Arlene Wagner displays best of her 7,000 nutcrackers at Tsuen Wan Plaza
Inspired by ballet, collector Arlene Wagner scoured the world for 7,000 nutcrackers
When people ask Arlene Wagner how she came to collect 7,000 nutcrackers from around the world, she replies: "I guess we were just nuts!"
Nutcrackers, because of their highly practical use, their whimsical designs and intricate craftsmanship, chronicle the history of the Western world, and captured Wagner's imagination.
"There's no other tool that is made in as many designs or as many materials as the nutcracker," said the 87-year-old, who started collecting the items with her late husband in the 1970s.
"I was a dance teacher and taught The Nutcracker ballet, which was how we started [collecting nutcrackers]," said Wagner, who would use nutcrackers in her productions. "Then we just wanted to share them and let people enjoy them, and the history and stories they tell us."
Now 75 items from her collection - including an intricately carved wooden tool from 17th century France, a contemporary model made in the form of Yoda from Star Wars, and a construction worker nutcracker with a piece of the Berlin Wall at its feet made in 1990 - are on display at the Tsuen Wan Plaza in Tsuen Wan until January 1 next year.
What began as a hobby soon became a passion, as Wagner and her space scientist husband made more than 35 trips to Europe to scour antique shops and nutcracker-makers for gems.