(How does an ANRI nutcracker differ from a German made nutcracker?)
First of all, note that standing, full figured ANRI nutcrackers do not have bases. That's because
they are carved to stand alone. Notice the handle in the rear. ANRI handles are straight,
while the carving on the right has a curved handle. ANRI nutcrackers of this type are always painted.
It's also important to notice differences in the strokes made by the carving tools. ANRI carvings
have few flat, broad surfaces, unlike the carving on the far right. Especially notice the detail given
to the carving and painting of the faces. The ANRI characters have very exaggerated features,
but the strokes are smooth and curved. The faces have very human expressions, as though they might
resemble a real person. The carving on the right has blunted features with many flat
planes, and there is no resemblance to a real human face. ANRI carvers used each other as models
which is why so many of the faces are similar from one carving to the next, (i.e.,) the face on
a bottle stopper may be almost the same as the face on a nutcracker, or napkin ring.
Using the same rules of comparison as above, compare these faces. ANRI faces never
have eyes with carved pupils, and the bottom jaw is always continued into the body
of the carving, unlike the carving on the right which shows a gap between jaw and
body. Another rule of thumb for German carvings is the narrowness of the piece,
as opposed to the fully rounded bodies on ANRI carvings.
And finally the wood ANRI used in the earliest years was Cembra Pine, and later Maple.
German woodcarvings were made of a darker, harder wood which is why they have
less subtlety, and detail. Once the items above are compared it becomes easy
to see which are of a higher quality, and were carved with more skill.
Does this help?