The idea of Garden gnomes originated from the German word – Gartenzwerge, lit. which translates to “garden dwarfs” in English. They are attractive lawn items known as “gnomes,” which are minuscule humanoid creatures that appear in Renaissance magic and pseudoscience. Furthermore, they reference the German dwarf urban legends.
The garden collectibles typically feature male dwarfs having red pointy hats. Characteristically, the height of garden gnomes falls between a foot and two (i.e., between 30 and 60 cm). It started as a style of decoration for the wealthy ones in Europe back in the day. Garden gnomes are now common in lawns and gardens across the western world, across all social groups, and are frequently considered kitsch. They are believed to protect the owner from evil.
History of Garden Gnomes
In ancient Rome, small stone statues of Priapus, the Greco-Roman fertility deity who was also a protector of flocks, vineyards, and beehives, were frequently erected in Roman gardens antiquity. It was a Swiss pseudoscientist – Paracelsus who first demarcated gnomes as magical creatures. It was then that “grotesques” made of stones that have been painted were commonly placed in the gardens of the wealthy.
In the late 1700s, statues made of wood or ceramic that looks like gnomes and were called gnomes became a popular domestic decoration as the people mistook them for eachothe0072. A town in Switzerland called “Brienez” was commonly known for creating wooden house gnomes. In Germany, these garden collectibles became mixed with their traditional stories and fallacies about the gnome that was believed to help them around the mines on the farm.
The production of gnomes went across Germany like a wildfire, with abundant other big and small producers coming in and out of the business, each having its specific style of design. It spread to other European countries in the 1840s and was remarkably popular in France and Britain. People had a wrong belief that the use of the name Garden Gnome was instigated by the fact that German catalogs sold ornaments (made of ceramics or wood) of dwarfs under the name “gnomen-figuren”, which means small collectibles.
German gnomes lost popularity after World War 1, but they gained it back partially in the 1930s after Disney’s animated film “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” when more working-class people could afford to buy them. Its popularity was regained totally in the 1970s when new types of gnomes were created.
In Germany, Phillip Griebel’s descendants are still creating garden gnomes. Around 25 million garden gnomes existed in Germany as of 2008. Miniature gnomes that are only a few inches tall have recently become popular after then.
Types of Garden Gnome
Garden gnomes are majorly male dwarfs with long bushy white beards who wear a long pointy red hat. They are of various types. They are classified based on:
- What they appear to be doing
- The material they are made of
- Their posture
Classification based on what they appear to be doing:
Garden gnomes could appear to be carrying out any of the following activities:
- Smoking (or holding) a pipe
- Fishing
- Napping
Classification based on the material they are made of:
Garden gnomes could be made with any of the following materials:
- Wood
- Ceramic
- Porcelain
- Terra cotta
Classification based on their posture:
The posture of garden gnomes could be:
- Standing
- Lying down
- Seated
Guidelines For Keeping a Gnome in Your Garden
Nowadays, gnome choices are immense since they could be of varying types, shapes, and colors. It could be an outdated red-hatted, white-bearded gnome; a fishing gnome; a working gnome with shovel or wheelbarrow; the American flag-bearing gnome; NFL, major league basketball, and NCAA customized gnome; or a bird feeder gnome.
Two factors you should consider before choosing a gnome include:
- Placement
- Safety
Placement: Gnomes can serve as a great hospitable company for garden places. They work well on garden boundaries or alongside paths, although they can be veiled among the leaves for a naughty touch. Place your gnome in an open area with no plants to help fill up the sense of space in your garden. Don’t overwork yourself regarding where you should place your gnomes as you can easily change their location anytime you want.
Considering the best place to position them can help you determine the type of gnome you would like to buy.
Safety: After placing them, your gnome may become prey to gnome roaming, a long-time practical joke that involves stealing gnomes and sending their possessor’s pictures of their journeys. The Garden Gnome Liberation Front of Paris was even motivated by this archaic tactic in the early 2000s to “liberate” thousands of gnomes. Some producers suggest that you cement your gnome to a hole in the ground to prevent this type of occurrence. Instead, you could just discard your worries as most gnomes roaming cases eventually have the gnome return to its original spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is my gnome safe in my garden?
Yes. It is safe to keep a gnome in your garden. As it is not against any rule. Even if goes for gnome roaming, it will still come back, lol.
- Are Gnomes really tall?
No. they are of short height. Their height is usually between 30 and 60 cm.
