This nutcracker is in the form of a Lincoln Imp carrying a sceptre on top of a column with a bishop's mitre at the base and the legend 'Lincoln'; the reverse is a true rear view. In the Mediaeval stone carvings high up in the angel choir in Lincoln Cathedral is carved the Lincoln Imp. Legend has it that one day the devil sent his imps out to play and the wind blew them all of the way to Lincoln. Initially they were too scared to enter, then one went in and tried to trip up the Lord Bishop, knocked down the Dean, teased the Vergers and the Choir and finally started to break the windows. At this, the Angels told him to stop and turned him into the stone effigy which we can see today. As well as appearing on nutcrackers, the Imp is remembered on other brassware and various souvenirs, Goss china models, Lincolnshire County Council at one time used it on their letter heading and the Lincoln football team are known as the Lincoln Imps. The design was registered in 1912. It is also found marked 'ENGLAND', also 'Rd 596845' and Harrods 1928 catalogue features a 'bedroom door knocker' with the same cast Lincoln Imp on the top.

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