Due to significant interest, we are pleased to announce that Hyde & Burl is now accepting requests for House Gnome Placement. At this time, we are offering two placement processes for interested households.
Pre-Christmas Placement: Given the press of time and limited availability, we are only able to place a small number of Gnomes before the Christmas holiday. If you have interest in immediate placement, please visit our Pre-Christmas Placements page and submit your placement request as soon as possible. We hope you'll understand that pricing for this option reflects its priority status - both in terms of creating your gnome and mailing it in time for Christmas.
Early 2024 Placement: If your interest in adding a gnome to your household is less urgent, please submit your request for placement in early 2024. We expect review of placement requests to resume around the start of the New Year and to be completed soon thereafter.
A Brief History of the Gnome
As you are no doubt aware, the gnome is a legendary, earth-dwelling creature with a long and storied history. The first documented sighting is believed to have been in the sixteenth century by Swiss alchemist, Paracelsus. However, countless generations of humans and animals alike have long known, loved, and . . . occasionally feared, the Gnome.
Diminutive in stature but possessing incredible physical strength, gnomes have a human-like appearance, kind hearts, and a healthy love of mischief. Believed to live for hundreds of years, gnomes are industrious, loyal, and incredibly wise. Family is important to them, and they are almost always merry . . . except when offended.
Historically, gnomes have tended to prefer rural places, often settling in wooded areas, on farms, or in expansive country gardens. Known by many names and by many cultures (e.g. Tomte or Nisse in Scandinavian culture, Huldufolk in Iceland), gnomes have long assisted farmers and gardeners in their care of livestock and crops. They are understood to be guardians of nature and animals - a duty they take very seriously.
Though most gnomes continue to prefer country-living, some gnome clans have begun to migrate to more urban settings, living in suburban homes and city apartments and focusing their attention on the plants and animals that make their homes in those settings. Wherever they live, any household inhabited by a gnome is a lucky household, indeed, . . .so long as the gnome is happy and well cared for.
A happy and content gnome is truly a boon to a host family. Naturally kind and insightful, a happy gnome is not secretive and will make itself known to its human hosts. Gnomes are charmed by small gifts and offerings of sweet treats. When they feel appreciated and content, gnomes are exceedingly generous and readily pitch in. A content gnome will provide quiet assistance around the home by helping plants to flourish, locating and pairing mismatched socks, and keeping pets and farm animals company when their humans are away. They will also keep watch over sleeping children, protecting them against nightmares and inviting in only the kindest and most adventurous fantastical creatures.
A word of caution, however: Although gnomes can be truly delightful and a welcome addition to any household, they are (like humans) complex beings and not without a touch of darkness. While they may be small in stature, the gnome's ego towers. Gnomes do not tolerate being ignored or treated poorly and they are prone to holding a grudge. Beware the gnome who has been offended for they have been known to lash out: causing crops to fail, leaving sharp plastic toys in the middle of floors for stocking-footed humans to step on, or hiding the tops of food storage containers so that it's impossible to find a match.
To have a gnome choose to live in your home and, even better, make itself known to you, is both a rare honor and a great responsibility. It can also lead to a truly magical symbiosis. We trust that your decision to bring a gnome into your home has been carefully considered and responsibly made. We therefore congratulate you and wish you and your house gnome a rich and treasured relationship that will endure for many years to come.
Our Gnome Chooses Us
Each of our wooden gnomes is lovingly created from selected hardwoods and has its own unique look and personality. Made one at a time and in small batches, each one is hand turned, sanded smooth, and waxed before donning its very distinguished beard. Because gnomes are independent thinkers and free spirits, the choice of where to live and with whom is one that must be left to each gnome and gnome family. Therefore, it is important for Gnome host-families to understand that the gnome you receive may not look exactly like the Gnomes pictured on our site. After all: We do not choose our gnome; Our gnome chooses us.
Still, if you have a preference, we'll do our best to honor it as we work on placement decisions. If you have a preferred beard color (Cream/White; Salt & Pepper, Sandy Brown, Black), please leave us a note with your order.