Would Nabokov have been familiar
with the meaning that, according to a wikisource (in German), refers to halved
nuts as meaning something like accomplished, final, perhaps "ultimate knowledge"
(volendet Erkentniss)?
This would suggest a particular
meaning in connection to John Shade's death (but it comes through indications
given by Kinbote, only)
Added two details of paintings in
Amsterdam, by DIJCK, Floris Claesz
van
Dutch painter (b. 1575, Haarlem, d. 1651,
Haarlem)