Radio City Music Hall Soldier Nutcracker Appraisal

Radio City Music Hall Soldier Nutcracker

This is a decorative wooden nutcracker fashioned in the likeness of a traditional toy soldier, specifically branded for Radio City Music Hall. The figure is constructed from turned and carved wood, featuring a high-gloss painted finish in a primary color palette of red, white, black, and blue with gold accents. The soldier wears a tall black shako hat embellished with a yellow chevron, a red uniform jacket with gold button details, and white trousers. A distinctive lever-operated jaw mechanism is situated in the torso, though the piece serves primarily as a holiday decoration rather than a high-performance tool. The figure stands on a square gray-brown pedestal base, which features a brass-tone metal placard inscribed with 'RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL'. The facial features are hand-painted, displaying wide eyes, rosy cheeks, and bared teeth. Condition-wise, the item appears to be in very good vintage condition with minor surface abrasions and fine linear cracking in the paint consistent with age and temperature fluctuations in wood. The craftsmanship suggests a late 20th-century souvenir production, likely sold during the venue's famous Christmas Spectacular performances. Overall, it serves as a nostalgic piece of New York City performance memorabilia with a whimsical folk-art aesthetic.