Designer: Robert Welch (1929 -2000)

Item: Campden Nutcracker

Manufactured by: J & J Wiggin for Old Hall 

Country of origin: England

Year made: Designed in 1958, this example is early 1960s

Materials: Stainless Steel

Dimensions: Nutcracker is  ½” x 6” x 1 ¾” when closed

Condition: Mint in its original box

Description:  Here is an important design for a nutcracker by Robert Welch, one Great Britain’s most significant 20th Century modern designers. This is an extremely well-made and heavy object.  Examples of this model can be found in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the Victoria and Albert Museum and other important public collections.  Examples of Welch’s other stainless designs for Old Hall are also in the collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Cooper-Hewitt, and many others. Certainly worthy of any museum collection.

These 1960's modernist stainless steel nutcrackers by Welch are part of the Campden line for Old Hall. This nutcracker was initially designed for sale in the gift shop of the ocean liner SS Oriana and was subsequently made generally available.  They are sometimes referred to as the “Oriana” nutcrackers.  Solid, heavy and well-designed this nutcracker can efficiently handle some of the more difficult to crack nuts such as brazils, almonds, etc.  Welch’s Campden nutcrackers can be found for usually about $100 to $150, but this is the only example we have ever seen mint with its original box, thus the premium price.  This example is worthy of any public collection.

Robert Welch graduated as a silversmith from Britain’s Royal College of Art in 1954.  His course of study also included a focus on industrial design where he was introduced to established manufacturers.  In 1955 Welch went to work for Old Hall, a brand under the firm of J & J Wiggin and was appointed Artist Designer for Stainless Steel.  Old Hall promoted Welch and his designs which helped Welch establish his own design studio.  Welch’s design output was extensive, covering all kinds of table and domestic wares. His Alveston flatware and hollowware Aladdin tea service are design classics dating from 1962 that won a Design Centre Award in 1965 and can be found in many important museum collections.  Welch was also commissioned to design the Oriana line for the luxury liner in 1962, which included this earlier designed, but not yet produced nutcracker.

References: Charlotte and Peter Fiell, Robert Welch, Design: Craft and Industry, London, Laurence King Publishing, 2015. pp.70-71.