Nutcracker

President Kruger's nutcracker and meerschaum pipe with case. The struggle of the Boer republics against the British Empire generated enormous sympathy in the Netherlands. Boer leaders such as Botha, Smuts and Kruger became genuine popular heroes. Objects associated with these men were treated as religious relics. This pipe and nutcracker were preserved by Kruger's servant. Carved into the bowl of the pipe is the head of a South African Boer. The nutcracker's handle is in the shape of a pair of African tom-toms and the receptacle in the form of a clenched fist.