This big exquisite Santa Claus nutcracker is fully dressed in a fleece trimmed coat and hat, and he is carrying a wreath with bells in one hand and a Christmas tree in the other. The ornaments in the tree and wreath harken to the woodland: real pinecones and bundles of sticks, and wooden ornaments in the shape of woodland animals. The sound of a mysterious bell issues forth when you move him; there happens to be copper-toned metal bell attached to the tip of his hat, and it makes a most joyous sound. All these special details earns this very large nutcracker the premium moniker. Handmade by artisans of the Christian Ulbricht Company; they've been making nutcrackers by hand in Germany's Erzgebirge Mountains, where wooden nutcrackers first originated, since 1928.

This is a working nutcracker (the lever in back operates his jaws), made by hand of solid natural finish and glazed woods. (Beneath his long coat are beautifully glazed woods in green and black.) His beard and white hair are lush faux fur. Did we mention the bell? We love the bell (and the fact that you can hardly see it). Just about 18 3/4" tall x 9" wide x 7 1/2" deep. Handmade in Germany with a limited production run of 2,500 pieces.

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