Garden gnome

Ancient predecessors In ancient Rome, small stone statues depicting the Greco-Roman fertility god Priapus, also a protector of beehives, flocks, and vineyards, were frequently placed in Roman gardens. Gnomes as magical creatures were first described during the Renaissance period by Swiss alchemist Paracelsus as "diminutive figures two spans in height who did not like to mix with humans". Garden gnomes spread to other countries in Europe in the 1840s and became particularly popular in France and Britain. In 1847, Sir Charles Isham, brought 21 terracotta gnomes manufactured in Germany by Philip Griebel back to Britain where they were called "gnomes" in English, Use of the term "garden gnome" may originate from fact that German catalogues sold ornaments of dwarfs under the name gnomen-figuren, meaning miniature figurines. From around 1860 onwards, Gräfenroda, a town in Thuringia long known for its ceramics, became increasingly associated with production of garden gnomes. World War II and the years following saw a decline in the industry, causing most producers to halt their manufacture. Garden gnomes saw a resurgence in popularity again in the 1970s with the creation of more humorous types of gnomes. Twenty-first century Philip Griebel's descendants are still producing garden gnomes in Germany. , there were an estimated 25 million garden gnomes in Germany. A recent trend has introduced miniature gnomes of only a few inches in height. ==Types of garden gnomes==

Garden gnomes are typically male, often bearded, usually wear red caps and often have pipes. They are often shown pursuing leisurely pastimes such as fishing or napping. Gnomes may be made from terracotta clay slip (runny clay) poured into molds. This is allowed to set up and the excess emptied from the center, leaving a clay shell. The gnome is removed from the mold when firm, allowed to dry and then fired in a kiln until hard. Once cooled, the gnome is painted. More modern gnomes are made from resins and similar materials. Today, many different variations of garden gnomes exist, including humorous ones ranging from the lighthearted biker or barbecuing gnome, to the more sinister, such as one stabbed in the back or wearing an executioner's hood. ==In popular culture and politics==

Gnomes have become controversial in serious gardening circles in the United Kingdom, and were for a time banned from the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show, as the organisers claimed that they detract from the garden designs. Gnome enthusiasts accused the organisers of snobbery, as garden gnomes are popular in the gardens of working class and suburban households. The ban was lifted during 2013 to mark the show's centenary. • In the Italian movie The Monster (1994), the main character Loris, played by Roberto Benigni, is accused of stealing the garden gnome Bashful. • A subplot in the 2001 French movie Amélie revolves around a "travelling" garden gnome. • A garden gnome with a long, white beard, red conical hat and blue coat is the central figure in Travelocity's Roaming Gnome advertising campaign which was launched in January 2004. • The 2007 video game Half-Life 2: Episode Two features the unlockable achievement "Little Rocket Man" that requires the player to bring a garden gnome from the start to the end and place him into a rocket. The gnome was later given the name "Gnome Chompski" as a reference to Noam Chomsky and has appeared in the Valve Corporation games Left 4 Dead 2 and Half-Life: Alyx. In 2020 Gabe Newell partnered with Wētā Workshop and Rocket Lab to launch a real-life garden gnome into space. • Gnomeo and Juliet is a 2011 British-American CGI film that is inspired by the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet featuring garden gnomes as the characters. In 2018, its sequel, Sherlock Gnomes, was released. • The Social Democratic Party of Austria () used garden gnomes, which they called "Coolmen", in their campaign for the 2014 regional elections in Vorarlberg. It was intended as an ironic pun since the historically performed poorly in elections in this part of Austria and considered itself to be a political "dwarf". The campaign placed 20,000 Coolmen holding small posters with short slogans along highly frequented roads. The party made a police report after 400 of them went missing, drawing attention from the international media. • The 2010 video game Fable III includes a side mission where a collection of garden gnomes are given magical properties, which the player character must collect throughout the world. • In the children's television series Pinkalicious & Peterrific (based on the book series by Victoria Kann), a garden gnome named Norman, who was a bit grumpy but a gentle gnome, befriends Pinkalicious and her friends. • A 2005 episode of King of the Hill titled "Yard, She Blows!" revolves around Bobby breaking Peggy's newly acquired, and very rare, garden gnome. Hank, hating the gnome, attempts to use the event to eliminate it from the front lawn. File:Historic Garden Gnomes.jpg|Historical gnomes in a museum display at the Gnome Reserve in Devon UK File:Traditional Garden Dwarf.jpg|Traditional German garden dwarf. Probably manufactured in the first half of the 20th century in Gräfenrode, Thuringia, Germany. File:Garden Gnome at Gnome Reserve.jpg|Gnome at the Gnome Reserve, Devon, UK File:Nain de jardin J1.jpg|Traditional grey gnome (En grève means "On strike") ==See also==