Three Dated Antique Treen Nutcrackers
- Jun 18, 2018
- 1 min read
Three English 18th century antique treen lever nutcrackers.
The one on the lhs is the earliest and is dated 1760 to the inside of the handle and the letters W and M.
Note also the chip carved detail to the top, even around the top of the vertical handle.
The middle one has chip carved decoration all over the outside. It has the initials S P and the date 1791 to the handle..
The antique nutcracker on the rhs has scratch carving to the outside of the handles, initials JS and the date 1773. Note how the number 3 has had to be squashed in as not enough room was left.
These dated treen nutcrackers are incredible survivors from the past. Having the specific years carved into the wood adds such a personal touch and makes the history feel much more tangible. They are fantastic examples of how everyday functional tools were often turned into works of art!
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