Female Garden Gnome
The female garden gnome was unknown until the 1960s. Until then, garden gnomes were always depicted as little old men with long white beards, smoking pipes, or as laborers handling spades, tools, and wheelbarrows. The female garden gnome slowly entered the arena. One of the first female gnomes to appear was produced in Germany around 1962 by the Heissner company. She was made of ceramic and was a pretty, 26 cm tall girl holding a basket and wearing a blue dress over a white blouse. Of course, the traditional gnome hat sat on her head.
Rein Poortvliet introduced his version of the female garden gnome in his book Gnome. He describes them as cheerful and friendly characters who look after the children. They wore traditional clothing with long skirts gathered at the waist and a red, conical hat.
In the 1990s, "naughty" female garden gnomes appeared. They wore suspenders, fishnet stockings, and only a few other things. They came in all sizes and colors and were very popular. Some called them rude, which led to an outcry in the gnome community, and many gnome lovers believed that it was an insult to the beloved innocent garden gnome.
In 2004, Philipp Griebel of Graafenroda, the company believed to have invented the garden gnome, produced charming female garden gnomes in traditional German dress and named them "Lady Roda". But even so, she ran into conflict with the rights of the "Association for the Protection of Gnomes" at a gnome conference in Germany, when she argued that gnomes had always been reserved for men.
Despite these objections, female garden gnomes continue to sell well. If you look closely, you will find them in an office, a bar, or next to a book on a shelf!