Nutcracker hangers at The Christmas Shop
A nutcracker hanger is a wooden tree ornament in the shape of a small nutcracker, usually ten to fifteen centimetres tall, with a loop or thread for hanging from a branch of the Christmas tree, a wreath or a garland. The style follows the classic standing nutcracker (soldier, king, soldier with sword) but in the format of an everyday ornament.
The hangers in our collection all come from Kurt S. Adler, the New York family company that also supplies the larger standing nutcrackers in our range. Every piece is wooden, hand-painted and typically costs between ten and fifteen euros. In our Delft shop they hang in the actual tree, so you can see how they look on the branch they were made for.
Classic soldiers and kings
The familiar cast is well represented. A soldier in a black top hat with a gold rim and tasselled shoulders, a king with sceptre and fur collar, a soldier in a velour uniform with fine detailing you only see up close. Most hangers are between ten and fifteen centimetres and made to blend into a traditional tree among other nutcracker-themed ornaments. A group of five or six spread across the tree usually reads stronger than single pieces dotted about.
Distinctive designs
Alongside the classics, Kurt S. Adler makes a handful of hangers you won't find elsewhere. The jumping-jack nutcracker has moveable arms and legs that dance when you pull the string, a small but charming detail for anyone with visitors during the season. The Pride hanger carries a fabric rainbow flag and pairs well with rainbow baubles. There is also a Delft Blue version: a king in white and blue with fine pen-style decoration, designed to sit alongside our Delft Blue ornaments. For something more elaborate, Holly Adler designs hanger-sized pieces within the Hollywood Collection, including a nutcracker with a chef's hat and one finished with pearls across the uniform.
Pairing with the rest of the tree
Nutcracker hangers rarely stand on their own. They look best in a tree or wreath where the other Christmas ornaments share their tone: gingerbread, drummers, soldiers and classic baubles in red, gold and green. If you want to carry the nutcracker theme beyond the tree, add a couple of larger standing nutcrackers on the mantelpiece or sideboard underneath.
