Garden Gnomes history is very interesting. Garden gnomes have evolved from mythical woodland beings to treasured garden accents and lawn ornaments.  In folklore, gnomes are elusive wee folk thought to bring luck and to be helpers to humans in the garden and house.  Garden Gnomes are traditionally depicted wearing  red pointy hats and old fashioned tunics...often holding or using garden implements such as wheelbarrows and shovels.

In the 1800's, potters in Germany began to produce the first clay (stoneware pottery) garden gnomes. The use of these garden statues soon spread to other European countries that expressed a love of gardening and a sense of humor.  These beautifully handcrafted garden statuary soon became treasured family heirlooms handed down from generation to generation, creating a family garden gnome history.  Pottery garden gnomes increased in popularity in the 1930's and 1940's.  In the 1960's mass production of garden gnomes made of plastic tarnished the reputation of the classic clay gnome statues.  There are only a few artists making clay gnomes today and only one artist in the USA (Kimmel).

There has been a resurgance of interest in the garden gnome tradition. Gnomes have become a pop culture icon. Many people are familiar with the Travelocity Roaming gnome ads.  Two films, The Full Monty and Amelie prominently featured garden gnomes, bringing an awareness of garden gnomes to a wider audience than ever.