Alessi Twerg - Ettore Sottsass - Schiaccianoci - Legno di faggio

This nutcracker was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass (1917 - 2007) in 1993 and was taken into reproduction by Alessi in this color.

This Nutcracker is a captivating play on contrasting colors and volumes. This masterpiece embodies a timeless narrative of lightness and profound elegance through the juxtaposition of diverse geometric shapes and vibrant hues.

Dedicated to aficionados of Italian design's eminent master, the Alessi Nutcracker unveils the contemporary essence of Sottsass's wooden creations. It epitomizes the essence of poetry in its lightness, where the interplay of color and volume engages in an eternal dialogue between the serious and the playful.
More than a mere kitchen tool, the nutcracker transforms the act of cracking open nuts into a leisurely ritual. It fosters conversations around the table and creates moments of joyous indulgence, whether shared with others or savored alone. Versatile in function, it accommodates various nut sizes, reminding us of the expressive design's remarkable functionality and intricate details. An iconic Twergi item since Sottsass can be considered as the mean designer of the Alessi Twergi products in the 80s and 90s.

About Alessi Twergi:
After acquiring one of the oldest woodcrafting companies of the Strona Valley (Battista Piazza 1865) in 1988, Alessi started a new brand called ''Twergi'' in 1989. Twergi means dwarf in the local dialect of Piemonte. It refers to a local dwarf that lives in the woods. For the first time Alessi was making products shaped out of wood. The decision to use materials other than steel turned out to be crucial for the growth of the company. Alessi Twergi therefore symbolizes not only design tradition and quality, but also a fine piece of entrepreneurship and vision.

The Nutcracker is new and has never been used. Delivered with original packaging and documents.

cm 6 x cm 6 - h cm 11

How to use:
Turn the wooden screw to an elevated position. Use the slot in the handle for smaller nuts like hazelnuts, and the bottom section for larger nuts such as walnuts. Turn the screw to crack open the nut, then remove the shell to extract the edible fruit.

About Alessi:
Alessi, a renowned Italian design brand founded in 1921, has become a symbol of cutting-edge design and innovative craftsmanship, especially in Postmodernism and Contemporary design as well as some Bauhaus objects. Over the decades, it has collaborated with iconic designers such as Alessandro Mendini, Aldo Rossi, Achille Castiglioni, Michael Graves, Marcel Wanders, Richard Sapper, Zaha Hadid, the Bouroullec brothers, Tom Kovac, Toyo Ito, Jean Nouvel, Ron Arad, and Gio Ponti. These collaborations have cemented Alessi's reputation for creating timeless, functional pieces that double as works of art. This marks Alessi’s spot in the design industry with brands like Vitra, Cassina, Danese Milano, Knoll and Flos which underlined the brands innovation, credibility and quality. The most celebrated design is Philippe Starck's Juicy Salif citrus squeezer, which almost became Alessi’s brand symbol in the minds of design lovers. Alessi's ability to work with groundbreaking figures in the design world echoes the timeless impact of designers like Arne Jacobsen, Eames, Verner Panton and Alvar Aalto whose minimalist approach shares a kinship with Alessi’s sleek designs. Similarly, Pierre Jeanneret, Le Corbusier and Jean Prouvé's dedication to functionalism aligns with Alessi's ethos of merging beauty and utility. This makes Alessi a brand with high impact and rich marriage with fundamental design DNA.
More recently, a collaboration with Virgil Abloh's creative agency (famous for their Nike, Ikea art and Louis Vuitton design) infused a fresh, modern sensibility into Alessi’s offerings.

Ettore Sottsass:
Born in Innsbruck in 1917, he is known the world over as one of the initiators of the revolution in architecture and design which led away from the rigid functionalism of the years prior to and following the Second World War. A great and influential Maestro of Italian design, one of the founders of the famous Memphis group, the energy of his language and the vitality of his colour and line contrast sharply with any intellectualism and rigidity. Sottsass worked for many prestigious brands like Bitossi, Kartell, Artemide and BD Barcelona.