Antique Early Treen 18thc Fruitwood Screw Type Pocket Nutcracker. English C1780-C1800..

One of the best examples of these very desirable early nutcrackers I have bought in a long time...it dates from the late 18thc / early 19thc and is made from finest fruitwood and is in the shape of the cobb / hazel nut, that it is used for cracking....these collectable nutcrackers would have been carried in your pocket in readiness to be used when you were lucky enough to come across hedgerow or woodland bushes full of the hazel / cobb nut...and as you can see the handle is pitted with teeth marks from former owners using their teeth to gain extra pressure to crack the nut....it is decorated with concentric ring pattern , has a very good colour and is in excellent condition.

English. C1780-C1800.