My OperaGnomes
Monday, November 15, 2010 4:59:06 AM
Garden gnomes, those little red-capped elfin statues, are making a comeback. The latest pop culture icon has appeared in the pages of House & Garden magazine, on the cover of Restoration Hardware's catalog, and in an ad campaign for Toyota. Several vendors at the National Hardware Show in August featured garden gnomes in their booths. Don't be surprised if you see them soon on Antiques Roadshow, hauled in by homeowners who dug them out of the underbrush.
Garden gnomes have always been popular in Europe, especially in Germany and the United Kingdom. A shadowy group in France called the Garden Gnome Liberation Front has been stealing the little yard statues -- and getting arrested for it -- since the mid-1990s. In the United States, some observers trace the gnomic renaissance to "The Full Monty," a popular British film that used garden gnomes as a running joke. Others credit the retro kitsch cycle that brought back pink flamingoes and Crazy Eight balls.
Gnomes are wrinkled, dwarfish-like earth spirits with pointed, red hats. Often, they're either misshapen or hunchbacked. In folklore, the gnomes are protectors of nature, and are most active at night. Gnomes are quite friendly, and exist in different habitats. Though some may live in gardens, others can be found in the forest, on farms, and in homes. At the Gnome Reserve and Wildflower Garden in Devon, England, they're very welcome indeed. Founded by Ann Atkin, a landscape painter, it has over 1000 gnomes on display.
For starters the times gone by of the Garden Gnome dates back to Germany in the 1800's. The previous statues were ready out of clay and were hand crafted. They then ready their way to Great Britain in the mid 1800s. Around the late 1800's to the 1900's they prepared their way into America. During WWII production of these figurines came to an abrupt halt. The German factories were commandeered and converted to support the war efforts. In 1960's the gnomes picked up status again on the further hand, they were mass-produced using plastic. Since consequently several of them were produced they gained the stigma for being a tacky lawn ornament. The clay hand carved Garden Gnomes possess been family heirlooms for several families. The Clay breakables are making a come back of sorts, greater than companies are reviving the old tradition.
Any Garden Gnome enthusiast could tell you that Garden Gnomes are particular creatures that are very virtuous luck to possess in your garden. They are to start with vegetarians, cheerful little persons who take pleasure in having fun and helping out as well as things. It is whispered that having one in your garden will be helpful in the day-to-day activities that are requisite to proper garden management. It is believed that they own an excellent ability to be able to reflect on history and an even better perspective on the future.
Garden gnomes have always been popular in Europe, especially in Germany and the United Kingdom. A shadowy group in France called the Garden Gnome Liberation Front has been stealing the little yard statues -- and getting arrested for it -- since the mid-1990s. In the United States, some observers trace the gnomic renaissance to "The Full Monty," a popular British film that used garden gnomes as a running joke. Others credit the retro kitsch cycle that brought back pink flamingoes and Crazy Eight balls.
Gnomes are wrinkled, dwarfish-like earth spirits with pointed, red hats. Often, they're either misshapen or hunchbacked. In folklore, the gnomes are protectors of nature, and are most active at night. Gnomes are quite friendly, and exist in different habitats. Though some may live in gardens, others can be found in the forest, on farms, and in homes. At the Gnome Reserve and Wildflower Garden in Devon, England, they're very welcome indeed. Founded by Ann Atkin, a landscape painter, it has over 1000 gnomes on display.
For starters the times gone by of the Garden Gnome dates back to Germany in the 1800's. The previous statues were ready out of clay and were hand crafted. They then ready their way to Great Britain in the mid 1800s. Around the late 1800's to the 1900's they prepared their way into America. During WWII production of these figurines came to an abrupt halt. The German factories were commandeered and converted to support the war efforts. In 1960's the gnomes picked up status again on the further hand, they were mass-produced using plastic. Since consequently several of them were produced they gained the stigma for being a tacky lawn ornament. The clay hand carved Garden Gnomes possess been family heirlooms for several families. The Clay breakables are making a come back of sorts, greater than companies are reviving the old tradition.
Any Garden Gnome enthusiast could tell you that Garden Gnomes are particular creatures that are very virtuous luck to possess in your garden. They are to start with vegetarians, cheerful little persons who take pleasure in having fun and helping out as well as things. It is whispered that having one in your garden will be helpful in the day-to-day activities that are requisite to proper garden management. It is believed that they own an excellent ability to be able to reflect on history and an even better perspective on the future.
