The Swedish word for both house gnome and Christmas Santa Claus is “Tomte”. At the beginning of the last century, the beloved Swedish artist Jenny Nyström started painting the Christmas “Tomte”, the Father Christmas who knocks on the door and brings a sack full of presents to all good children on Christmas Eve, as a small gnome. Ever since, the Swedish Santa has looked like a house gnome.

The house gnome’s job according to the legend is to protect people and animals and to make sure they are happy. He sometimes helps the homeowner, but he only works at night when nobody can see him.

Still, many people claim they have seen the friendly little gnomes working during the night. On Christmas Eve, a bowl of rice porridge with milk must be set out to show gratitude or the “Tomte” may not be as helpful next year. The bowl is sure to be found empty the following morning.

This handmade 16 inch tall Lapland Tomte/Santa/Gnome will bring lots of happiness to your home. He is designed and handmade by a skilled artisan who lives close to the Arctic Circle in northern Sweden, the area also called Lapland where the sun never sets in the summer.

After years of requests, the popular collectible Santa was finally joined in 2006 by Santa’s wife and by smaller 8 and 7 inch tall Mr. and Mrs. Clause, also dressed in fur coats. In 2008, a 5 inch tall gnome was introduced. The collection of Lapland Santas is made exclusively for SwedArt™ and can not be bought in stores in Sweden.

The fur coat, hair, moustache, and beard are made from specially selected high quality reindeer fur, and the apron and necklace are made of vegetable tanned reindeer hide. The reindeer are domesticated caribou that the indigenous Sami People of Lapland has been herding for thousands of years as their livelihood.  

The wooden scoop on Santa’s belt is a typical Sami drinking cup. The scoop and the wooden pointed shoes are hand carved. The body is made of wood and the face has been hand painted.

Each unique 16" Santa has been personally signed by the artisan. 

See Product Gallery for prices.