The History Of Garden Gnomes
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Gnomes are an active presence in Western culture, particularly in their best known capacity as a decorative lawn ornament. Gnomes first appeared in European folklore as benevolent creatures who rewarded the good behavior of farmers, merchants, and housewives with assistance in fields, shops, and gardens at night. Ceramic gnomes were first manufactured in rural Germany by Phillip Griebel in the middle of the nineteenth century. Griebel's gnomes were specifically created for decoration, but they were also used for superstitious purposes: his tiny statuaries were considered by some to ward off thieves from stores of grains and vegetables in barns. Statuary, or garden, gnomes were introduced to England by Sir Charles Isham in 1847. Isham wanted to liven up his rock garden with a little color and he decided that German gnomes were the best way to do so. One of the surviving terra cotta gnomes from Isham's 1847 purchase is now valued at two million pounds sterling and is featured in a museum on the Isham estate.
Although Griebel initially produced deer and fairy figure statuaries, once he began creating lawn gnomes he had a hard time keeping production in line with the demands of his German customers. The Griebel family continued to manufacture lawn gnomes up to the start of WWII when production was halted temporarily for the German war effort. Even the ravages of WWII could not keep people away from these merry lawn decorations, and production started up again in the mid 1940s. Although the Communist police were initially concerned that gnomes might prove to be conduits for smugglers, they eventually became the leading export of Eastern Germany. Eastern German gnomes were found behind the Iron Curtain, in democratic Western Europe and in America. The fall of communism opened up the market to cheap imitations from the Czech Republic and from Poland, but Griebel's direct descendent continues to carry on the proud tradition of high quality lawn gnome manufacturing in the family's original factory in Central Germany. The factory is now home to a museum and internet sales have allowed the company to reach across borders to introduce a whole new generation to lawn gnomes.
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Gnomes have also modernized to reflect the changing interests of their owners and have been depicted on miniature motorcycles, on roller skates, and even in NCAA jerseys!______________________________
Gnomes are highly popular and can be found in their many forms at many gardening centers and online stores. Manufacturers have experimented with creating gnomes from materials departing from the traditional terra cotta. Durable garden gnomes can now be found in materials such as plastic, concrete, cement and ceramic. Some small manufacturers, such as the Griebel family, still adhere to the traditional terra cotta. Although gnomes are traditionally less than 14 inches tall, they can now be found in nearly any shape or size. Gnomes have also modernized to reflect the changing interests of their owners and have been depicted on miniature motorcycles, on roller skates, and even in NCAA jerseys! While the shape and occupation of a gnome may change with the times, their desirability as garden and lawn ornaments has not changed since Griebel first manufactured them in the 1800s. Owning a lawn gnome is a delightful experience that has been enjoyed by millions since their introduction to the world in 1847
- Buy a garden gnome
A great selection of garden gnomes - How to Pick the Right Garden Gnome
Good tips on Picking a garden gnome to fit your style - Little Gnome Facts
Fun and interesting facts about garden gnomes - Name Your Gnome
Need a name for your gnome? here's some suggestions - Meet Siggy Fudwick
Follow the new adventures of Siggy the gnome...
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Comments
Hello Abby, I believe that this was written around April or May of 2008. Good luck on your report and feel free to check out www.GnomeFrenzy.com for more information that might be helpful.
Abby says:
7 months ago
Hey can you tell me when you posted this the date? cuz im doing an english report about lawn gnomes and i need to cite your blog here. thanks a ton.