Garden Gnomes For Sale
“Garden Gnomes For Sale”
That’s what the sign said, as I sped past in my car. Not sure why it stuck in my mind but when I got home I decided to look up garden gnomes. Quite a history!
Garden gnomes first came on the scene in Germany in the early 19th Century and appeared in England in around 1840. Folklore held them to be beneficial to the growth of garden produce, as well as attractors of good luck.
History tells us that Sir Charles Isham, the 10th Baronet of Lamport Hall, was the first proud owner of a garden gnome in England. In fact he brought back 21 of them from Germany and set them up in his garden rockery. Only one of the original batch of gnomes survives: Lampy, as he is known, is on display at Lamport Hall, and is insured for one million pounds.
The original statues were hand crafted from terracotta, which remained the material of choice right up until the 1960s. These clay garden gnomes were often cherished, collectible ornaments that stayed in the family and were passed down through the generations.
In around 1872, Philip Griebel and August Heissner started producing garden gnomes in large numbers, with the Heissner name becoming famous around the world. Very different from many of today’s trashy examples, these were truly works of art.
A huge amount of work was often put into these early statues and some of them were quite big – as much as a meter tall. Although made for the garden, they were meticulously crafted. Having said that, many of the more beautiful examples ended up in the homes of wealthy people, as house ornaments (although I rather think that the gnomes preferred to be where they belonged – in the garden).
Gnomes actually go back a looooooooooooong way – hundreds of years ago they were generally portrayed as short, very old men with wrinkles and white beards, wearing red conical hats and brown trousers.
Early gnomes were somewhat serious fellows, and remained so right up until Walt Disneys Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs gave us a glimpse of what was to come.
Unfortunately, just two years after Snow White, the Second World War put a stop to gnome manufacturing right across Europe.
It wasn’t until the 60′s that the advent of cheap plastics kick-started mass production again. and millions of brightly colored gnomes started invading gardens again.
Eastern Europe and the Far East are now the centers of plastic gnome production, while most of the older ceramic gnome makers are no more.
Gnomes add humor and (sometimes) style to the modern garden, which is why so many gardeners like ‘em!
However nowadays there is a real worry that gnomes displayed in the front yard will disappear overnight (the recession maybe?), and it is claimed that they are the most frequently stolen garden decoration. Gnome Rustlers, perhaps?
Gnomes have been around for a century and a half, so they’re probably here to stay. Better get used to them!
Last points:
Gnomes are banned from the Chelsea Flower Show because the organizers claim they detract from garden designs.
Garden gnomes have been banned from cemeteries by the Diocese of Bath and Wells (in England ” where else?) because leaders say they are “unnatural creatures”. Along with plastic flowers and other decorations such as teddy bears, they have been called “inappropriate and tacky!
In France there is even a French Liberation Front of Garden Gnomes
*sigh*
