Nutcrackers have been collected, handed down for decades

Do an Internet search for the word "nutcracker," and you'll find as many results for the popular Tchaikovsky ballet as the decorative keepsake used to crack the hard shell of a nut. Indeed, this is no coincidence.

"Probably 'The Nutcracker' ballet is the primary reason the nutcracker has continued to be popular," says Arlene Wagner, curator of the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum in Leavenworth, Washington. In fact, Wagner, a former dance teacher, names the production as her impetus for starting the museum dedicated to the holiday figurine in 1995.

Whether it's the Sugar Plum Fairy or fond Christmas memories that attract people to the nutcracker, it remains a sought-after item in December and beyond. Since most people today do not actually use nutcrackers for their intended purpose (a plier-like tool, albeit pretty), they've expanded from merely after-diner table decor to a conversation piece showcased throughout the home.

"Nutcrackers are one of those great crossover collectibles that are perfect for the holidays but also can be displayed year-round as interesting objects in their own right," says Cassandra Ross, founder of Collectivator.com, a site that promotes the collecting, buying and selling of antiques and vintage items. "For some collectors, it's the cultural history that makes the traditional nutcracker special. For others it might be the whimsy. Generally collectibles that have personality are always appealing."

Attribute it to a general trend toward old-fashioned, nostalgic holiday decor: "People want to collect and display items that connect them to their past and their families. Nutcrackers definitely fill that niche," Ross adds.

Age, quality of workmanship and detail all are key in making a nutcracker attractive to a potential buyer - most traditionally made of carved wood, but now available in metal, steel, cast iron, plastic and other materials. Plus, it's more whimsical than the ordinary ornament - it's a fun treat to place a pecan or walnut in the figure's mouth, which forms the jaws to crack it.

But perhaps the wild card that makes the nutcracker special is its element of personal connection. "Nutcrackers can take many forms so there's something for everyone. Not only will you see the traditional figures like soldier or king, but you can also find nutcracker animals like squirrels, cats and birds," Ross says.

Dedicated collectors will still buy a German nutcracker, as the European artists are known for the crafting elaborate king and soldier characters. Christian Steinbach is among the most celebrated makers, with the company's colorful limited-edition designs - a clockmaker, potter or miller, for instance - commanding as much as $400.

Wilhelm Füchtner was considered the "father of the nutcracker" for his body style that became a prototype for other nutcrackers. Now in its sixth generation of nutcracker making, the Füchtner family still creates this traditional body style, as do several other makers in the area of Seiffen, Germany.

Also hand-crafting highly detailed wooden nutcrackers (among the bunch: a butcher, blacksmith and even a hot dog vendor) in Germany's famous region of Erzgebirge for more than 80 years is Christian Ulbricht, a company whose artistry was featured in an episode of Discovery and Science Channel's "How It's Made." Wagner notes that the natural-finished nutcrackers mostly from the Christian Ulbricht workshops have been extremely popular in recent years

While these names are buzzwords among collectors, the average shopper is drawn in by a nutcracker's decorative appeal over its label or origin. And just as the ballet has gone through many modern incarnations, through the years this traditional Christmas figurine has expanded beyond antique markets to very contemporary offerings. For instance, CB2 took the nutcracker's formidable form and modernized him with hipper details.

"Through the last four seasons, he's been tatted, forced to wear an ugly sweater and sent into space, and this season, he will be a superhero," says Andrea Erman, product manager at CB2. Designed by Ben Wagner, the CB2 superhero nutcracker has a simple silhouette and minimal ornamentation, a departure from the more highly embellished, hand carved and detailed. "And, of course, we always like to have a bit of humor," Erman adds.

Indeed, character nutcrackers - Snoopy, Star Wars, Superman and Batman, for instance, not to mention sports-themed and hobby-based nutcrackers - are popular, says Kerri Kritzman, a buyer for Bronner's Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth, Michigan. "Over the years, nutcrackers have expanded from the traditional look," she notes.

While many are now made in China rather than the hills of Germany, production quality has risen in recent years, according to Wagner. Furthering the concept of personality-driven nutcrackers, one need not look farther than the Kurt Adler's nutcracker creations, which fuse old-world feel with modern design; options range from magical purple and teal characters accented with glitter and feathers to the Downton Abbey butler.

It's this fun, modern makeover that's introduction the nutcracker to a whole new world of collectors.