The Workshop Santa
is 15 inches tall. This Christmas Nutcracker Decorations are wearing red velveteen Santa hat with white fur like trim, green shirt, red pants, black boots and red velveteen apron. Santa is holding a wooden tray with a red train engine, a stack of colored blocks and a brown teddy bear. Check out our Christmas Nutcrackers Village People for the holidays. The Tray has ‘Santa’s Workshop’ painted in red letters on the front edge. Santa is standing on a square, natural pine, wooden base. Select to see a complete listing of our Christmas Decorations Ideas.
The Story of The Nutcracker
The combination of a useful tool and a figural form with a human appearance was well accepted by the mid 18th century. In the toy making center of Sonneberg, in the Thuringian Forest, there was mention in 1735 of nut biters that operated according to the principles of leverage. These nut biters were described as sturdy, energetic forms with large heads. Two moving arms on the back of the head allowed the lower jaw to push the nut against the upper jaw. In a carnival parade in 1783, students from Freisingen, Germany presented large models of Berchtesgaden wares, including a nut biter in the form of a little man whose mouth and stomach were one and the same. Select this link to view our Christmas Nutcrackers Village People.
Where do Teddy Bears Come From?
Teddy bears are stuffed toy bears and are an enduring, traditional form of stuffed animal, often serving the purpose of comforting children but some have become expensive collector's items. Select this link to view our Fisherman Nutcrackers.
The "fur" which these charming creatures are made of is as varied and interesting as the bears themselves. Mohair is the fur shorn or combed from a breed of long haired goats which is woven into cloth, dyed and trimmed to produce a fascinating choice for any artist's palette. Alpaca teddy bears are made from the pelt of an alpaca because the fiber is too soft to weave. In addition to mohair and alpaca, there are huge selections of "plush" or synthetic fur made for the teddy bear market which are commercially produced.
Some teddy bear artists specialize in the production of bears made from recycled materials. These artists haunt thrift stores, flea markets, garage sales and trash collection centers as well as their own and their families' basements and attics in search of forgotten treasures to be turned into a collector's dream. Old quilts, dresses, fur collars, coats and stoles as well as beaded bags and garments are quickly transformed into stunning teddy bears. Select this link to view our Large Half Nutcracker.
