English front gardens 'peopled' with gnomes and ornaments are getting more scarce as gardens become parking places. Here's a choice example from our Cornish trip, which county incidentally, seems to sport some real exotica. This was in an urban location not far from the excellent art gallery and museum in Penlee House, Penzance. What a cornucopia of plaster people, animals and plaques, upon which are writ sincere thoughts of the 'arrive a stranger, leave a friend' variety. There's something about this wish to 'improve' upon nature that I find rather charming in a perverse sort of way. Are garden gnomes merely the natural external extension of plaster flying ducks across the sitting room wall or have they a more subtle meaning? That's the burning question of the day.
6 comments:
I don't know why people have them....I'm just happy they do!
Many years ago, on the A30 just outside Indian Queens, there was a roadside business that specialised in garden gnomes. I know: I bought one. A jolly chap with a wheelbarrow, he featured in a picture on my old blog some months ago....I wonder where he is now!
In the dim and distant I had a client who made plastic gnomes. They were blow-moulded in bright orange plastic and painted by a select band enjoying Her Majesty's Pleasure somewhere. Highlight of the catalogue was a simply appalling full size plastic lamp post. I think my judgement has been somewhat clouded as a result.
Maybe you're just gnomophobic Mr.A.
When we were on the lash in The 51 Club we used to kidnap the (full-on plaster) garden gnomes from an 87 year old widow* who had the misfortune to live opposite our hell hole. They were the only friends she had. I deserve to die a horrible death.
* We always gave them back, minus a fishing rod or a leg or something, so we weren't all bad.
The 51 Club? was that 8 years before the 59 Club and with no motorbikes? Do tell, Ron.
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