Nutcracker
1789-1800 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This nutcracker uses a screw mechanism to crush the shells of nuts inserted into the hole in the finial. A nutcracker like this would have been used mainly for cracking hazelnuts, cob nuts or almonds, as walnuts were usually cracked with the teeth at this date and brazil nuts had not yet been discovered by Europeans.
This carved fruitwood example is topped by a grotesque figure wearing a cap of liberty, the hat associated with radicals during the French Revolution. This makes it possible to date the nutcracker quite closely.
This carved fruitwood example is topped by a grotesque figure wearing a cap of liberty, the hat associated with radicals during the French Revolution. This makes it possible to date the nutcracker quite closely.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved fruitwood |
| Brief description | Nutcracker, carved fruitwood, France, 1789-1800 |
| Physical description | Nutcracker carved of fruitwood with screw mechanism, surmounted by a grotesque figure wearing a cap of liberty. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Mr A.E. Littleboy |
| Object history | Bought in the Caledonian Market by the donor. cf. O. Evan-Thomas, 'Domestic Utensils of Wood', 1932, pl. 49 espec. D. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This nutcracker uses a screw mechanism to crush the shells of nuts inserted into the hole in the finial. A nutcracker like this would have been used mainly for cracking hazelnuts, cob nuts or almonds, as walnuts were usually cracked with the teeth at this date and brazil nuts had not yet been discovered by Europeans. This carved fruitwood example is topped by a grotesque figure wearing a cap of liberty, the hat associated with radicals during the French Revolution. This makes it possible to date the nutcracker quite closely. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.68-1938 |
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| Record created | January 29, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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