Designer and art director West chronicles the rise, fall, and subsequent resurrection of a beloved German enterprise in this stunning offering. Rising from the ashes of the Second World War, Steinbach nutcrackers grew from humble roots into an international icon—one that continues to be treasured by contemporary collectors worldwide. He begins with the history of Christian Steinbach Jr. himself—a former German officer who, after escaping Russian captors, set up shop in a few spare rooms at a dairy factory on the western side of Germany in 1946. From there, Steinbach drew on local folk-art traditions to craft the nutcrackers that quickly became famous for their precision craftsmanship and colorful designs.

Steinbach nutcrackers promptly earned a reputation for being as durable as they are whimsical, and West recounts, in spellbinding detail, the original figures produced by the company—often of German countryside personas, such as the Town Crier, the company’s first nutcracker—as well as their eventual growth into more bold motifs that included birds, flowers, elaborate decorations, and exaggerated, caricature-like physical traits. Homage is paid throughout to the company’s influential artists, such as Johann Juttner, who designed the Cheesemaker and Gendarme, among others, and West analyzes the company’s growth and transformation through the years—including their heightened focus on nutcrackers that “spoke to the common folk,” a collection of smoking men produced in the 1950s.

Photographs from a variety of sources transfigure West’s meticulous history, showcasing kaleidoscopic reproductions of the company’s nutcrackers, table lamps, catalog editions, and more, offering readers a lavish spread of Steinbach’s shockingly varied productions. Readers will be enthralled by the book’s fascinating particulars, from the 1986 design of the Immigrant Nutcracker to the company’s 2015 financial woes that nearly ended its legacy. This is a fully absorbing tribute to “these beloved nutcrackers that bring joy and cheer to homes around the world.”

Takeaway: Stunning celebration of the craftsmanship and legacy of Steinbach nutcrackers.

Comparable Titles: Arlene Wagner’s The Art & Character of Nutcrackers, Christian Steinbach’s Magic of Nutcrackers.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-