| Steinbach nutcrackers are delightful wooden | | | | The Steinbach company uses all German wood |
| decorations hand crafted in Germany. They | | | | and materials to craft their nutcrackers. There |
| portray everything from kings, Santa, religious | | | | are over 100 steps involved in crafting a single |
| figures and famous generals, to fairy tale and | | | | finished piece. It takes an artisan who has a true |
| movie characters. Each year, new nutcracker | | | | love of woodworking to complete such a detailed |
| models are released by Steinbach. Collectors are | | | | nutcracker. It normally takes about 6 weeks to |
| always anxious to see what the new designs will | | | | finish a nutcracker, once the actual turning of the |
| look like. They may find just what they need to | | | | wood on a lathe begins. Beginning with the drying |
| add to their collection. | | | | and curing of the wood, the entire process can |
| The Steinbach family has been producing | | | | take more than 3 years. |
| nutcrackers for nearly two centuries. | | | | According to German folklore, nutcrackers were |
| 5th-generation Herr Christian Steinbach held the | | | | first created to ward off evil and protect a home. |
| reigns of the company for decades. His efforts | | | | That's why they all have such stern looks on their |
| brought the company to new heights and made | | | | faces and are baring their teeth. This is to scare |
| Steinbach nutcrackers world famous. Much to the | | | | away evil spirits and bad luck, and also to |
| dismay of nutcracker enthusiasts, Herr Christian | | | | promote good health. |
| Steinbach passed away in February of 2007, at | | | | The beginning of nutcracker carving dates back to |
| the venerable age of 85. Christian had trained his | | | | the 18th century. Miners, in the Erzgebirge (Ore |
| daughter, Frau Karla Steinbach, to take control | | | | Mountains) area of Germany, took up wood |
| the family legacy and it is now in her capable | | | | carving to supplement their income when the |
| hands. Karla is now in charge of both German | | | | mines began to play out. Generations later, many |
| nutcracker factories. Karla's daughter, Karolin, is | | | | nutcrackers and hand crafted items are still being |
| also involved with the family owned business. The | | | | produced in the Erzgebirge region. |
| 6th and 7th Steinbach generations continue to | | | | For more information, click on Steinbach |
| produce German nutcrackers in the time honored | | | | nutcrackers. |
| traditions laid forth by Christian Steinbach. | | | | |