Garden Gnomes | ||||||||
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Garden Gnome Wind Spinner
| Smiling Garden Gnome
| Gnome Bird Feeder
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Gnome Toad House
| Garden Gnome Totem
| Fiddler Solar Garden Gnome
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Soccer Garden Gnome
| Baseball Garden Gnome
| Garden Gnome Table Fountain
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Garden Gnome with Planter
| Sleeping Garden Gnome
| Welcome Garden Gnome
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Christmas Gnome Flag Holder
| Garden Gnome with Wind Chime
| Garden Gnome Set
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Sleeping Garden Gnome
| Garden Gnome with Welcome Sign
| Garden Gnome House Flag
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Garden Gnome Rain Gauge
| Gnome Rain Gauge
| Garden Gnome with Cart
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Gnome Bird Feeder
| Reading Garden Gnome
| Garden Gnome with Firewood
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Welcome Garden Gnome
| Solar Garden Gnome
| Gnome Carrying Fruit
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Golfing Garden Gnome
| On Strike Sleeping Gnome
| Welcome Standing Gnome
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Checkers Solar Gnome
| Gnome Solar Light
| Solar Garden Gnome
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Hanging Gnome with Lantern
| Skiing Garden Gnome
| Farmer Garden Gnome
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Sleeping Garden Gnome
| Life Size Garden Gnome with Solar Lantern
| Garden Gnome Couple on Cart
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Bathing Garden Gnome
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History of Garden GnomesThe gnome was first “studied” if that were possible considering their reported lifestyle, in the 16th century. A Swiss alchemist, one Parcelus, fingered them as a subterranean creature with a bent for tricks and chicanery as well as their gardening, all of which took place at night since a single ray of sun could turn them to stone. That theory was a bonanza for the Griebel family of Germany, who 200 years later began manufacturing terra cotta figures in the standard perceived image of the gnome – grouchy little men, often hump-backed, with beards, and a pointed hat. A great many of them also smoked pipes, but it’s thought this was an addition of the manufacturers and not part of historical (or hysterical) record. While this was apparently the first mass production of little people, circa 1860, they were made before that in small numbers by craftsmen with whimsy and a cautious eye on the burgeoning garden decoration market. Sir Charles Isham of England, besotted with the little be…beasts, imported 21 of them from Germany in the 1840s. Today there is only one survivor of that historic line – Lampy, a somewhat grizzled character who like most hired help, stands there leaning on his shovel, with a hand on his vest. But he is literally worth his weight in gold, having been insured for one million pounds, roughly $2 million US. Why would these awe-inspiring pieces of miniature mayhem have disappeared? Because Isham’s daughters hated them. When the sometimes spiritualist went to that great Séance Table in the sky, his daughters swept Lamport Hall in Northamptonshire, and destroyed them all. Except one, who perhaps having heard them coming, retreated to his underground tunnel to fight another day. This was not the first instance of gnome rage. The Chelsea garden show in the UK have banned the endearing little devils, claiming that they detract from the displays of flora. Gnome lovers take great exception to this and have suggested this is a case of snobbery, gnomes being beloved of the lower classes. Sadly, there are other cases that have become public expressions of shameless prejudice. In the final episode of the British television cult classic Citizen Smith, an army tank is stolen and stored inside a family’s garages. When one character climbs inside to investigate just what this monstrous tin can really is, he accidentally presses the “fire” button and annihilates in tortuous, slow motion, more than 30 garden gnomes in the back yard. This episode was greeted with much acclaim by the anti-gnome faction. There is however, an up side to the tenuous life of gnomes. Those who are tender of heart, and perhaps missing some cards from their deck of life, have embraced the race with a passion and fervor unmatched since the original Star Trek series went off the air. There are adopt a gnome societies, free the gnomes organizations, and liberationists that freelance by stealing gnomes and sending their bereft owners snapshots of their missing family member enjoying vacations in exotic locales. Wouldn’t that just warm the cockles of Sir Charles’ heart? | ||||||||
Gazing Balls
Garden Gnomes
Garden Stones
Stepping Stones
Garden Statues
Bird Feeders
Bird Baths
Plant Stands
Sun Catchers
Rain Gauges
Decorative Planters
Welcome To My Garden Signs
Farm Bells
Sundials
Weathervanes
Garden Fountains
Garden Stakes
Decorative Birdhouses
Garden Signs
Garden Bells
Toad Houses
Rain Chains
Key Hiders
Garden Flags
Metal Yard Art
Bamboo Ducks
Metal Garden Flowers
Tree Faces
Garden Lighting
Garden Gnomes
Garden Stones
Stepping Stones
Garden Statues
Bird Feeders
Bird Baths
Plant Stands
Sun Catchers
Rain Gauges
Decorative Planters
Welcome To My Garden Signs
Farm Bells
Sundials
Weathervanes
Garden Fountains
Garden Stakes
Decorative Birdhouses
Garden Signs
Garden Bells
Toad Houses
Rain Chains
Key Hiders
Garden Flags
Metal Yard Art
Bamboo Ducks
Metal Garden Flowers
Tree Faces
Garden Lighting
