Nostalgic opportunity

America’s friendly gnomes- a rare pair (2) of Happy Garden Legends “Keeper of Keys” and bearer of the night lights.

Since the early part of the 20th century, American gardeners have been infatuated with these loveable garden gnomes.
No wonder why, as legend has it they protect gardens and bring owners good luck!

This is a scarce pair (2) American heavy hand cast iron sculptures remarkably still exhibiting traces of their older hand painted colors of blue, red, white, and yellow and black, and most importantly – still smiling. Their pointed red hats and friendly shaggy bearded faces speak volumes about their industrious willing disposition and joyful personality. In their left hands they cluch keys and right hands night lights.

Both bare incised “Pat. Pending” on the backs of their pointed caps.

Just look back to the greenery of Germany’s lush gardens and you might spot a red-capped gartenzwerg, or garden gnome just in time for June’s Garden Day. Gnome figures first appeared in 13th-century Anatolia and re-emerged in 16th-century Italy. The common garden gnome originated in 19th-century Germany from the mining area of Thuringia. Here, local craftsmen are given credit for hand-crafting the gnomes as we know them—with shaggy beards and pointy hats. Propelled by local myths and increased leisure time, the gnomes began to find homes in gardens throughout the country. Legend has it they protect these gardens and bring good luck. Today once America’s great manufacturer of garden gnomes, the Lancaster, Pennsylvania Hubley company, began casting them in about 1925 and the few rare survivors that might surface are coveted by garden enthusiasts and collectors all over America.

Dimensions: 10 inches high and 5 inches wide.

Provenance: America’s Hubley manufacturing company, Lancaster, Pa., circa 1925, and to a private American garden.

No repairs and no damages.

Lifetime guarantee.