Novelty Nut Cracker

PeriodMid 19th century

Place MadePossibly United States

MediumWood

Dimensions7 × 3 × 3 in. (17.8 × 7.6 × 7.6 cm)

ClassificationsFood Processing & Prep, Accessories

Credit LineGift of Mrs. J. Amory Haskell, 1941

Object number1624

DescriptionA novelty nut cracker, carved in the shape of a brown squirrel, with its tail wrapped around its body. The figure has a small space hollowed out in the center, in which a nut can be placed. the handle, tapered and carved with a finial at the lower end, is twisted to move the upper portion of the shaft, putting pressure on the nut in order to crack the shell.
NotesThis charming and amusing nut cracker is another of Mrs. Margaret Riker Haskell's lesser-known donations to the Historical Association. Although widely regarded and respected as an early American collector of fine and decorative art, Mrs. Haskell also had an eye for the quirky, the odd, and the amusing. The visual appeal of this simple yet practical tool - a nut cracker - is elevated due to the robust little squirrel perched atop the handle.

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