The Garden Gnome Collector
Driven by geographical exploration and the rise of the middle class, more and more people bought these items.
This phenomenon intensified in the 1930s, when collecting became a popular pastime for people of all ages and economic backgrounds. In light of this colossal phenomenon, researchers have tried to define and categorize collectors.
One can imagine a collector as a person who is motivated by the accumulation of a series of similar items, whose utility remains secondary or uninteresting and which they do not want to get rid of immediately.
Is there a limit to collecting garden statues?
If you look at the example of collector Rose Lentz and her daughter Carole from the Oise department (France), who have achieved the feat of collecting more than 2,000 such figures, collecting small white-bearded figures is a very serious activity. A record to be broken?
The garden gnome collector - a special kind of collector?
Overall, three types of collectors can be considered:
- Categorical collectors, who want to have every type in a series of objects.
- Aesthetic collectors, who only want to collect a few specimens.
- Passionate and obsessive collectors, who are willing to pay unreasonably high prices. Because they want to own as many of these little decorations as possible, with which he can decorate his garden.
The garden gnome - just a fad or real passion?
In reality, most of them will remain in their boxes and only be taken out once a year, e.g. on a special day. For over 2000 years, people have been collecting items that are not intended for daily use.
Ultimately, a collector is defined by the desire to own and keep something, but collectibles are not bought on a whim.
Thanks to the internet, collecting is becoming easier and easier today, including on our website, where you can find your collecting gnome with just one click.