th17 th century. The ulbricht family lived in the german erzgebirge until the end of world war ii. Made in that traditional style, our mini wood toy soldier nutcracker ornaments date to the 1980s and are in unused, mint condition.
Moscow ballet branded and handmade nutcrackers, christmas tree ornaments featuring moscow. This dimensional design is the main mustache used by ulbricht today. Made in germany by kwo kunstgewerbewerkstatten olbernhau gmbh 1112 inches 29,0 cm. Long before the first christian ulbricht nutcrackers were designed the ulbricht family lived in the german erzgebirge until the end of world war ii. Nestled in a forestringed hill about 40 kilometres 25 miles south of dresden, seiffen. Holzknackl nutcracker vtg wooden original from the rothenburger weihnachtswer. German nutcrackers from the erzgebirge region of germany are sought by collectors all over the world. Money back guarantee ensures you receive the item you ordered or get your money back. Vintage german nutcracker nut cracker made in germany. In legend, the nutcracker possessed miraculous powers, bringing good fortune and protection from evil spirits. The ulbricht family roots can be traced back to the 17 th century. Build your familys traditions with that perfect one today. They are handpainted using bright colors and they come in different sizes. There is paint loss to the top of the shoulders, shoe buckles, and red vestshirt.
Many limited edition nutcrackers are available please see the product description for details. Coupled with the new pressures of capitalism are the cheaper. Kurt adler hollywood night stars nutcracker, 19inch kurt adler. Frieburg, munich, up the romantic road to rothenberg, heidleburg. The more elaborate their decorations, the stronger their powers. The nutcracker that shows its teeth is generally presented with a crown or in uniform. Figurative nutcrackers are a good luck symbol in germany, and a folktale recounts that a puppetmaker won a nutcracking challenge by creating a doll with a mouth for a lever to crack the nuts. The hangtag reads steinbach pralent volkskunst aus hohenhameln holzgalanterie made in germany. Original erzgebirge nutcracker made in gdr german democratic. This shills hussar is just one of several traditional nutcracker designs by the respected firm of kunstgewerbewerkstatten olbernhau gmbh, better known simply as kwo. Shchelkunchik listen help info is an 1892 twoact ballet fairy ballet. Karolin steinbach at christmas treasures september 2010.
I think she felt there was a kind of mystique about east germany. Original and handmade products, direct shipment from germany. Made in france of handforged iron, they measure 6 inches long. Mom was careful to teach me about the division between the two germanys. Vintage soldier christmas nutcracker made in east germany w flaws. Vintage soldier nutcracker made in east germany ebay. The standing wooden soldier nutcracker, the iconic nutcracker that we know today, was first made in the sonneberg and ezerberge regions of eastern germany in the early 19 th century.
Christmas nutcrackers made in germany wooden nutcracker. The erzgebirge region is the largest toy making area in germany. Nutcracker vintage wooden soldier made in german democratic republic. They based german nutcrackers on traditional folklore or famous leaders and had limited editions like the valuable king ludwig ii series. Kwo nutcrackers kunstgewerbewerkstatten olbernhau germany. Moscow ballets gift store features branded items inspired by the great russian nutcracker and more classic story ballets. Vintage handmade thorough carved wooden unusual sea horse nutcracker hard wood. This santa nutcracker is covered in genuine swarovski crystals and is part of a new generation of nutcrackers made in germany by the respected erzgebirge firm, kwo.
Specialty items include a limited edition 18 inch kissy doll with numbered certificate and a christmas ribboncandy tutu. Steinbach nutcrackers worlds best nutcrackers, hand. The line was expanded with glass ornaments from czechoslovakia, hanging ceiling decorations from germany, and miniature lights from italy. Side trips to strasbourg, france and salzburg and vienna, austria. And street lanterns glow day and night with colourful christmas motifs. Dec 16, 2010 some of my mothers collection was made by the venerable old nutcracker houses steinbach being the most storied and purchased at a german specialty store in cleveland. Owners of christmas treasures patrick and nancy with karolin steinbach and karla steinbach on location in hohenhameln, germany where steinbach nutcrackers are handcrafted and made in germany. Every family should have at least one handcrafted traditional german nutcracker. The erzgebirge is a low mountain range in the east of germany. Beautiful handmade angels from east and west germany found an enthusiastic audience in america.
The line was expanded with glass ornaments from czechoslovakia, hanging ceiling decorations from germany. Gifthunting gis helped keep the nutcrackermakers in business. Wagner says it is believed that the crusaders dropped the nutcracker as they traveled east to the holy lands. According to the late great herr steinbach of steinbach gmbh, a nutcracker is a symbolic figure, one that gives happiness and protects your family. If you are looking for a classic german version, many are still produced in germany and they traditionally wood, depicting soldiers and kings. See more ideas about vintage, german nutcrackers and red and white flag. It depicts a soldier with his sword standing at attention. These rounded and shaped mustaches fit a variety of full sized and smaller ulbricht nutcrackers and smokers. Germany tour 2011 owners of christmas treasures patrick and nancy with karolin steinbach and karla steinbach on location in hohenhameln, germany where steinbach nutcrackers are handcrafted and made in germany. This impressive example features a royal figure with crown and sword, holding a golden imperial orb, or globus cruciger, in his right hand. German nutcrackers every nutcracker we carry is a real german nutcracker from erzgebirge by chrrisian ulbricht or steinbach. Nutcracker veb made in german democratic republic soldier dimensions 11 tall x 3 12 wide x 3 12 deep we purchased this nutcracker from the estate sale. Also in the museum are two metal lever nutcrackers circa 12th century. Buy direct and safe steinbach nutcrackers from the original manufacturer in germany.
Collecting nutcrackers explore the nutcracker tradition. The most common german nutcrackers material is metal. Eeerzgebirge 8 handmade wood nutcracker this quality handmade 8 h wood nutcracker was made in the early 1990s in the erzgebirge region in the province of saxony in what was then east germany or the german democratic republic. The leavenworth nutcracker museum shows an 1880 miner of wilhelm fuchtner along with a miner presently made in the fuchtner family workshops. These traditional german nutcrackers were made in seiffen germany, in the erzgebirge mountains where the wooden nutcracker was first made back in 1872. In the german erzgebirge ore mountains the most famous nutcracker was born the original german erzgebirge nutcracker.
The erzgebirge ore mountains is a low mountain range in the east of germany. The name steinbach is recognized all over the world for the unique design of their wood carved steinbach nutcracker. See more ideas about mexican, nutcracker characters and nutcracker christmas. Originally, christmas nutcrackers were made in erzgebirge which is a mountainous region in germany and were designed to symbolize the upper class, military personnel, and other high authority figures in germany. Ornativity nutcrackers hanging ornament figures christmas mini wooden king and soldier nutcracker ornativity. Altogether the mountains extend a length of 90 miles and a width of 25 miles. This item dregano nutcracker red king made in germany giant lifesize 70 iron nutcracker christmas holiday toy soldiers multi color with staff nutcracker wood christmas original erzgebirge seiffen hussar blue 117022 new. For more photos of the germany tour 2011 check out our facebook page. This region was rich in gold, silver, tin, cobalt, and uranium, as well as timber which was needed to support the ceilings of the mines. Christian ulbricht nutcrackers the christmas sleigh.
German nutcrackers authentic nutcrackers from germany. For more photos of the germany tour 2011 check out our. Nm the history of nutcrackers leavenworth nutcracker museum. German made nutcrackers are figurines or wooden dolls traditionally made to resemble toy soldiers, royalties, miners, and tradesmen.
Tchaikovskys popular 1882 ballet the nutcracker made these toys a worldwide symbol of the childhood magic of christmas, but woodcarved nutcracker figurines date back to at least the fifteenth century as a large cottage industry in forested rural areas of germany. Also, a proper german nutcracker should still be able to crack nuts. This is the exact nutcracker i have that emily saw on martha stewart. German nutcrackers really crack nuts 100% handmade. Oktoberfesthaus firmly believes this to be true and we think every family should have at least one nutcracker to bring your household joy. We only sell original erzgebirge crafts from the german erzgebirge orderhotline. For over 200 years we have maintained longstanding tradition, passion for detail, creativity and finest materials in our worldfamous nutcrackers. Germanmade nutcrackers are figurines or wooden dolls traditionally made to resemble toy soldiers, royalties, miners, and tradesmen. Hallmark keepsake 2019 year dated a a christmas story ralphie gets a gift pink bunny. Many of todays nutcrackers are cheaply made and mass produced. In 1872, wilhelm fuchtner made the first commercial production of the wooden nutcrackers.
The family settled around the erzgebirge, a mountainous mining area which at one time was. This stained king is certainly a classic model among nutcrackers designs and has the rich wood tones that show through. I do love my small collection of german nutcrackers. New listing antique hand carved bavarian nut cracker wood wooden. The aroma of hot mulled wine wafts through the air. Today many wooden toy soldier nutcrackers are manufactured in germany to meet the demands of the many collectors in the united states. It lies in the south of the german state saxonia and nowadays is certainly one of the most beautiful and most traditional regions in germany. The area lies just north of the czech republic border. Dressed in red and gold this miniature austrian guard german nutcracker stands about 5 12 inches tall and was made in the place where the original wooden nutcrackers were first made over 100 years ago in seiffen germany. To be able to use steinbach german nutrackers official in full range, we recommend activating javascript in your browser.
As the metal supply dwindled, many families were forced to turn to the trade of woodworking. Nutcrackers in the form of wood carvings of a soldier, knight, king, or other profession have existed since at least the 15th century. The german erzgebirge ore mountains is a mountain range in eastern germany. Today many wooden toy soldier nutcrackers are manufactured in germany to meet the demands of. Note the beautiful detail and the expert hand work of these gorgeous nutcrackers. They sold the festive dolls at christmas markets around germany, but as it was unusual for a household to have more than one nutcracker, they eventually began to expand their sales strategy to include outside of germany in the early 19 th century. Unfollow nutcrackers made in germany to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. We have only the highest quality german nutcrackers for sale. Instead, they followed religious themes, nature, or the common german mans activities. Sep 23, 2014 vintage german nutcracker east germany. Jul 21, 2015 this picturesque hamlet on the czech border in east germany s boasts a 300year tradition of handmade toys.
This has knocked out wellrespected manufacturers like the steinbach family company that had been making handcrafted nutcrackers for 250 years. His right arm is starting to separate at the elbow, but could easily be reglued. Nutcrackers the quintessential icon of christmas, the nutcracker dates back to the early 18th century. Made in seiffen in the erzegebrige region of germany, the christian ulbricht family has been in existence since 1928 and their incredibly detailed nutcracker snd smokers are among the most beloved and collectible in europe. Dregano mini austrian guard nutcracker made in germany. A piece of history this nutcracker was made in christmastown, which was a part of east germany and was brought out days after the fall of the berlin wall, in 1989. Nutcracker veb made in german democratic republic etsy.
Nutcrackers deemed collectibles are valued on age, brand name, material, rarity, and craftsmanship. Our steinbach and christian ulbricht nutcrackers are timeless treasures perfect for a gift or to add to your home or collection. Seiffen, germany giant nutcrackers stand sentinel in shop doorways. Replacement parts for ulbricht nutcrackers and smokers. Remember to decorate your dining room with your german nutcracker collection. Signed christian ulbricht germany wooden thomas jefferson nutcracker 15 tall. Old world woden nutcracker, made in german, handcrafted, very good condition in open box.
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