| Today, after nearly 200 years, the Steinbach | | | | Steinbach nutcrackers. Steinbach also produces mini |
| nutcracker company continues to produce | | | | nutcrackers, which are miniature versions of the full |
| nutcrackers using time honored traditional methods. | | | | size ones. There are collectors for them as well. It |
| The Steinbach company has two German factories, | | | | seems a collector can be found for any Steinbach |
| one in Hohenhameln and another in Marienberg, | | | | product. Some nutcracker collectors have over 500 |
| Germany. They not only create nutcrackers, they | | | | of them! |
| also craft incense smokers, music boxes and | | | | Owning a hand crafted Steinbach item can be a |
| ornaments. | | | | joyful experience. They are unique, wonderful |
| Steinbach smoking men or incense smokers, are | | | | decorations to put on display during the Christmas |
| wonderful items. They are similar to nutcrackers, but | | | | holiday season. They brighten and add festivity to |
| they separate to hold a cone of incense inside, | | | | our homes and delight us with their music. They add |
| allowing the smoke from the incense to drift from | | | | to our cheerfulness and feeling of goodwill. |
| the mouth. They all depict a delightful character. | | | | They can also be quite profitable. Steinbach |
| Some smokers also have music boxes in them. Some | | | | nutcrackers increase in value with age. Some hard to |
| smoking men even having moving parts, which are | | | | find, limited editions have been known to sell for |
| caused to operate by the playing of the music box. | | | | more than $1500. That's quite a profit for the original |
| Ornaments are tiny 3" wooden creations, designed | | | | owner, who had the foresight to make the first |
| specifically by Steinbach, to be hung on a Christmas | | | | purchase. Of course, parting with a Steinbach |
| tree. Just because of their diminutive size, don't | | | | nutcracker or smoker might be a hard thing to do. |
| dismiss the detail and quality that go into making | | | | You can see current Steinbach nutcracker models, as |
| them. There are many people who collect Steinbach | | | | well as many from years past, at A German |
| ornaments, just as there are those who collect | | | | Collectibles Haus. |