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English Brass Nutcrackers

Date :     Early 20th Century
Size :      13.5 cms long
Marks :    'REGd APPLIED FOR' 'ENGLAND'

This nutcracker depicts a composite animal made up of an ass with a pigs snout (locked shut with a padlock) and stag's feet wearing servant's livery; he is carrying flowers and has 'TRUSTY SERVANT' on a scroll at his feet. The rear lever has a crest over 'WINCHESTER' atop a column. The Trusty Servant is part of the history of Winchester and this imaginary animal depicts the qualities he should posses - the patience of an ass, quietness, the speed of a stag etc. It is based on a picture on a wall adjoining the kitchen of Winchester College which appears with a graffiti poem describing the animal and dates from 1563. There is a later engraving of it dated 1749 and several souvenir-type articles (including ceramics) have been produced carrying its image.

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