Quality  Gnomes                        

Reinhard grew up surrounded by gnomes in the forests of  eastern Germany. The village of 3,500 people boasts of being  the birthplace of  the common garden gnome, which local folklore says was dreamed up by a local potter in the 1880's. The craftsmen of the village, including Reinhard's great-grandfather, wasted no time in capitalizing on the idea and, in the land where the Brothers Grimm created Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the popularity of gnomes spread fast.

Reinhard the 4th generation gnome maker has no time for the plastic imitation gnome. For him, it should be a proper, handmade gnome made in the traditional way. With the help of his wife Iris and his assistant, he fashions the jolly little figures by hand and gives them names, be it Fritz, Heinz, or Willy. Reinhard can identify each batch by their face, height or what they are doing,  fishing, dozing or even playing cards. For Reinhard, the reign of the gnomes reached a low point in the days when the communist regime in East Germany banned them because they were considered a capitalist symbol, although they were happy to export them to the West in return for hard cash.

   Since the mines shut down in the region, gnome manufacture has become the lifeblood of the village. And there is no shortage of work -- Reinhard estimates there are more than 18 million garden gnomes in Germany alone, 30 of which grace his garden.

   Reinhard has proved he can move with the times by creating a range of naughty/rude gnomes. One of Reinhard's top sellers is a mischievous 'voyeur' gnome with binoculars raised to his eyes and his trousers round his ankles, available to the more adventurous gardener.

Copyright © Gnomeland.co.uk 2004-2008