Mummified Gnome
This hauntingly gorgeous mummified gnome by Wendigo Oddities is a one-of-a-kind handmade art piece that has an equally curious backstory to match his unique presentation.
Discovered by the workers of a copper mine in Falun, Sweden on January 14th, 1897, this gnome was not the first mummified body found in the mine but the first cryptid found. For those of you who don’t know what a cryptid is - us! - we’ll save you the Google search and share that they are curious wild creatives that have tremendous folklore around them but have not been acknowledged or accepted by mainstream science. Some other cryptids include the Loch Ness Monster and Sasquatch. I’ll add that we are based in Colorado, and Sasquatch is indeed real!
Pennsylvania-based Wendigo Oddities adds that their gnome storyline draws from the Scandinavian legends of the Tomte. Derived from the Swedish word “homestead man” and also referred to as Nisse in Norway, the Tomte is typically depicted as a small elderly man with a long beard and is believed to be an ancestral spirit of sorts that looks after the welfare of everyone at the home or farm.
The most popularized image of the Tomte is the little squat garden gnome with a red hat, but we personally prefer Wendigo’s interpretation. Be sure to check out their creepy-amazing Krampus dolls and other curious art.
See More Curious Creations by Wendigo Oddities
Click on Images Below to See Larger and to Get More Info
Article References:
The Most Popular Cryptid in Every State, Cree Lighting
The Genealogy of the Swedish Tomte, Swedish Press
The Tomten, Daily Scandanavian
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