How to Create a Beautiful and Whimsical Christmas Table for Two? That's A Nut We Can Crack
Given the problem to solve - how do we scale down the large table gatherings, decor and recipes for an intimate and playful meal - we got to work on a fun holiday solution.
When ancient peoples needed to get into the hard shelled nuts they needed for their protein source, what did they do? They took to cracking them over rocks. For centuries, this was the time honored way to get the meat of the nut.
At some point some creative soul decided that the cracking of the nut was so important that it needed its own art form. As early as the 4th century B.C.E, engravings showed up on these vital tools. Nutcrackers in the shape of pliers came next, often with decorations on them. Iron lever nutcrackers came on the scene, usually with animal shapes or heads on them. Put the nut in the dog’s mouth and push down on the tail to move the mouth and viola! Nuts for all, easy. Then came a brass version that was much like the pliers and the term “nutcracker” started to surface. It wasn’t until the 15th century that wooden nutcrackers came on the scene in Europe. Carvers would make figurines out of local wood in small towns in France and England with a leather strap fastened on them between the two pieces of wood. Lift the strap to insert the nut, let it go to crack the nut.
Finally, the iconic wooden nutcracker that we know and love today, was first made in eastern Germany in the early 19th century. The first commercial production of the wooden nutcrackers started in 1872 with Wilhelm Fuchtner. They operated by a handle in the back. When the lever was pushed down, the nutcracker’s jaw would move up and smash the nut placed in its mouth. Interestingly, brass crocodile, cast iron squirrel, and cast iron dogs are other types of nutcrackers that are popular all over the world.
Just like the ingenuity and whimsy of our favorite little nutcrackers, we thought a table set for two full of collected nutcrackers would be wonderful way to set the table.
Bringing in the joy of the century old tool, combined with the festive colors of Christmas - gold chargers, red accents, green table cloth, green tree - was a delightful setting for our table of two.
This setting combines old and new - new fun plates found last year in a local store. Old vintage glasses pulled from an old buffet in the dining room. A classic table cloth brought out from the holiday bin, as well as matching green bowls that were family heirlooms. All with splashes of Christmas tree of course!
The march on the table of the nutcracker army is sure to get a smile out of your guest for your intimate Christmas gathering.
Problem solved! We did crack that nut,
What else can we solve?
By: Angie Stryker
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