Beyond visions of sugarplum fairies and wooden men with white beards, the nutcrackers featured in THE ART AND CHARACTER OF NUTCRACKERS are elegant, sophisticated, rustic pieces of usable art steeped in history and tradition. Beautifully photographed, rare, and valuable, these nutcrackers from around the world are collected and celebrated in one place for the first time ever. What began as an innocent purchase during a production of the Nutcracker Ballet has blossomed into a world-renowned collection almost 40 years in the making. Arlene Wagner (also known as the Nutcracker Lady) and her husband have amassed more than 5,000 pieces. Housed in the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum, which is also a National Heritage Foundation site, the Wagners'collection is on display to the public.

PEFACE

The Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum Story

INTRODUCTION

From Soup to Nuts

COMMON NUTCRACKER MATERIALS

WOODEN LEVER NUTCRACKERS

16th Century to 18th Century

19th Century to Present Day

WOODEN SCREW NUTCRACKERS

17th Century to 18th Century

19th Century to Present Day

WOODEN PERCUSSION NUTCRACKERS

WETAL LEVER NUTCRACKERS

15th Century to 18th Century

19th Century to Present Day

METAL SCREW NUTCRACKERS

17th Century to 18th Century

19th Century to Present Day

METAL PERCUSSION NUTCRACKERS

METAL MECHANICAL NUTCRACKERS

BETEL CUTTERS

IVORY AND PORCELAIN NUTCRACKERS

NUTCRACKER ACCESSORIES

MISCELLANEOUS NUTCRACKERS

TURNED WOODEN TOY SOLDIER NUTCRACKERS

CLOSING

The Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum Today

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS