California - Signed Special Commission - Tom Clark Gnome - State - # 2043 - Created: 1993 - Edition #89

Story: This miner, a forty-niner, is going for the gold, found everywhere on his old leather map of California. Already he's richer by a gold coin that shows golden poppies, the state flower, and California's statehood date: September 9, 1850. If gold mining doesn't pan out this Woodspirit can still show you that the Golden State is a jewel. His eucalyptus acorn came from the thirty-first state, and his clamshell represents California's 1,190 miles of coastline. I gave him strawberries, onions and grapes for the farming and wine industries. There's a small book for the state's many fine universities. The tiny baseball and bat symbolize California's major baseball teams and other major sports, while the roses celebrate the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena and the millions of flowers used in the Tournament of Roses Parade. On the back of the statue, I place a button from a San Jose police officer's uniform and coins commemorating the Golden Gate Bridge and the city of San Diego. The little starfish is for the "stars" but you'll have to guess the meaning of the holly leaf next to the small twig. His bell represents the mission bells that stand along "El Camino Real - The King's Highway." This route began as just a footpath in 1769 by Father Junipero Serra, who was instrumental in establishing the Franciscan Missions north of San Diego to Sonoma. After looking at the statue and my little fellow's map you'll want to sing.

Comes without COA and Story Tag.  This Gnome Woodspirit is in excellent, vintage condition.

This retired gnome was sculptured by America's premier sculptor Thomas F. Clark, Ph.D, of Cairn Studio, Ltd., Davidson, North Carolina. Dr. Clark is also the lead artist for Cairn Studio and is the most prolific sculptor in the figurine industry today. Each creation is hand-cast in a compounds of resin medium and is individually hand painted, antiqued, and highlighted.