Photograph by Flickr user jochenWolters/Creative Commons 2.0 My search for a functional soldier nutcracker is as perplexing as the actual cracking of the nut was to mankind for millennia ...

but cheaply made decorative nutcrackers flooded American stores during the 20th century, she said. Functional toy soldier nutcrackers are still being made (the best ones in Germany, she noted ...

Early on, more functional nutcrackers were made of stone ... costumed and often whiskered to represent soldiers, noble kings and other characters. Davis’ collection includes pieces by Wilhelm ...

During this year’s edition of the Brightmoor Lights Holiday Festival, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, local artists will compete in a contest to build the most creative Nutcracker Soldier. Participants ...